South London punks THE TOTEMS are seemingly trying to recapture the sounds of learly punk legends with this self-titled EP, but their new tracks are a little hit and miss – some sound like rehashed attempts to sound like those early punk pioneers, but others show the possibility to pack a more modern punch.
Darryl Hockings’ vocals are a little dreary at times, but for the most part serve the purpose. Ciaran Fahy provides a solid and swift rhythm section, off which the fuzzy cliché punk-rock power-chords buzz. The band makes no bones about the quality of their recordings, making it clear that “production is deliberately raw” – certainly giving the tracks a 1980s underground London feel. ‘If I Had A Gun’ provides the highlight, with a soaring chorus hook and a classic feel of ironic dissatisfaction.
With less than six months under their belt as a full band, THE TOTEMS show a great deal of potential and further, with the climate of political discontent in the UK at the moment, they might just grab a few ears along the way if they take it up a notch.
RAMSEY MARWAN