Review | Man/Woman/Chainsaw – Cannonball

Label: Fiction Records

By Seth White

Man/Woman/Chainsaw are undoubtedly one of the most exciting emerging acts out of London in recent years. Their debut record, ‘Cannonball‘, released via Fiction Records, proves their unending musical capability. Quite literally, no sound or rhythm is off the table for this group, evident in the singles alone, ‘Only Girl’, ‘ Something Else To Give’, ‘Get Up and Dance’, ‘Nosedive’ and ‘Goddamn! Lizard Man!’, which share core similarities whilst being distinctly different numbers, going for gold in individual ways.

Within the album tracks, standouts such as ‘Canyons’, ‘Snakebite’, ‘The Thing’ and ‘Flick of the Wrist’ are a celebration of M/W/C’s ability to fuse an array of instruments into a one-of-a-kind take on art-rock, alt-rock and progressive indie, all the while expressing pure emotional malaise and melancholy through lyrical choices that are often downtrodden and introspective, delivering vocals in a muted, moody fashion.

As for production, the group opted for Seth Evans (Geordie Greep, Black Midi) and Margo Broom (Fat White Family, Big Joanie), which is a fitting pair for perfectly capturing the band’s expansive sound. The production shines particularly on the menacing track ‘Goddamn! Lizard Man!’ which wrestles with an absolute beast of a song exceptionally, perfectly blending layered vocal harmonisations with an elaborate string section and an onslaught of guitar distortion. Drummer Lola Cherry speaks on the band’s journey through making the record, furthering the band’s malleable style in songwriting: “ We were talking about having a whole record of bangers – having everything be really in your face like a Rage Against the Machine record. We soon realised we weren’t Rage Against the Machine and leant into the softer moments of the album, which I think has really become a big part of our sound.” 

Whilst sounding complete and realised, ‘Cannonball‘ also encapsulates the position of a highly talented band casting a wide net in terms of song style and correct implementation of their innate skill to see what sticks. Still a young group, this album is far-fetched in a perfect way, somehow managing to ground the lofty aspirations of an emerging powerhouse in a highly produced, palatable manner.