Mungia quartet Belako are proof that not every band goes downhill after their debut. Plastic Drama, their fourth album, is a dreamy blend of punk mantras and revamped alternative that immediately pulls you in and then leaves you wanting more.
The sound of the album is almost addictive. It channels mid-90’s vibes with its grunge distortion, yet has a charming way of remaining upbeat and easy to listen to. The ups and downs throughout keep you hooked, creating a healthy mix of dance-worthy and melancholy. It’s not hard to imagine yourself listening to the songs being played live in a tiny venue, shouting the words with a crowd.
Plastic Drama immediately proves itself as brilliant from the first song. There’s something about ‘Tie Me Up’ that screams immediate indie rock classic. Feeling a little bit Wolf Alice, it’s all catchy guitar riffs and fun drums with harmonies that make it impossible not to love. It hardly loses momentum from here, with every minute up until the pretty acapella that closes the album in ‘Truce’ being nothing less than a joy to listen to.
It’s not just the music that’s powerful – the lyrics are captivating too. Dealing with important subjects like misogyny (‘All Nerve’) and greed (‘Plastic Drama’), every song is like a call to attention. The words have a subtle way of demanding to be listened to without stealing the limelight from the sound – if anything, they just enhance it.
Made up of thought-provoking lyrics and a gorgeous alternative sound, it could easily be argued that Plastic Drama isn’t too far from a perfect album. It’s memorable and uplifting and one of the best fourth albums a band could release.
Haiku Review:
Spanish serenades.
Only criticism is
It’s over too soon.
Listen to Belako on Spotify and Apple Music. Check out our print magazine featuring, girl in red, Sorry, Dream Wife, Arlo Parks and more HERE
