Exeter trio Muncie Girls will be releasing their debut album ‘From Caplan To Belsize’ on 4th March, 2016 via Specialist Subject Records in the UK. Animal Style Records will be releasing the album in the US and Uncle M are doing the honors over in Germany. To follow up their recent single ‘Gone With The Wind’, which will also appear on the full-length, Muncie Girls have revealed new single ‘Gas Mark 4’, along with accompanying music video (see below). The band will be hitting the road in support of the album and will follow up an imminent European run with Such Gold with various UK shows, including a stint supporting Tellison in March / April.
Born in punk shows and dive bars to three driven teenagers in 2012, Muncie Girls embodies the classic punk rock story in a modern context. Fueled by discontent and anxiety, they eloquently address issues of modern living as a self-aware young adult. The result is an ambitious and poignant rebellion against social norms that touches on everything from politics to interpersonal relationships.
The album’s title, a reference to Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar (single ‘Gas Mark 4’ also references the author’s suicide), perfectly compliments the themes found on the album – coping, healing, and shedding restraints. “In the book, Caplan is the higher watch section of a mental asylum and Belsize is the less severe part. So there's a bit where she is moved and she's closer to having her freedom back,” explains bassist and lead vocalist Lande Hekt. “I guess for me, that title best summed up the lyrical theme of the album.”
Musically, the album is a dynamic and emotional exploration of punk and indie rock. The album's bouncy catchiness is sure to be a hit with fans of Hop Along, Lemuria, Latterman, and RVIVR, but one of the defining characteristics of Muncie Girls is their ability to explore outside their immediate influences.
Ultimately, what sets Muncie Girls apart is Hekt’s unique perspective and its impact on her understated lyricism. Hekt’s dry, unembellished writing style is, in many ways, reminiscent of classic American literature – a trait exceptionally unusual for a punk rock band from Exeter.
Muncie Girls have toured and played shows with a plethora of like-minded bands on the scene in the UK and Europe, self-booking dates since their inception and up to this point. Their hard work in the live arena led to slots on Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2014, as well as at The Fest in Florida that same year.
‘From Caplan To Belsize’ was recorded, produced and mixed by Lewis Johns (Funeral for a Friend, Gnarwolves, SHARKS, Goodtime Boys) at the Ranch, Southampton and mastered by Kim from Knack Mastering (Flogging Molly, Title Fight, Restorations).
TRACKLISTING:
1. Learn In School
3. Respect
4. Balloon
5. Social Side
6. Nervous
8. I Don’t Wanna Talk About It
9. Committee
10. No Recording
Muncie Girls on tour:
21.11. GER - Freiburg @ Artik w/ SUCH GOLD + Cold Reading
22.11. CH - Luzern @ Treibhaus w/ SUCH GOLD + COLD READING
23.11. ITA - Milano @ Honky Tonky w/ SUCH GOLD
24.11. ITA - Modena @ La Tenda w/ SUCH GOLD
25.11. ITA - Udine @ Cas'aupa w/ SUCH GOLD
26.11. SLO - Maribor @ Dvorana Gustaf w/ SUCH GOLD
27.11. HUN - Budapest @ Gozsdu Manó Club w/ SUCH GOLD
28.11. AUT - Vienna @ das BACH w/ SUCH GOLD
29.11. GER - Nürnberg @ K4 w/ SUCH GOLD
30.11. GER - Hannover @ LUX w/ SUCH GOLD
01.12. GER - Berlin @ Cassiopeia w/ SUCH GOLD + the liberation service
02.12. GER - Hamburg @ Molotow
03.12. GER - Koln @ AZ
04.12.GER - Münster @ Cafe Lorenz w/ SUCH GOLD + The Uprising
Supporting TELLISON in the UK:
Sat 26 March - Lincoln, Liquor
Sun 27 Mar 2016 - Leeds, The Wardrobe
Mon 28 Mar 2016 - Cambridge, The Portland Arms
Tue 29 Mar 2016 - Glasgow, Bloc
Wed 30 Mar 2016 - Edinburgh, The Mash House
Thu 31 Mar 2016 - Birmingham, The Sunflower Lounge
Fri 01 Apr 2016 - Manchester, Soundcontrol
Sat 02 Apr 2016 - Bedford, Esquires
Sun 03 Apr 2016 - Bristol, Stag & Hounds
Tue 05 Apr 2016 - Guildford, Boileroom
Wed 06 Apr 2016 - Oxford, The Wheatsheaf
Thu 07 Apr 2016 - London, The Garage
Connect:
Pre-order the album HERE
Muncie Girls are:
Dean McMullen – Guitar, vocals, Lande Hekt – Bass, vocals, Luke Ellis – Drums, vocals