Republic Of Loose - Aaagh!

Loaded Dice

It sidles up, whispers some sleazy nothings in your ear and has its sweet way with you. ‘Aaagh!’ by Republic of Loose is a master class in seduction. But, don’t worry, no matter what compromising positions the Loose get you into, you won’t regret it come the morning.

“We’ve all bin working far too hard on dis album for yas, ya basterds”, so mumbles Mick Pryo in the ‘Intro’ before describing the genesis of the title, ‘Aaagh!’ It’s about those “moments of release”, about getting rid of the bullshit that clogs up your brain. Mission accomplished, indeed the Loose could patent this record as a mental laxative so effective is it at getting rid of cerebral detritus. Libidinous rhythms, grinding guitar, slinky keys and the contrast between vocalists, the coy and cute of the backing singers and the sex-saturated utterances of Mick Pyro, it all comes together in one glorious gang bang of sound.

From the title track on, the groove is insatiable, funk and rock groping at each other, the Loose drawing on a palette that includes the likes of Prince, Outkast and Al Green. Throughout Micky Pyro is a captivating presence, an expletive-fuelled Barry White, able to unpick chastity belts with that croon alone. He and the Loose excel at the rough stuff, getting their kinky kicks on the likes of ‘Greedy’, a riot of ribald flow in which our limited loverman’s boastful misogyny is undermined by the confession that he’s “got a small dick, that’s the way God played me.” But the Loose can be sensitive lovers too. Note the tender caress of ‘All Mine’ and the utterly affirming ‘The Idiots’.

That’s the thing about the Loose, there is no default, if it feels good they go with it, the talent of the nine-strong ensemble enabling them to play us all kinds of ways. And when the Loose lay it on you, you’ll know you’ve been laid. Rude and righteous or sweet and celebratory, songs such as ‘Shame’ and ‘You Know It’ are just brilliantly crafted, preening and untouchable pop, songs to make your blood itch.

The single ‘Comeback Girl’ has already made its presence felt in the southern charts and now with the belated UK release of ‘Aaagh!’ and a slew of slobberingly positive press the Loose are ready to extend the invite to the sonic swingers party. You know you want it, now come on, “Loose, Loose, Loose, Loose”. Francis Jones

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DOWNLOAD: ‘Break!’, ‘Greedy’, ‘You Know It’
FOR FANS OF: Sly & The Family Stone, N.E.R.D., Rolling Stones

Issue #50 - The Power To Know

Featuring The Top 50 NI Songs of Our Lifetime, The Streets, Deerhoof, Seasick Steve, Fucked Up, Garth Ennis and more.