Album Review: Cause A Stir by Charmpit (by Emma Prew)

London via California DIY pop(star) punk band Charmpit are gearing up to release their much anticipated debut full-length on the 3rd of April. Titled Cause A Stir, the album is being released by the always excellent Specialist Subject Records and follows on from Charmpit’s previous releases on Keroleen Records and Everything Sucks. Since those releases, original members Anne Marie, Rhianydd and Alex have been joined by Estella (who also plays in Big Joanie) and have further perfected their sound.

We saw Charmpit support RVIVR in London a couple of years ago and I remember being impressed by their feisty yet, well, charming songs and live performance. So, when the wonderful Erica over at Specialist Subject sent over an early stream of Cause A Stir, I was understandably keen to check it out.

Cause A Stir kicks off with Do It Together. The song has nothing to do with the Fest we helped to host at the New Cross Inn earlier this year but it does sound like it could have been our theme tune. Opening first with drums and then some bass, Charmpit talk us through how you can easily start a band if you do it with your friends (and friends of friends) – it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes because you’re doing it together. Charmpit played their first show in 2016 at DIY Space For London’s ‘First Timers’ project and this song feels like a homage to that and their DIY roots in general. It’s also a brilliant albeit short and sweet album opener. Bridges Go Burn is up next and this song is as insanely catchy as it is uplifting. Released as a single late last year, Bridges Go Burn is about is about cutting someone out of your life because they’re not worth your time, making you doubt yourself and your ability to just live your life the way you want to. It’s pretty empowering stuff and I’m sure others will be able to relate. It’s really catchy too, did I mention that? ‘You’re stepping on my tongue now, Getting in my head, Make me doubt myself now, Leaving it unsaid…’

Jimnastics is a straight-up indie punk banger. With mid-tempo verses featuring vocals that seemingly come from everywhere – Charmpit sure know how to pack the harmonies into their songs – and a more fast-paced chorus, Jimnastics is littered with twinkly guitar melodies and is just generally a whole lot of fun. Fourth song, Princess Video, is a slower paced number that really allows Charmpit’s vocalists, Anne Marie and Rhianydd, to shine – what incredible voices this band has. Princess Video feels like a very nostalgic song, reminiscing on simpler times when every second of life wasn’t recorded on a mobile phone. The highlight of the song has to be the bridge when two different vocal parts are sung at the same time. The passion that each vocalist puts in is so heartening. Sophomore Year begins slowly before cranking up the volume and putting the punk into femme-punk – by which I mean there is a certain venom to those otherwise sugary sweet vocals. This contrasts really wonderfully with the softer, more melodic parts of the song. There’s a lot of variety on offer throughout Sophomore Year, keeping the listener on their toes and showing that Charmpit don’t intend to stick to one defined sound. Of course, I love the song’s ending as Charmpit yell ‘Viva Anarachy!’.

Picking the pace back up as soon as it gets going, Kissing You is a cheery, jangly pop song about being excited to meet up with your crush. The song is as much about the anticipation of the date as the actual date itself – how your heart races just at the thought of seeing that special someone… and kissing them. It’s a short, light-hearted and genuine tune that really puts a smile on your face. Wild Wild Westfield is the name of track number seven. It’s a song that I hope you’re familiar with since it was released as a single in February. That, plus it’s absolutely brilliant. This is possibly the catchiest song on Cause A Stir – although I might be bias because I’ve listened to this one track a lot. Wild Wild Westfield is an irresistible love letter to the shopping mall and the fun that can be had there, as well as historically being a place designed for women – a safe space if you will. It’s certainly given me a different view of shopping centre. ‘This mall is your land, this mall is my land, no femme is a fashion island!’. Muffy Plays Poker is kick-ass tune about feeling like you’re only just starting to live your life while those around you, including your past loves, seem to be growing up, getting married and doing other adult things. Life can feel like it’s going too fast sometimes. There’s some particularly brilliant guitar work on this song – Estella sure can shred.

The puntastically titled Dyed And Gone To Hairven feels darker in tone than much of the album so far with a deep, chunky bass line to open the song. Charmpit start by singing of shaving your hair and/or dying it green as a form of self-expression or therapy. At face value, it could seem almost self-centred or superficial but a new haircut can feel like a total transformation and can sometimes be just what you need to make you feel yourself again. I really admire Charmpit for writing songs about such a wide variety of topics and making me think about things I’ve never really considered before. I guess that’s the sign of a great songwriter. Here For The View (Santa Cruz) is the penultimate song on Cause A Stir. Sweetly melodic and upbeat, Here For The View is similar to Muffy Plays Poker in that it seems to be about growing up and feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything you want to do – ‘Here for the view, So little time so much to do, 24 hours to spend with you.’ (Plus, I’m almost certain that ‘Muffy’ gets a mention at the end of the first verse). It’s a carefree tune that feels super summery – perhaps because I’m thinking of California and it’s always sunny there, right? As track number ten fades out, we come to the album’s closing song. Baby Needs A Breeze takes yet another musical direction as Charmpit deliver what it the most laid-back, yet feel-good song on Cause A Stir. It feels like the band are soothing the listener as they collectively sing ‘Breeze, You’re a diamond in my world, Making it all possible, Breeze, Open up and find a pearl, So beautiful…’. I know they’re singing ‘breeze’ but it feels like they could be saying ‘breathe’. I often say how I like an album to end with a bang but it’s also lovely to have an album end with a feeling of calm.

I feel like everything is going to be okay. Thank you, Charmpit!

You can stream the two singles from Cause A Stir on Bandcamp here, as well as pre-ordering the album. You can also like Charmpit on Facebook.

This review was written by Emma Prew.