CRACKING UP? Review Of The Lovely Eggs’ ‘Wilderness Years’ Album ‘Eggsistentialism’

The Lovely Eggs – alias Holly Ross and David Blackwell – are back with Eggsistentialism the band’s first album in four years.

Produced once again by The Flaming Lips‘ studio wiz Dave Fridmann, it charts a difficult period for the couple as they battle to retain their fiercely independent work ethic.

Operating from Lancaster, the psych-punk duo famously insist on total autonomy, recording in their own studio, releasing music on their own label, booking their own gigs and even driving themselves to shows.

Building a fan base through tireless gigging and skilful use of social media, they’ve recently added their own Lovely Eggs TV Show on YouTube to their clutch (geddit) of offerings.

But fighting the good fight can take its toll as Holly explains: 

“It’s a bit of a ‘wilderness years’ album. We haven’t released a new record since 2020 and in the meantime, we’ve been here fighting shit and trying to defend a right to a lifestyle that we’ve enjoyed here in this town for the last 30+ years.

“It’s about believing in something and not letting go. But that unwillingness to give in ultimately takes its toll. It does start to destroy you and the album is kind of a documentation of that destruction and collapse as well as the strength we’ve got to get through it all.”

Never one to duck big themes, Holly says the album is about “life and death”. 

“It’s about loss and strength. On this album you’ll hear us at our lowest and most vulnnerable.”

Given that context you might expect Eggsistentialism to be a bitter, depressing album, but while it’s certainly angry and aggressive in parts, it’s ultimately inspiring and even uplifting.

The sense of pain and struggle is most evident in the thrashier more straight-up punk tracks like I Don’t Fucking Know What I’m Gonna Do and the defiant opener Death Grip Kids. 

“Shove your funding up your arse/We don’t want your money,” Holly sneers on Death Grip… against a barrage of bludgeoning overdriven power chords.

Elsewhere the mood is more wistful, particularly on seven-minute magnum opus Nothing/Everything.

A deceptively sweet, expansive production, it features sweeping vocals from Holly against a backdrop of throbbing electronic bleeps and blurts.

So-called “proper jobs” and the daily grind get taken to task on People TV, while I am Gaia seems to be about the epic struggle to get through the very worst life throws at you.

“When you tell the crowd you’re broken/and they clap for more.”

Memory Man, with its treated guitars, is one of the most interesting tracks musically, while Echo You – has shades of a Tangerine Dream electronic soundtrack.

Best of all though is lead single My Mood Wave – it’s ’60’s California surf vibe and warm double-tracked vocals creating a soothing, swirling wall of sound.

With its acapella intro, Things is one of the more avant garde offerings, its spidery guitars and sludgy keyboards resembling something that crawled out of The Fall‘s playbook.

The music belies the brooding desperation of the lyrics, as Holly seeks to shut out the pressures of daily life.

The first offering from Egg-land since 2020’s indie chart-topping  I Am Moron,  Eggsistentialism sees the band confronting personal and universal challenges head on.

Typically eclectic, but conceptually cohesive, it’s an emotive and enlightening piece of work.

But hey, forget about what I think, hear it for yourselves on the Lovely Eggs UK tour, which starts in May. Full details below.

• Eggsistentialism is released on May 17 via The Lovely Eggs’ own Egg Records label and is available to pre-order here
• Catch The Lovely Eggs live on their UK tour in May. Tickets and dates available here
• More about The Lovely Eggs online via website, Facebook, X and Instagram