Crywank are an anti-folk/folk-punk act based in Manchester who have just released their latest album Wearing Beige On A Grey Day, and they’re one of the most important voices in the genres today. With their encapsulation of depression and anxiety, combined with incredible creative imagery and unique wordplay, Crywank have consistently created haunting and addictive music. Wearing Beige On A Grey Day is the band’s sixth full length album, and third studio album.
Wearing Beige On A Grey Day takes the Crywank sound, often slightly understated and at times rather haunting, and adds new instrumentals and layering with some ominous brass on the tracks “I’ll Have Some In A Bit” and towards the end of “Unassimilated Normie.” The multilayered instrumentals combine quite well with the backing of moody acoustic music that’s akin to their first album James is going to die soon. There’s signature peaks of emotional explosion, something Crywank do quite well, notably in the almost deranged moments during “Drippy Droopy Pidgeonhole.”
The band has always had some incredibly strong lyrical work from James Clayton, both in writing and his emotion fueled performances. This album is no exception, with Clayton finding even more provocative angles to approach discussion of his own mental space as well as those around him. There’s a heartbreaking relevance to the album, with unique and strong imagery and metaphor combining to make a relatable experience. There’s new ground tread with “Blood,” separating from, yet still keeping relevance with, the general concept of the album; about not being able to feel alright. Blood discusses tragedy and society’s insistence on glossing it over, redirecting blame and to forget rather than find respect for those involved. James’ incredibly powerful lyrics are in full force for the entirety of the album, and here the lines carry real weight; “This is not a call for guilt, this is just a request for respect, the blood may not be on our hands, but we sleep in their beds, oh we sleep in their beds.”
The album feels a lot more directed than their previous, Egg on face. Foot in mouth. Wriggling Wriggling Wriggling. The more compact runtime gives a more solid concept to build around. It’s also nice to see the band has kept up with their trend for uncomfortable hand drawn album art. From front to back Wearing Beige On A Grey Day is terrific, another step forward for the ever growing Crywank.
You can give the album a listen down below.