Dream Wife’s bassist Bella Podpadec says that Social Lubrication speaks to “systemic problems that cannot be glossed over by lube…the things named in the songs are symptoms of f-ed up structures. And you can’t fix that. You need to pull it apart.”
Exhaustion with and rebellion against the patriarchy form the backdrop for Social Lubrication. In its call for empathy, “Leech” asks whether “the gatekeepers, the so-called legends/ya boys gonna let the girls play?/or are they merely ornaments on display?”. Through the wall of sound of “Kick In The Teeth” we hear the declaration that “Lolita’s all grown up now, who knew?” (“Lolita” is also the name of one of their early songs). The title track rallies against patriarchal “unsolicited advice” and toxic masculinity, with vocalist Rakel Mjöll asking “what’s it like to be a woman in music, dear?/you’d never ask me that if you regarded me as your peer.” “Honestly” reverses the male gaze “as I watch you, slowly, undress (each piece at a time)”. “Who Do You Wanne Be?” vexes over “the movement” becoming “part of the patriarchal system we swore to tear down”.
The music itself is raucous and energetic, full-on, buoyant and uncompromising to match the band’s punk rock attitude. There’s also a strong sense of humour, particularly on the troubles around love and sex. The polyamorous anthem “Curious” heads to a sex party, outdoing Right Said Fred in feeling “too sexy” to listen to ones friends. “Hot (Don’t Date A Musician)” contains sensible advice to not date a musician. “Mascara” is a post-modern London romance with cucumber sandwich lovers and pornographic thoughts, and the short and sharp “I Want You” recalls “all the sticky motions, dripping with emotions”. Social Lubrication is not for the faint-hearted, small-minded or lily-livered, but in itself this could be a reason why you may appreciate it as much as we do.
Label: Lucky Number
Release Date: 09 JUN 2023
Poetic Justice 