Magik Markers – Surrender To The Fantasy

For their pithier advocates, Sonic Youth’s venerated legacy represents an untouchable milestone in the history of rock music; an unrepeatable, nail-biting scene where dissonant avant-gardism and trashy punk irony collide spectacularly. So how fucking refreshing is it when a band seems to view the likes of Daydream Nation and EVOL as a gauntlet laid down before it?

Magik Markers’ umpteenth effort Surrender To The Fantasy rattles and rolls with the fresh-faced energy of a debut. It’s ragged yet quietly assured amongst long-fuse incendiaries like WT and American Sphinx Face, where Elisa Ambrogio’s eardrum-lacerating feedback squalls stab viciously throughout. And for every drop of blood spilled amidst those jagged howls, there are deadpan lines that cut just as mercilessly to the core. “The worst part about being young,” intones Elisa, “is thinking nothing ever comes.” It might not look much on paper, but trust us: it’s a killer.

The softer Mirrorless represents a particular highlight, resembling Yo La Tengo whispering country classics at the bottom of a swimming pool, but the best moment comes in the shape of Bonfire – a pedal-to-the-metal ramraid of da Yoof’s signature tricks, executed with a devious flair that’s all their own. Kill yr idols indeed.