Album title:
Don't Bite Your Sister
Artist:
Scream Club
Label:
Tiny Sensational
From the first lines of opener And You Belong, it is easy to fall in love with Cindy's old-school, couplet-based rhymes and Sarah's pared-back beats and vibes. Packing a darkly sweet pop punch, Scream Club take equal doses of classic female MCs like Salt & Pepa and Monie Love and the stoner-rock experimentation of Sonic Youth and Boss Hog, and mix it into a thoroughly satisfying sonic blend. A glamour-punk Buffalo Girl, Cindy's lyrics emphasise self-respect and sexual confidence, and on Fight, memorably castigate those who live their lives blind to others' suffering. Guest MCs like Katastrophe and Subtitle complement her gritty flow, and even self-indulgent moments like Acnecore (about the joy of popping zits) don't spoil the flavour. Comparisons with Peaches are inevitable, but Scream Club are subtler, sexier, and by subverting hip-hop conventions they will appeal to a more mainstream audience. More interesting by far than most of the hip-hop being released by straight men: and that's a fact. [Bram Gieben]