Review by Temmuz – the drummer of Turkey's Secondhand Underpants.

Cryptic Street‘s record ‘Titty Monster’ sounds like a seductive monster that can talk human beings into some angry sex. Though the monster is not a roaring giant titty, but a titty in disguise of a post-rock lover tomboy (our monster is also a big fan of Warpaint).

The record is delicate and vicious at times, with its dominant basslines (I have to add this: “chuggidy chug” bass, a friend called it), and very desirous other times with the effects that highlight the ambitious self-expressiveness in the vocals and guitars. The insistence on using these moody effects (such as in the instrumental track, which is my favorite, ‘Island Blues’) make the album sound somewhat psychedelic. All the songs invite the listener to join the celebration of joyful and angry creative energy and not care about what “professionals” aka the “mansplainers” think.

But the DIY attitude in the album does not really come from the very well-done production (apparently it is crowdfunded which parallels their punk attitude), but more from the improvisational-feeling song structures and effect choices. In other words, the album is perfectly produced but it manages to sound nicely random at the some time, with a touch of the passion in Savages and fun in some masculine metal. It really sounds like Cryptic Street is interested in collage and collaboration. I love the mixture of pop-rock feeling and aggressive vocals in “Don’t Need No Men” and “Damaged” for example.

Though our monster wants to stay punk even when it is not, thus oscillates between being an adult and a kid.

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Cryptic Street are based in Malta, and will be playing LOUD WOMEN in London on 11 August. In the meantime, find them on Facebook!