TONY FOX doesn’t do polish, they do presence. On their debut album, Holy Dancing Girls, out now on Krautpop Records, the Cornwall based post-punk trio serves up a hypnotic, poetic collision of minimalist krautrock repetition and sharp, jagged, post-punk energy. Spearheaded by writer and musician, Jessica Cox AKA Tony Fox, the record plays like a feverish night on the fringes of the UK underground, driven forward by thumping basslines, feedback-laced guitars, and an uncompromising vocal delivery. Holy Dancing Girls is a compelling, atmospheric debut that proves power lies in space and raw, narrative truth.
The title track, ‘Holy Dancing Girls’ serves as its definitive centerpiece, fusing ritualistic energy with sharp, character-driven social critique. It is built over a sinister, cyclical bass groove and restless percussion that creates a hypnotic, almost feverish space where spoken word poetry and post-punk collide. Fox’s delivery turns the track into a surreal sermon with a juxtaposition of trance-like release against the suffocating realities of isolation. ‘Holy Dancing Girls’ is intense, atmospheric, and truly a track that captures the crossroads of burnout and defiance.
Standout track, ‘I’m Wrecked’ serves as an emotional and thematic anchor of Holy Dancing Girls, leaning into that intersection of physical fatigue, psychological strain, and relentless motorik energy. Fox’s performance on this track hits that classic post-punk sweet spot: dry, poetic, and conversational yet still brimming with underlying tension. The delivery reinforces the title in that she sounds thoroughly exhausted by the world around her and yet her resilience shines through.
Another standout, and my favorite track, ‘Fire’ is an explosive centerpiece that encapsulates raw energy. The track ignites, if you will, over a razor-sharp bassline and those piercing, feedback-laced guitar cuts which locks into an unyielding, high velocity pulse that never lets you catch your breath. Over this frantic backdrop, Fox delivers a cadence heavy spoken word performance, spitting out vivid imagery that is both intimate and volatile. It’s a burst of art-punk momentum that proves TONY FOX can turn this pure friction into kinetic power.
Ultimately, Holy Dancing Girls is a raw debut that refuses to compromise its edges for easy consumption. By anchoring Fox’s poetry-first delivery within the hypnotizing post-punk grooves TONY FOX transforms the quiet friction of coastal isolation into a universally resonant statement. It’s a record built on tension, truth, and artistic conviction which makes the trio not just compelling but a formidable force to watch.
Upcoming Live Dates:
26 September at The Chintz, Cornwall
3 October at Union Hotel, Penzance
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