There’s no one quite like Wonk Unit, and with the release of ‘Good Good Glad to Hear It’ their eighth studio record to date (and first for new label Pirates Press) they are back to prove it all over again.

I really don’t think there’s any other band out there that can deal with the subjects of; the downward spiral of addiction, the thrill of watching late night horror films, the reality of 14 years of right-wing politics in the UK (“SodaStream fuck off”), and the joys of being a father, within the first four songs on their record, and still have you guessing what might be next (it’s another song about horses just in case you were wondering). Then again, that’s exactly why each new Wonk Unit record is such a unique event on the release calendar.

It’s been four years since ‘Uncle Daddy’ so ‘Good Good Glad to Hear It’ has been a long time coming, and the fact that it’s being released in the run up to Christmas actually makes me feel like this year is perhaps going to be one the best in many a year.

That’s because Wonk Unit are a band that can connect with their audience on so many different levels, be it the rage of those opening trio of tunes the (debut single from the record ‘Rapidly Declining Dignity’, ‘Now That I’ve Grown Up’ and ‘Luxury Flats’) or the fragile vulnerability of ‘Overwhelmed’ (the song about fatherhood), there is pretty much something for everyone on ‘Good Good Glad to Hear It’.

Now settled as a six piece with guitarists Ryan and AJ along with drummer Max locking in with keyboardist Vez and Wonk Unit lifers Alex and Pwoison this time around the gang switch effortlessly from the country honk of ‘Shiny Horses’ to the double time synthy powerpop of ‘The Thickest Skin’ before the almost music hall lament of ‘Complicated Girl’ brings to mind Madness at their chart bothering best, and all within the space of eight minutes on a record packed full of  Wonkness.

Longtime co-producer/engineer Andy Brook once again works his EQ magic within the groves of ‘Good Good Glad to Hear It’ helping the band to retain an underlying pop edge on tunes as they flip between musical styles as the jaunty cockney knees up of ‘True To Who I Am’ followed by my favourite song on the record ‘The Oldest Chiche’ fully illustrates.

In saying that, I get a new favourite song with each new listen to ‘Good Good Glad to Hear It’, so just like with the last few Wonk Unit LPs there’s more than just the mosh pit bangers for you to get your teeth into, and in album closer ‘Stage Fright’ the band have written perhaps their most audacious tune to date.

As I said at the top of this review there’s no one quite like Wonk Unit, now what I wouldn’t give to hear St Winifred’s School Choir singing that, at this time of year, eh? Perhaps we could have them doing it on the next Wonk album – what do you think Alex? If you can get them out of the crack house that is.

Either way, ‘Good Good Glad to Hear It’ is out now on CD and vinyl, and you can buy it here

Author: Johnny Hayward