Consisting of Alice Western (vocals/guitar), Zhane Gandhi (vocals/synth), Bridie Rushton (bass) and Lucy Rushton (drums/percussion), London’s Buggs (fka BUGS) find the sweet spot between scrappy indie rock and a more polished pop, though the result is contorted slightly with an idiosyncratic personality. A style introduced by debut single ‘Nick Gowland’, released last year on Sad Club Records. A song of soulful depth that simmered and twanged with some latent energy, rising on occasion with palpable force.
Buggs are back with a brand new single, ‘Flaws’, a track which builds upon this distinctive sound. There’s more movement and motion compared to the previous release, though what might at first feel like an affirming rhythm is soon revealed to be bundled up nervous energy. A distorting force capable of changing the very shapes before you. “I’ve been thinking about the water that collects in the soap dish,” Western sings in the opening line, “I saw my face reflected on the surface—floating limp and hopeless.”
From the off-kilter rhythm to the artwork, the track is a comprehensive manifestation of insecurity, low-level paranoia driving a dysmorphia which bends reflections and moods alike. “I wrote Flaws about spending too much time chipping away at yourself in the mirror,” Western explains, “obsessing over all of your faults and insecurities, thinking back over and over over things you’ve done or said, and becoming paranoid that your friends and family think you’re a bad person. ‘Flaws’ is about my favourite activity during lockdown—self loathing.”
But even within this headspace, ‘Flaws’ finds a certain joy. As though in embracing insecurity, Buggs manage to go full circle, repositioning the rhythm as a cathartic force. “As much as I have no desire for anyone to experience any level of self loathing I also am aware that feelings of insecurity and paranoia are one of the things that unite us all as human beings,” Western continues, “and I think to hear about someone else feeling what you’re feeling can be comforting.”
I don’t feel too different from before
But I have looked and I’ve found flaws I hadn’t seen before
And I’ve wasted so much just spent wondering about nothing at all
Nothing at all
Nothing
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=3531423961 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]
Check out the video with visuals by Vince Ibay below:
‘Flaws’ is out now via Sad Club Records and you can get it from their Bandcamp page.
Artwork by Alice Western