Mary’s Lye – Forever Girl (2024)
With their confidence and electric energy, Michael Thompson (vocals and guitar), Georgie Lane (bass) and Harry Anson (drums) can ensnare a live audience’s senses with ease. Yet, it is not merely the live shows that have them winning hearts; international features from reviews to radio airtime have Mary’s Lye reaching far beyond their UK borders. 2024 has been an exciting year for the band with two EPs and four singles – all critically acclaimed. This is our introduction to Mary’s Lye so join us as we dive headfirst into their most recent release, ‘Forever Girl’.
Hot on the heels of their successful five-track EP What Happens In The Underparts, ‘Forever Girl’ sees Mary’s Lye take another direction with their sound. Typically, a strong grunge-inspired group, songs like ‘Don’t Talk’ and ‘Insane’ lean toward 90s grunge like Nirvana and Hole; however, ‘Forever Girl’ steps back a little with a lighter, more soothing, laidback rush of, what is deemed, “grunge pop”. This by no means suggests the signature alternative rock meets grunge Mary’s Lye sound has disappeared… the group are just showing us another facet of their identity.
Influenced by a diverse range of styles, Mary’s Lye flit through old-school grunge, alternative rock, post-punk and some classic rock to create their eclectic sound. The band share that ‘Forever Girl’ was “inspired by Leonard Cohen’s ‘That’s No Way To Say Goodbye’ and The Who’s ‘Glow Girl’…” – sounds that should collide but find cohesion and complementary harmony all orchestrated by Mary’s Lye.
One element I find intriguing about Mary’s Lye is their way of breathing life into nostalgic music while retaining a contemporary edginess – threading music across decades, generations and, as heard in ‘Forever Girl’, genres. As I mentioned, this is my introduction to the group; but the concoction of Anson’s pounding drums, Lane’s bold bass, and Thompson’s soaring guitar with gruff vocals quickly wriggle into your ears and rattle about your brain for hours to come. Easily one of the most exciting up-and-coming bands out there, and I’m eager to hear more on their upcoming album.
Find out more about Mary’s Lye on their Facebook and Spotify.
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