EP Review: English Teacher - Polyawkward
Stradling the duality of chaos and harmony, English teacher exist within a world of abstract and brutalist beauty. With the release of their paradigm shifting debut EP 'Polyawkward' they look set to lead the charge in dismantling the current industry orthodoxy.
Comprised of Lily Fontaine (vocals, rhythm guitar, synth) Douglas Frost (drums, vocals) Nicholas Eden (bass) and Lewis Whiting (lead guitar), the Leeds four-piece have been releasing music under the moniker of 'English Teacher' since 2020 however, it wasn't until the following year that they piqued the interest of the industry with their breakout track "R&B". Encompassed by its "brooding narrative that ricochets between sweetly-satirical compliance and open confrontation of the racialised expectations of a front woman of colour", the track captured the attention of many with its frenetic energy and profound lyricism and highlighted English Teacher as the ones to watch as we moved into the new year.
Since then, the band have been championed by many and were included in the NME 100, DIY Class of 2022 and the Dork 2022 Hype list in addition to receiving considerable airtime on the likes of BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music.
With the release of their debut EP 'Polyawkward', English Teacher confound expectations and prove that they are able to exist in their own space, outside of the post-punk orthodoxy that they were ordained to occupy. Detailing their forthcoming EP, the bands lead singer Lily revealed “Polyawkward’ is a journey of self-discovery around supermarkets, along pub crawls, through lockdowns, space, time, hooks and wonk"
The record kicks off with the EP's title track, a meandering epic that shows the full extent of the band’s creative dexterity and most importantly Fontaine's mesmerising vocal range. Flowing seamlessly from euphonious song to arresting spoken word, the track is the perfect example of who and what English Teacher are and effortlessly showcases their unique ability to warp and contort the beauty that is inherent within their compositions.
Rhythmic variability and discordance are a signature of the bands style and this is something that is reflected throughout the EP. On cuts like 'A55' and 'Good Grief' the tracks build and billow before reaching their lavish crescendos and when this is paired with Fontaine's wry observations on modern life, they illicit such strong imagery that they almost transcend song and instead take the form of short theatrical vignettes, allowing the listener to temporarily inhabit the bands world. This is no truer than on 'Yorkshire Tapas', a spoken word piece about a burgeoning, working class romance that blossoms into the most danceable groove on the record.
Perhaps the biggest standout of the release comes on 'Mental Maths', a skittish supermarket shop opera that charts a journey through an anxiety inducing grocery grab. The tracks frantic refrain perfectly reflects the consternation within Fontaine's intricately woven lyrics and echoes the influence of the likes of Black Midi and Black Country, New Road.
A truly thrilling debut, 'Polyawkward' is a theatrical odyssey through the shared consciousness of a nervous generation. A record that proves that English Teacher possess the musicality and the song writing ability that their contemporaries could only dream of and perhaps most importantly, is a tantalising taste of what's to come from the band.
Words by Jordan Corrigan
