MeMe Detroit, Life In The Now - EP review

MeMe Detroit is an artist that has featured heavily on our radar since we first found her opening up for rockers Asylums in October 2016 at Birmingham's now defunct Rainbow venue.

Her live persona is one of grit, sass and energy - we have described her previously as Birmingham's own grunge queen.

And while we enjoyed her hard-hitting debut record of that year - Live To Love You'll Love To Live - it did lack some of the balls-out gravitas her live shows carried.

In singles released since then she has addressed that somewhat, and now her new EP steps that up a notch again.

Across five tracks the former The Ticket Unsigned page star MeMe - real name Maria Rodriguez - and her band deliver a large slice of guitar scuzz pie which has thunderous drumming piercing through the pastry at every turn.

The rhythmic aggression of De Moe encompasses this greatly. The slick bass that links each section is both inviting and terrifying as it hooks you in and warns of impending dangers. Here MeMe's vocals slip and slide through the octaves with ease. It's a very haunting track.

Opener Churchside Inn - a previous single - is also of the punchy vein. Here, drums from Barney Such slap you into waking before grinding away at your spinal fluid until pretty much everything reaches boiling point. It's a frenetic, fuzzy jelly of a song - one which has been pummelled into a beautiful mash by a young child.

Another former single, Soc Med Junkies, really allows MeMe's guitars to soar alongside its social commentary themes. MeMe loves a track that gives listeners a slight rest during the verses before slamming in with a raging chorus. This track is no different. The gritty grunts emanating from her instrument are incredible. It is one of her finest works.

And closer Run Riot follows suit, as the name suggests. Underground punk rears its head here - a very sing-along chorus surely set to prove a hit with live audiences as the music slaps in time behind it. The guitar solo is also great fun.

Will You Be My Lie? has a more Alanis Morissette approach to rock powering it. It slinks from shadows to streetlights with drunken swagger. Melodic choruses hold court.

It's a fine return from one of our most gifted local talents.

Rating: 8/10

MeMe Detroit's new record is available to buy via her Bandcamp page. They are playing as part of the Madlands Christmas Cracker event alongside The Assist, Malarkey, Johnny Kowalski & The Sexy Weirdos, The Pagans S.O.H, Harry Jordan and Hunger Moon at Birmingham Town Hall on December 21.