THE OPENING lines of opening track, 'Holy Show', present a picture of physical intimacy between two women, which is surprising for both its frankness, but also its tenderness.
Sex is a staple subject of all kinds of rock, but almost always from a straight male perspective, with consequent lewdness and single-entendre vulgarity. Pillow Queens are simply giving voice to female sexuality, broadly, and more specifically lesbian sexuality, but the difference is that the physicality is but a small part of the song, as it goes on to consider regret, insecurity, and the interior life of the lover in relation to the loved. Most such songs by males just stop at the physical.
Pillow Queens are not overly 'political', yet in their exploration of life from a Queer female perspective, makes what they have to say resonant and challenging. Vitally, their guitar drenched indie-rock is wonderful, co-existing effortlessly with the words, and never overshadowed by them. In short, Pillow Queens debut is everything we had hoped since their early releases in 2017/18.
'The refrain "Someday you'll have my head on a silver plate" takes on both grandeur and poignancy from the many levels of its meaning'
A pop-rock sensibility is evident in the melodic chorus of 'How Do I Look'; 'Gay Girls', and particularly the majestic closer 'Donaghmede', display a confidence and assuredness in the indie-rock quiet/loud dynamic; while 'Harvey' has a classic songwriting sophistication, a sort of indie reimagining of fifties pop.
Perhaps the most striking is 'Liffey', which derives its power, not only from the My Bloody Valentine-esque growl of the guitars, but also from its words, which draw on the story of Medusa - a rape victim condemned to be a hideous monster, only to be beheaded by Perseus - The refrain "Someday you'll have my head on a silver plate" takes on both grandeur and poignancy from the many levels of its meaning.
Pillow Queens will play the Róisín Dubh on March 5 2021.
