20 years ago today: Republic of Loose released Aaagh!

Originally published in Hot Press in April, 2006:

Debased Dubliners Republic Of Loose return, here serving up their second smorgasbord of gourmet sleaze for your delectation. What more could a poor boy ask for in a time of plenty?

Coming on like an even more sex-obsessed Prince, the aptly titled Aaagh! is a wonderfully guttural romp. It opens with a brilliantly funny and apparently spontaneous rap on the genesis of the album title that acts as a kind of statement of intent – and from there on, it’s all impressively, unashamedly scatalogical. There are tracks on Aaagh! that would make even Har Mar Superstar blush: just listen to the filthy humour of ‘I’m Greedy’, a song which inhabits a league of revulsion all its very own.

In this world, sex is almost always an option. However, this is much more than a collection of smut-talking serenades. ‘Somebody Screamed’ achieves the equilibrium between rich absurdism and human frailty – not an easy trick.

Indeed the surface lyrical juvenilia may fool the casual listener, for Republic of Loose exhibit a musical maturity that far exceeds the capabilities of the vast majority of their more serious-minded contemporaries.

Beguiling, intuitive melodies form the basis of the superbly constructed songs, on what is a uniformly excellent – and curiously refined – record. Merging soul refrains, bad-ass blues and rock guitars in a seamless, invigorating whole, Aaagh! is a perniciously addictive listen. The Irish hit single, ‘Comeback Girl’, in which lead singer Mick Pyro comes over almost smoochy, has a pop insidiousness that coats the innuendo-laden lyrics in just the right amount of honey.

The thudding arrangements and guitar strut of ‘Break!’, bring to mind The Neptunes on a song which sees Republic of Loose getting their dirty groove on.

The bastardised jive reaches its peak with ‘You Know It’, a blast of irrepressible, scuzzy soul, frenetic bass riffs and burbling beats – Republic of Loose forging scorching pop magma out of these base elements.

Grotesque, lyrical, touching and damn humorous, by turn, the grubby allure of Aaagh! is hard to resist. Let’s get it on.

– Review: Francis Jones