The charming and chirpy Bentcousin is the musical project of Brighton based twins Pat and Amelia. Combining the spirited tone of Lily Allen, the feisty vitality of The Ting Tings and the mellow riffs and old school indie vibe of The Smiths, Bentcousin is one Britpop band that is making a big splash in the underground music scene.
Often describing themselves as “cutecore/acid punk/Osmonds on cheap whizz” it is hard to argue with their sweet but frank style. ‘I Think I Like Your Girlfriend More Than You’ emulates this in every way. Amelia sings “when she’s happy, you seem mad, when she’s pretty, you’re not glad, you didn’t help her with her mood, I think I like your girlfriend more than you” over a subtle, funky riff, coated in Pat’s soulful murmurs that close the song. Despite the fact that the song was written in around ten minutes, it’s not without its deeper inspirations. On reflection of the entire EP it is evident that despite their cheeky, exuberant sound Bentcousin’s lyrics are an honest, no-nonsense satire on romance, dysfunction, anxiety, anger, paranoia and rejection. Under all the ‘wah wah’s’ and ‘ooh la la’s’ there’s clearly a lot of grit.
This is expressed most effectively in ‘I Quit You’, ‘Slade’and ‘Bentpaperboy’ . ‘I Quit You’ sparkles. The two vocals bounce nicely off one another sounding like a kind of revved up She and Him, amidst the spluttery licks of the guitar and blundering beat of the drums. It’s an infectious tune that uses simple rhymes and claps like a mature nursery rhyme and there’s nothing wrong with that. Often the simplest things work the best. ‘Slade’ is perhaps the most energetic song off the EP. Chuggy, romping riffs that never slow down, like a child on caffeine, are layered under Pat’s sullen vocals which take centre stage, to great effect. Conversely ‘Bentpaperboy’ slows everything down in a pretty finger-plucked folksy tune. Everything’s a bit calmer, softer, and smoother. Amelia’s vocals are less brazen, yet the lyrics are still as unflinching as she sings “She was kind of slutty… it kind of turned me on.‘
There is, musically if not lyrically, an innocence to Bentcousin that is highly appealing. However as charming as it all is, and it is very charming, it’s not particularly refreshing. It’s all a bit high-school which, for some, would be incredibly off-putting. Perhaps it’s the sweet, drowning in syrup voice or the clipped British ‘street’ accent, but it feels as if it’s all been done before. Nevertheless, with their funky, jingly riffs and humorous lyrics Bentcousin are easy to listen to and very likeable, just not loveable.
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