Electric Pets

Weaving a rich tapestry of mature dark-pop with garage rock swagger, Electric Pets unashamedly draw influence from the foundations of rock n’roll history and framing it firmly with a twenty-first century styling. It’s all here: the distinctive twang of rockabilly and surf, breathy ‘60s-girl-group-vocals, Joe Meek-esque retro-futurist-electronica and bluesy fuzzed out JackWhite-like riffs. The band formed in 2019 as vocalist Emma Buckley tired of the solo acoustic circuit just as guitarist Phil Wagg and bassist Pete Darrington (also of Cable and GodNo!, and co-founder of Reckless Yes) wound up The Hudson Super Six. Joined by drummer Adam Grace they began writing together while listening to classics from all genres and eras. Rock, pop, indie, soul, blues and even country. Having felt restricted by the styles they’d previously worked in, they made a pact: no genre was off the table and the song was king. The approach would be similar to how it was at the dawn of pop, before music journalism compartmentalised everything to the n’th degree. There should be nothing shameful about listening to Dolly Parton one minute and Slayer the next while drawing inspiration from both. Electric Pets signed to independent label Reckless Yes for the release of 2 EPs in 2022.