New Music: Supermilk – Muscle Top

Muscle Top sees South London rockers Supermilk leaning into the XTC side of the sound on this standout number from their Grief Hospital EP.

The EP is formed and shaped by vocalist Jake Popyura’s experience with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neurone disease) and retains the wit and flavours of 2024’s High Precision Ghosts album.

So, while Muscle Top fires off in a similar style to XTC circa Drums and Wires and Big Star circa Radio City, it folds punk, power pop and new wave to the mix, a jigsaw of sound with the pieces fitting perfectly together.

“Grief Hospital is four cheerful songs about terminal illness, forbidden sexuality, coerced porn performances and grudges taken to the grave,” states Popyura. “It’s the first thing we’ve released since ALS robbed me of the ability to play instruments, and we had to stop playing live as a result. Half the songs were written and demoed just before I could no longer make chord shapes or hold a pick; the other half were composed entirely with software and SNES-esque MIDI guitars.”

Grief Hospital was released on the 9th of June on Specialist Subject Records and can be picked up in digital and limited-edition vinyl formats on Bandcamp. For streaming options and band news, head to Instagram.

Header image by Sonny Malhotra