Album Review: Catchy Peril - Catchy
Hey kids, let's talk about fate.
It's a concept we're all familiar with; a pre-determined destiny where all outcomes end in the same conclusion regardless of choice. Philosophers have grappled with this grand question for thousands of years and there are various schools of thought that often contradict each other. Determinism argues that events are caused by prior events, but human action is part of the chain, whereas Fatalism implies the outcome is fixed regardless of human influence and action. Whatever camp you're in*, they ask many more questions than they're able to answer. The paradox of philosophy in a nutshell baby.
*There are more camps here, but this is a pop music review not a fucking dissertation.
Where does this fit in with the story of French band Catchy Peril and the release of their new album Catchy, you're undoubtedly thinking with unprecedented levels of fear welling up in your eyes? Well it really doesn't and perhaps that is the point. Or rather, the pointLESS.
I'm not spoiling this for anyone here when I say that putting your music into the world in 2026 is a hard sell to 99% of people, who would much rather listen to their music on a Tik Tok video from some guy running around a city centre with a Go-Pro harassing young women and laughing at homeless people. Thems the breaks. Thankfully, there is 1% of us still tuned in and wanting to find exciting new bands making great music. I'm looking at YOU here, you beautiful truth-seeking righteous, fucking soundddd 1%, not that OTHER 1% we hear far too much about already thank you very much.
We can beat them.
We can be heroes just for one day.*
*Time for some bullshit journo' gaslighting, you ready?
It's not my fault you cringed there. Learn to control your embarrassment Wokey snowflake.
That ought to do it.
Anyway, excuse that semi manic stream of consciousness bubbling to the service, because there is new music to get into. Catchy Peril are a band formed in the midst of the glamour and sunshine of Southern France's largest city and the country's second largest behind..well, you know the other one.
If Catchy Peril's destiny doesn't take this band beyond this debut album, then they have certainly given it their best shot. Opener 'Lemon Eye' starts with a werewolf howl that taps into the Hammer Horror campness of The Cramps and then playfully messes with the formula before you get time to settle. The synths are an excellent touch, adding a New Wave feel akin to the innate weirdness of Devo. As introductions go, it'll certainly make an impression. The chorus sounds like it could well be sound tracking a game on a Sega Megadrive and believe me, that is far from a bad thing.
'I Like it Hard' is a more gentle affair, drifting perhaps into safer territory. Based almost entirely around some synth arpeggios and a sparse rhythm section playing in the pockets; it's an obvious single choice. The vocals are a standout here as they comfortably enter the territory of bands like Phoenix and Tame Impala without it feeling like a blatant rip-off.
'Astro Orbiter' is a song that stands out as being a more traditional rocker, with the synth being more complimentary rather than hogging the full spotlight. There's this creeping, chugging guitar line that builds throughout and an excellent use of 'ooohh-ahhh' backing vocals which everyone should have time for - EVEN YOU. This is band with plenty of ideas and the audacity to use them.
It's not all a raging success though. Sometimes the synth is a tad overbearing making it sound like the soundtrack to a Gameboy, which is OBVIOUSLY nowhere near as cool as the Sega Megadrive. 'Sugar Lane' is the track that really suffers the most from this as the mix seems too synth heavy, drowning out some of the band's obvious other strengths. The goth influenced 'Epilepsie' struggles from being a little too ambitious; taking it's ques from Joy Division and never quite reaching the heights it's aiming for. The style is definitely right, but the substance isn't there to sustain it.
Fear not though because these are minor blots on the Catchy copybook. Penultimate track 'Lovely' and closer 'Drugs' seem much more natural fits for the band's undoubted entertaining energy. The former is a synth punk banger that will an excellent edition to their live set; whereas the latter is debauched ode to those nights where only getting truly fucked up will do. Both land with a similar intensity and showcase this band at their absolute best. More of this kind of behaviour please.
With Catchy, the band may not be breaking the mould, but they have created a record with infectious energy that has cult band written into it's DNA. Fate will have it's say eventually, but if that means finding a small percentage of us still engaged in the Rock n' Roll experience, then that could be enough to see them move up a gear with this promising debut.
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