In Review: Egyptian Blue - Body Of Itch

Brighton's boys-on-the-up deliver big themes with angular precision on their latest three-track EP.

Posted: 24 April 2020 Words: Jim Howells

It seems an absolute eternity since I was supposed to see Egyptian Blue at The Lexington. An absolute eternity. It’s so long ago, in fact, that next week, I'll have to scroll to find it again in my calendar. A strange way to explain a few weeks passing, but it’s a strange time we’re living in. And while routine and normality are out the window and music streaming is in rapid decline, it’s nice that they, the bands, are still maintaining some kind of structure for us, the quarantined masses. And if there were ever a band you would want to impose some jagged, sharp structure into your soft stay-at-home life it would be a good old post-punk band like Egyptian Blue, stabbing through your marshmallow-furlough, with their new EP, Body of Itch.

Just shy of a 10-minute duration, Body of Itch has a humbleness that hot-young up-and-comers tend to lack when creating an EP. The EP is your shop window, to flaunt your wares, not give everything away at once, and while it’s not quite Selfridges' Christmas display, best believe, I want to enter Egyptian Blue’s shop.

Mention Egyptian Blue in certain circles and someone is bound to mention Gang of Four - it’s almost inevitable, and while it’s been said before, it’s a valid case. Similar to Gang of Four, Egyptian Blue’s Body of Itch tackles themes of politics and big-media, delivered with the same sharp precision and angular-baroqueness. Egyptian Blue share more with Gang of Four on Body of Itch than they did on previous releases, which with an Andy Gill-shaped hole left in our world is most welcomed. Maybe it’s time to clear some space on the record shelf for a new ‘Entertainment!’.

Since the release of ‘Collateral’ in 2019 and debut EP Collateral Damage in the same year, Egyptian Blue have proven their knack for consistent output. Paired with a reputation for spirited live performances, their dedicated fanbase has been growing. They’ve been on a journey which really felt like it would have reached a pivotal climax with the release and the supporting tour, but all we can do now is stick on Body of Itch and think what could have been.

My parents' living room will never quite match the ambience of Egyptian Blue at The Lexington (no matter how hard I try), but Body of Itch is a solid display of post-punk, with enough replay-ability to tide us over.