EP REVIEW: Bonk! – The Act Of Doing It

’…the listener is taken on a guided tour to unexpected musical destinations; psychedelics merge with progressives, whilst indie dances with jazz-fusion…’

Underground darlings and cult favourites, Bonk! have been picking up some definite traction in the northern English music scene. Anyone who is in the know already seems to be clued in on the funk rock four-piece, whether via their impressively catchy singles, or energetic live performances.

Now, for those seeking a little more Bonk! for their buck, the band have released their debut EP, ‘The Act Of Doing It’. A concise release, yet one that perfectly establishes the creative ethos of Bonk!, the listener is taken on a guided tour to unexpected musical destinations; psychedelics merge with progressives, whilst indie dances with jazz-fusion, all of it held together by a core identity of fun funk. 

Jagged, punchy, funky brilliance, ‘Fridge Lightbulb’ never sits still. The predominately instrumental number rattles by with playful tempo changes, slick syncopation, and vibrantly entertaining musical performances. It’s a great reminder of the funk roots of this outfit that they effortlessly infuse with other popular rock genres.

This perfectly unfurls into the luscious, spoken-word flecked ‘Safety In Numbers’. Warm synths rise up around the listener as rocking guitars weave out gorgeous melodies, all backed by a slick rhythm section that lays down an effortlessly cool, cruising rhythm. The bridge is a complete psychedelic nightmare, vocals furiously repeating ‘four legs good, two legs bad’ over swirling instrumentals, before the track ramps up into a furious uptempo outro. 

The back half of the EP features the band’s two previous electrifying singles. ‘Wave’ is a whimsical little cut that is packed with charm, the band exploring all of the wonderful awkwardness of budding romance with catchy melodies, superbly funky bass lines, and even a bicycle bell. ‘Preserve’, on the other hand, is a grandiose progressive number that evolves through multiple soundscapes, peppered with some startlingly ferocious vocal moments that has you rethinking what you know about Bonk!. 

‘The Act Of Doing It’ is an incredibly solid debut release for the band, one that showcases their influences and creative ideas in a perfect bite sized way. There’s enough here that is accessible and familiar for newcomers, whilst long time fans of funk rock and its close genre relatives will find plenty to appreciate in how the band go about adding their own creative spin on matters.

The people in the know already know about Bonk!, and you know you really want to be in the know too, you know? 

RATING: 79/100 – Mostly Very Good

For Fans Of: Black MIDI, Roscoe Street, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Yard Act, Yin Yin

You can listen to Bonk!’s new EP ‘The Act Of Doing It’ on streaming services on 31/03/24. You can presave the track on Spotify here.

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify // Twitter