EP REVIEW: Girl Group – Think They’re Looking, Let’s Perform

‘…a masterclass of subversive songwriting. Every track radiates a joy for femininity, yet also acknowledges the weight it places upon one’s shoulders…’

If one was asked to name a single band that best reflects the musical and cultural zeitgeists of this era, then Girl Group may well be an answer that scores highly. The Norwegian-Irish five-piece came together back in 2023, with their debut single ‘Life is Dumb’; it placed 29th on our Top 50 Songs listing for that year, with its witty lyricism being elevated by a wistful yet deadpan delivery, gorgeous harmonies, and a post-punk instrumental that reworked the genre’s tropes into something electrifying.

Their desire to craft something in defiance of the still male-dominated world of music, whilst remaining conscious of their position within this system, leads to brilliantly fun, sharply intelligent, and often scathing commentaries. All of that has come together on their superb debut EP, ‘Think They’re Looking, Let’s Perform’, which serves as not only a celebration of femininity and an ode to hedonism, but a sometimes uncomfortable look at the societal domination of men even in passive contexts.

‘Yay! Saturday’ is a messy night out condensed into a wickedly catchy post-punk banger. It serves as a love letter to the joyous recklessness of youth, with a particularly great bar in the form of ‘Any kind of lesson learned/Won’t fit in my tiny purse’. Voice clippings add to the bustling, living nature of not just this song, but the entire EP. It’s also the track from which the EP’s title is pulled from, as the acute awareness of being perceived by the male gaze creeps in and pollutes the moments of living for oneself.

‘Your Fantasy’ takes that latter theme, and does a fantastic job at creating a track that feels both flirtatious yet disquieting. Lines are address directly to men as the band willingly play-up to sexist, fetishistic, and predatory stereotypes of female-female intimacy, even that which is platonic. The male listener is placed into the position of a voyeur, and despite the fact the band never outwardly assign a moral weight to this, it cleverly instigates feelings of discomfort; an acknowledgment that female privacy can never truly exist in a society that seeks to boil them down to the pleasure they can provide men. All of this is done atop of an incredible instrumental that merges a thumping, bass heavy dance beat with the post-punk sensibilities that the band are known for.

‘Flink Pike’ derives its name from the Norwegian for ‘good girl’, and makes reference to “good girl syndrome”, in which girls are socialised from a young age to be agreeable, perfectionist, and self-sacrificing. Norway has begun to reckon with a generation of girls that have been forced into this mindset, and this track serves as an open pushback against this phenomenon. A driving, acoustic led instrumental sits beneath multiple vocal lines that swirl and twist around one another; the climax is brilliantly executed, as the band call out the sexist irony of wanting a girl to be both a sociable socialite and a perfect housekeeper. The track cuts off abruptly with a suitably manic scream.

The EP is wrapped up with the closing number, ‘BFF4EAE’, which sheds the EP’s sharp wit and chaotic buzz in favour of soft acoustics, ethereal vocals, and warm declarations of affection. The chemistry between these musicians is apparent, and that is part of what makes Girl Group’s music so engaging; you are permitted to step into their world, where five girls navigate the whirlwind transitional period of university in a wild, unforgiving, yet often beautiful world. The tenderness of ‘BFF4EAE’ does not blunt the sharpness of the prior tracks, but instead acts as a perfect reminder, especially to young women, that there is always room for them to be unapologetically themselves.

‘Think They’re Looking, Let’s Perform’ is a masterclass of subversive songwriting. Every track radiates a joy for femininity, yet also acknowledges the weight it places upon one’s shoulders; even in privacy, women exist without consent as the performer for the male gaze. Don’t be fooled by the breezy lo-fi veneer and wickedly catchy pop hooks; this is an EP with a real depth, and a wealth of important things to say. This feels like the beginning of something truly very, very exciting.

RATING: 81/100 – Very Good

For Fans Of: Wet Leg, Panic Shack, Gen And The Degenerates,

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