MARE Loves - Natasha Rainey reviews: deep tan’s hollow scene

deep tan - hollow scene

East London’s deep tan are back with new single hollow scene. Off the back of their previous track camelot, the trio’s final single from their highly anticipated EP creeping speedwells will settle any musical cravings until its 4th June release. Dwelling within the post-punk genre, deep tan pronounce themselves with their pure punk essence reminiscent of late 90s garage without the prefixing post to situate them in 2021. What ironically polishes their position is the fact they are an all-female group. There’s an edge, especially today, with feminine energy being redefined musically for a raw sound usually associated with sweaty men headbanging. It’s like a new wave of rebel girl, without misogyny sinking it underground so deep tan can come to the forefront of punk without comparisons to their male counters – they can stand alone.

If there’s something I love about deep tan before even listening to them, it’s the lack of capitalisation in not only their song titles but their name. Deep Tan? No, it’s deep tan. Maybe this is my inner English degree, but this feels like a big f-you to traditional laws of grammar, out with the norm and in with the lowercase spelling. Or it could be simply an aesthetic choice. Either or, it’s compelling. Accentuating this offbeat style, hollow scene starts as if it were halfway through – no introduction or time to settle but straight in there like you’ve walked into a gig late but can comfortably bob your head to the song. It plays out as a humming clatter, it’s calm but also there’s a detachment and almost anger emerging through the tone. The vocals are cornered by accenting riffs echoing throughout the track. You can imagine this track live from your bedroom. Paradoxically, the relaxed vocals are hardened by almost jarring lyrics – ‘hollow in my eyes’ – just to tinge your listening ears with a bit of discomfort. But don’t we all like to wallow in a bit of misery?

It’s a clever mix of effortless irritation.

hollow scene and camelot work together well with a similar loftiness and fresh punk attitude. deepfake is another story, perhaps acting as the root for what the EP has to offer, nonetheless, the songs work together and apart. Measuring just over 3 minutes, hollow scene perfectly distils deep tan’s sound without being conceited, like many other post-punk bands in today’s catalogue, and even the stripped back energy relays exactly what to expect from deep tan.

Words by Natasha Rainey