An acoustic guitar, with a staccato rhythm. So begins the album, On The Brink, by The Thirst, a Brixton-based foursome making rock music with guitars. Clearly inspired by Bloc Party (no bad thing) these young men have a swagger about them as they tell tales of Brixton life. It’s a place I first visited several decades ago and fell in love with. I’ve lived there, got very drunk and stoned there, seen too many gigs to mention there, been to quite a few house parties and the occasional illegal gathering listening to hip hop, reggae and grime.
But that’s me.
Fast forward to 2008 and these young men are living a similar life to the one I did back in the 90’s, if the lyrics are anything to go by. Their music is all catchy lyrical hooks and a raucous energy reminiscent of bands like The Libertines and the aforementioned Bloc Party, as well as fellow rockers, Skunk Anansie. It’s very much that south London indie rock sound, but given that twist of rooting you in a very specific place, Brixton.
Formed by brothers Mensah and Kwame Hart, I first came across them busking in central London. Instantly compelling, they know how to write a great line and combine it with a hyperactive guitar lick to create anthemic, dynamic songs with broad appeal. And yet… despite signing with Ronnie Wood’s Wooden Records imprint, they didn’t become the household names they should have been. Financial crashes and a shift in musical tastes, perhaps? Were they 10 years too late? Whatever the reason, all these years later the songs stand up to scrutiny really well.
The soulful I’m Falling, for example, is one of many highlights, a snapshot of what it’s like to see situations only too real to many struggling to get by each day but held together by strong family and community ties. They are relatable.
Acre Lane takes you on a journey of one of the area’s most famous roads. Plenty of tongue in cheek observations that bands like Arctic Monkeys and The Rifles had made only a few years before, it’s a poignant love letter to the things that mean something to these lads. And it has bags of fun baked in. Lines you can sing along with out loud.
The culture of south London and Brixton in particular, is never far away. The ska-esque rhythms of Watch Me Now and Don’t Waste Your Time, for example, or the nods to drum ‘n’ bass you’ll find on the intro to All Mine, which remains one of my favourite tracks on this album with its infectious energy and raw power.
There’s a lot of potential on this album, which was released on CD only. And while that potential didn’t come to fruition under the moniker, The Thirst, they’re still recording and making great music that really showcases their songwriting talents, albeit with less of the punk sound, as Baytrees. Check them out.
Listen to The Thirst’s On The Brink on YouTube, or your preferred streaming service.