Make no mistake, this is a hotly anticipated debut offering. Pillow Queens, the Dublin four-piece with the risqué name who formed in 2016 and almost overnight won a legion of fans with their debut EP Calm Girls, have already wracked up sold-out tours across the UK and Ireland and played alongside the likes of IDLES, Pussy Riot, and American Football.

Combining elements of indie, punk and pop, but not quite fully inhabiting any genre outright, they’re comfortable tackling big subjects and wrapping those subjects in glorious melodies. There is a youthful swagger and an assurance to their sound. Opening track Holy Show is a great example, a gentle but beautifully composed number that thoroughly rejects any notion that the band, who have attracted attention for being an all-female, all-lesbian group, need to confront people’s assumptions right out of the gate.

Comprised of Sarah Corcorans, Rachel Lyons, Cathy McGuinness, and Pamela Connolly, the group have been compared to other Irish acts such as Fontaines DC, but in truth, they bear closer sonic comparison to 1990’s American grunge outfits life The Pixies, particularly on tracks like Handsome Wife, the album’s lead single, where they sing about Dublin life (“Oh I wish I could have known / I'm the one that never gets old / This sore sad city never skips a beat”) against a skidding effects-heavy riff.

The vocal sharing is a glorious aspect of Pillow Queens, and this is particularly captivating on HowDoILook, while new single Liffey a stunningly absorbing affair complete with heavily distorted, tremolo laden guitars and pounding drums illuminated by some more beautiful harmonies.

Gay Girls tackles elements of sexuality and religion (“I won't worry about the gay girls / I pray for them when I wring my hands / Marie, Marie, Maria / Tell me where to find you when I lose my way”) and builds from a slow start into a glorious chorus, while closing track Donaghmede is an out and out epic, a near six-minute rollercoaster of feeling.

Rarely do bands with such a huge buzz deliver so completely with their debut album but In Waiting shows, without question, that Pillow Queens are every bit the real deal. It’s delicate and confessional in the right places, raucous and loud when it wants to be, occasionally vulnerable, often unfailingly honest, and utterly compelling.

Watch the official video for Liffey here.

In Waiting tracklist:

1. Holy Show

2. Child Of Prague

3. Handsome Wife

4. HowDoILook

5. Liffey

6. A Dog’s Life

7. Gay Girls

8. Harvey

9. Brothers

10. Donaghmede

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.