Liminal Review – DIY ★★★★

Liminal Review – The Phonograph (8.5/10)

“It’s called ‘Mackerel’s Funky Mission’ and the idea behind this is: that you get to pretend to be someone else to escape from a current situation…. In this case: A fish… I think we can all relate to that!’ Amy Lames | BBC 6 Music

As befitting a band who take their name from the Maltese word for frenzy, ĠENN thrive amongst chaos.  ĠENN are made up of Janelle Borg – guitars (she/her), Sofia Rosa Cooper – drums (she/they), Leona Farrugia – Vocals (she/they), and Leanne Zammit – bass (she/her).

Majority queer, the first iteration of the band started 10 years ago in Malta, before moving to Brighton. Still Brighton based, they are Anglo-Maltese, with Jamaican and Portuguese roots.

They shared debut EP Liminal in 2021 through the London-based Everything Sucks – which consists of six contrasting tracks that sear post-punk missives with more allusive meditations cocooned in psychedelic textures. Describing their creative dynamic as a sisterhood, ĠENN have an unconditional bond, based on mutual affection and instinctive trust.

The quartet has a resolutely independent streak – as evidenced by the visual world entirely created by lead-vocalist Leona, as well as the establishment of the Liminal Collective through which they’ll be releasing their music. They have an untrammelled attitude towards fusing the personal with the political via their amorphous sound, which touches on post-punk, art-pop, psych-rock,  noise-rock and more.

Key shows have come in support of Pussy Riot, PINS, JOHN, BC Camplight, Girli, TV Priest, Bull, Hands Off Gretel, and more, as well as performances at ESNS representing Malta.

The band have found radio champions in Steve Lamacq, Amy Lamé, Tom Robinson, and Don Letts at BBC 6Music as well as John Kennedy at Radio X (including a live session), Charlie Ashcroft at Amazing Radio and Kevin Cole at KEXP.

And press acclaim has come from Clash, Under The Radar, DIY, Line Of Best Fit, Loud and Quiet and more. These nods of approval across the landscape setting the foundations for an imperious and exciting push forward.

A Reprise (That Girl) Review – Louder Than War

Rohmeresse video premier – DIY Magazine