Girlinky - Hai Wakarimashita

by John Clarkson

published: 2 / 11 / 2002

Label: Dedear Records
Format: 7"

Not totally serious second single from London four piece, which combines "together the melodiousness of the Go Betweens with the ramshackle slacker pop of Pavement and Dinosaur Jr"

Review

With winter already on its way, and the year nearly at an end, Girlinky have just released one of the sunniest, brightest records of the last twelve months with 'Hai Wakarimashita', their new vinyl only single. The group, a London-based half British, half Antipodean four piece,which consists of Scott, Rob, Sarah, and Chris, has been playing together for two years. Combining together the melodiousness of the Go Betweens with the ramshackle slacker pop of Pavement and Dinosaur Jr, the band has put out a previous CD only EP, 'My Huge Head ,' and has its debut album, 'I Want the Tsunami', due out in late February. The titles of these records alone imply a band that doesn't take itself very seriously, and much of Girlinky's wit is indeed largely self-deprecating. 'Hai Wakarimashita' combines a chunky, cranked up guitar riff with warbling keyboards and has Scott, like a demented circus ringmaster, enthusiastically bellowing at the rest of the group to follow and chase after him. The B sides have a similar madcap Monkees-style humour. 'I Dare You to Make Me Happy' begins as a tinny melodic ballad, but, quickly expands into another exuberant pop number. With Rob desperately trying to cajole a girl into going out with him, it features the immortal lines : "I said that I would pay for dry cleaning/I only hope that the smell is gone". 'Swimmingly', like 'I Dare You to Make Me Happy', employs a chugging guitar riff, but in contrast is slightly more keyboard orientated. Sarah appears on backing vocals, and it has Scott, back on lead vocals, desperately trying to squirm his way out of a relationship, by trying to look for fault in it where there is none. Far sharper than their chaotic image would imply, Girlinky are enormous fun, but also know how to write great pop tunes. 'Hai Wakarimashita', as an additional bonus, also appears on blue vinyl. 'I Want the Tsunami', when it comes, will be the most perfect way of blowing away the end-of-winter blues.

Track Listing:-

1 Hai Wakarimashita
2 I Dare You To Make Me Happy
3 Swimmingly

Interviews

Interview (2003)

London based indie pop group Girlinky have just released their debut album 'I Want the Tsunami'. Members Scott, Rob and Chris talk about the band's first three years, and their unusual way of playing gigs with the extended absence of other member, Sarah

Live Reviews

London Verge, 17/1/2003

Energetic and vigorous, Girlinky are one of the rising indiepop bands on the current London indepedent scene. With vocalist and keyboardist Sarah away in New Zealand, Olga Sladeckova finds them finding a unique way of dealing with the problem...