Another of Manchester’s musical exports, MALCOM start the countdown to their debut EP with their first release of 2026, titled ‘Hard Working Blues’.
As the title suggests, the element of blues has a part to play here, making it’s grand entrance in the form of a harmonica that restlessly darts over the typical, Manchester-esque indie intro. An intriguing combination of genres, there is something about it that not only works, but shows artistic bravery and the desire to be original.
Using the harmonica sparingly throughout the main body, ‘Hard Working Blues’ is heavy hitting whilst also danceable, hammering the distortion but to good effect. The body of The Ramones and the voice of Sam Fender, the vocals of Caz Donaghy work brilliantly with the style of music, blending in rather than reaching for all the glory.
There seems to be a focus on fun songwriting rather than the increasingly common emotional approach, which makes for a pleasant change especially seeing it executed well.
Full of feedback, grove and a modern infusion of modern indie / 60’s folk, ‘Hard Working Blues’ took me by surprise at just how much I enjoyed the listen. Is it winning any awards? No. Is it a glimpse into the talent of a band who are brave enough to take artistic risks so early in their career? Absolutely.
Having already supported the likes of The K’s and The Molotovs, the hype is clearly there with MALCOM, and to be honest, I can see why. Festival-ready music, incorporating fun into their sound whilst maintaining professionalism and a good sound – Impressive.
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