Out of all the tracks we’ve covered from alternative-dance trio Strong Asian Mothers, ‘Animal’ probably comes closest to what you can expect from their live shows: synths and bass laid on heavy by Amer Chadha-Patel; Josh Stadlen’s centralised, jazz-trained drums; Kalim Patel’s vocals going full throttle. There’s even those sudden quiet moments where you’ll find yourself quickly returning from a mid-shape, mid-jump hands-in-the-air expression to a brief time of reflection, with minimalist beats and narrative-led lyrics. With showcases of Phi Collins-esque drums and the energy of The Bloodhound Gang, ‘Animal’ is a superbly innovative twist on pop, dance, hip-hop, trap and just about any other genre you can isolate here. As the title-track for a forthcoming second EP, the band are clear to set a new precedent: “The Animal EP is the sound of us taking our destiny back into our own hands and reconnecting with our true, pre-Lynx Africa selves," the trio say. - HT