It’s been over three decades since Brighton’s own Joe Average last made noise, but now they’re back and louder than ever. Their July 8 release, “Panic Buttons,” is a fiery, beat-driven track that kicks down the door with a riot of rave nostalgia and modern swagger.
From the jump, “Panic Buttons” grabs you by the collar. A disembodied public service announcement voice issues public warning instructions, “Stay inside, close windows and doors, put your heads between your legs” because apparently the world is a mess, and just like that, the chaos kicks in. The synths shimmer, the bass thumps, and then it hits you with the live drums crashing through like a heartbeat on overdrive. Then comes the warm, passionate and brassy horn section all over that blaze, flooding the track with cinematic panic.
Enter Faber. Her voice is deep, dusky, and full of bite, like Grace Jones with a touch more gravel. She comes singing heavily and gravely, backed by soaring echoes and a rhythm section that’s relentless. Her delivery drips with drama, fire, and just enough menace to make you believe the world is ending.
The story behind the song only adds fuel to the fire. Rich, Mad Mick, and Prof — the original Joe Average — got back together after a string of cosmic nudges, determined to revive tracks they never got to finish. Rich, who quit drumming after a life-changing accident, somehow found his way back to the kit. All that lead to this amazing release that made us believe in fate.
“Panic Buttons” is a banger with a backbone, and Joe Average is anything but.
STAY IN TOUCH:
SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
Review by: Naomi Joan