Wet Leg - Moisturizer

How do you follow a debut that won Grammys and gave indie-rock a viral anthem? By getting even bolder, weirder, and even more fun. Isle of Wight duo-slash-band-slash-duo Wet Leg haven’t lost their mischievous streak one bit. If anything, after a few years on the road, they’ve evolved into a feral, electrifying force – an energy fizzing through every track.

‘Moisturizer’ as a whole is a tighter, punchier beast than their debut, but still brimming with Wet Leg’s trademark deadpan wit, surfy fuzz and chaotic charm. There are hooks galore and a few new tricks in the mix. Lead single ‘Catch These Fists’ is an instant indie disco classic – all chunky guitars and shout-along catharsis. ‘CPR’ turns romantic desperation into a darkly comic thrill ride, while ‘Pillow Talk’ is positively filthy in the best possible way. It’s an album about being in love, but being in love doesn’t have to be all fluffy clouds and bunny rabbits. Sometimes, it can be about humping the bedding.

Wet Leg 2.0, see, are all sapphic energy and snipes as sharp as razor blades. Lyrically, they’re more pointedly perfect than ever. From a song named after ‘Davina McCall’ to surreal references to ‘Pokémon’ and late-night chippies, Rhian Teasdale’s eye-roll delivery lands every quip. But there’s real feeling buried beneath the punchlines too – ‘U and Me at Home’ hints at longing with an anthemic wink.

The production, once again helmed by Dan Carey, gives them a bigger canvas without sanding off their edges. The guitars are chunkier, the weird is weirder, but it still sounds unmistakably like Wet Leg – just turned up a notch and drenched with extra glitter glue.

‘Moisturizer’ is a victory lap and a bold step forward all at once. It’s the sound of a band revelling in their own weirdness, poking fun, and somehow still writing some of the catchiest songs of the year. Sophomore slump? Not a chance. Wet Leg are only getting stranger, louder, and better – moisturised, refreshed, and ready to wreak more havoc.