Chas Leman returns with a bold new direction on his four-track EP Repetitive Strain, out February 9 via Pilchard Sounds. Swiftly moving on from his 2025 debut Wish The Clock Would Go Back, which drew comparisons to early Elvis Costello, The Divine Comedy, and Pulp, Leman now embraces electronic textures, programmed beats, and a distinctly 2000s-inspired sound palette.
The EP draws influence from Gorillaz, Hot Chip, Baxter Dury, and Getdown Services, blending lo-fi drum samples, vintage and modern synths, vocoder effects, and layered vocals to create a playful yet poignant sonic world. While the music feels expansive and experimental, Leman retains the jazzy, lounge pop sensibilities that have become his signature.
Lyrically, Repetitive Strain tackles the pressures of the modern working life, reflecting on low-income labor, inflation, and looming global crises, including the specter of AI and world conflict. Tracks like “The Good Life?” and “This Is Life” explore resilience amid routine and banality, celebrating the small victories and adaptability of everyday life. Leman balances melancholy with levity, pairing Eastern European dulmers and oriental lutes with pulsing synths and Bossa Nova guitar lines to underscore the tension between struggle and joy.
Opening track “Washing Machine Week” sets the tone with a driving bassline and eclectic instrumentation, nodding to the nostalgia of early 2000s electronic music. “The Real World,” the EP’s most experimental track, layers manipulated vocals over complex chord progressions, offering a commentary on humanity and society that is as ambitious musically as it is lyrically. The record closes with “This Is Life,” which builds from minimal synths into anthemic choruses supported by dueling guitars, highlighting the creative synergy between Leman and producer A. Charles.
Repetitive Strain confirms Leman as an artist unafraid to pivot and explore new musical territories. The EP underscores his ability to fuse introspective lyricism with bold, contemporary production, creating music that is thoughtful, danceable, and immersive. To celebrate the release, Leman and his band will perform a two-date run in March 2026, including Brighton’s The Bees Mouth and a unique daytime show at London’s Battersea Barge with the Thames and the city skyline as a backdrop.
Repetitive Strain is available now on all major streaming platforms, inviting listeners into Leman’s inventive take on modern life, labor, and the human spirit.
Featured Images: Artist Supplied
