We never used to have proms in the UK. But like the commercialism of Halloween, proms have been come as part of UK culture thanks to adopting the customs of our friends across the pond. We had school discos at primary school. Well, a year after we left for some strange reason. That was in 1979 (gulp) and my undying memory will always be a teacher with a long forgotten name spinning Babylon’s Burning by The Ruts about a dozen times on the trot. Not a bad tune at that time, it has to be said. The charts were good in those days.

So it looks like they have proms in Indonesia too if this split EP from Drizzly. and Moongazing and Her is anything to go buy. The two tracks from Drizzly. are reminiscent of last year’s single If We Know Each Other Well Enough, Maybe We Can Go On a Date as both of their contributions fuses US high school rock and roll with jangle pop. Dance floor fillers, regardless of whether you are laughing or crying depending on whether your prom date showed or stayed away.

It was good to get reacquainted with Moongazing and Her again. That’s the trouble with listening to too much music! Previously discovered bands fall by the wayside. The rock and roll (and surf pop) feel runs through their two tracks, too. Given it’s a concept record about proms, that’s none too surprising, but they come at it from a greater indiepop angle. If Sarah Records did proms, this would be the sound they would be aiming for! Class of (c)86 to the dance floor now….

The whole thing is fun, having a feel of a John Waters film soundtrack (hmmm maybe Cry Baby), and do you know what? My 13-year-old self thinks it almost gives The Ruts a run for their money!

Best Prom Ever is out now via Paska Records in cassette and digital formats.

Drizzly. (Instagram)
Moongazing and Her (Instagram)

I have done some digging. Both bands have other releases this year. Drizzly released an EP titled Fairyland via Netrilis Music. It’s at the usual download stores, and Qobuz has it in lossless. EDIT: Found it on Bandcamp via Lisdia Records.

Moongazing and Her released a single in May titled I Never See Things (The Same Way You Do) and that can be purchased via Broken Strings.