Basht. channel generational unease on brooding new single “Perfume”

Through relentless touring and a growing reputation on the live circuit, Basht. have built a devoted fanbase in the lead-up to announcing Poor Advice. Knockout live shows on tour with the likes of DEADLETTER, Everything Everything and Wunderhorse, as well as appearances at festivals including The Great Escape and Truck.

Until last year, the band underwent several line-up changes before settling on Jack Leavey (vocals/guitar), Lughaidh Armstrong-Mayock (lead guitar), Ryan McClelland (drums) and Louis Christle (bass). “I started in 2022 with Louis, who is the original bass player,” Leavey explains. “The other lads joined last year.” All four attended the same music college in Dublin, alongside fellow musicians in Bleech 9:3 and Brooki, who were part of Basht. in their early days.

Armstrong-Mayock and McClelland joined mid-tour, slotting in seamlessly thanks to their background in session work. They quickly began writing songs that would go on to form the band’s debut LP, lead single “Perfume” tells the story of a son reflecting on his parents’ marriage. “In Ireland, in the 20th century, there was huge pressure on young people by the Catholic Church around unplanned pregnancies,” Leavey explains. “People would then get married young. It’s about the child growing up in that environment, where the marriage is falling apart.”

“Perfume” leans into contrast, balancing stark minimalism with bursts of distortion that feel both measured and volatile. The arrangement leaves space for each element to breathe, giving the rhythm section a subtle but persistent drive while the guitars shift between unease and release. Rather than relying on a single climax, the track unfolds in phases, each one deepening its emotional pull and reinforcing the sense of quiet inevitability running through it.

The track’s slow-burn approach is handled with precision, allowing tension to build without ever tipping too early. “You’re figuring out the song as you go through, you don’t jump straight to the conclusion until the final chorus,” says Leavey. Producer Ali Chant influenced this: “He goes through everything quite surgically. It’s the first time we’ve worked like that. He pushes it further, we reign it back, then we find somewhere in the middle.”

Within the world of Poor Advice, due 9 October via LAB Records, “Perfume” begins the narrative in childhood, before following the same character as he encounters different preachers and bad actors throughout his life who attempt to mislead him. “[The album has] been a long time coming. Conceptually, it’s been chipped away at for a few years. It’s been so fun getting to have the freedom and the space, in previous EPs it’s been five songs that kind of had a similar theme but not really. This is our first piece of work with a thread running through it.”

Basht.’s live shows draw crowds comparable to those of Wunderhorse or Keo, with a young fanbase who know every word. “It’s mindblowing that these songs have connected with so many young people. It’s a sign of the times, and a sign of the guitar rock revival,” says Leavey. “It’s being led by young bands, which is great. There was a gap of 20 years between bands in that genre. Everything comes in waves, and we’re really lucky that we’ve managed to come out at the right time.”

Following the album’s release, Basht. will take to the festival circuit with appearances at Liverpool Sound City, Bearded Theory, Boardmasters and Leeds Festival.