OONAGH HAINES — Not Not Pretending

If you’re into sharp parodies, Oonagh Haines’ debut release, Not Not Pretending, might be right up your alley. Do you drive a Ford Focus? Are you liable to torch said Ford by creating a candlelight ambience inside it to impress a love interest? These are just some of the comical scenes sketched over minimalist beats and heavily-pitched vocals, in the Queen’s— what else! Despite the parasitic nature of Haines’ stylings, some of the rudimentary beatmaking is actually pretty listenable, if that were the aim here, though I suspect it’s not.

The absolute silliness of crooning about love and kindness and the perfect date is not something we can ever take for granted, and why should we? I was particularly fond of “Dust”, with its upbeat rhythms and unaffected vocals. There is no hoodwinking here, which makes one think of earlier attempts at aping and slowing down a Grime-y aesthetic (Peaches comes to mind). Emptying the former of its earnestness and pathos is one element, but being enjoyable at the same time is the real trick.

Fans of appropriationist Garage/Grime and the like will certainly find much joy in the shtick. I bet even the humourless will be bouncing along. Somewhere, Oscar Wilde is smiling.