Fuckin ‘ell! If you’re missing the mighty sound of JOHN x 2 then get your ears around this mighty bastard! dull, a power duo from Lancaster galloping out of the stables of Cracked Ankles Records who can’t do anything wrong at the moment when spotting loud as fuck talent. Pile driving riffs and sonic noise backed with a powerful drum / vocal onslaught. What’s not to like? Read on…

dull. by name but not by nature. This Lancaster, UK based noise duo relish in contrast and
contradiction. Intense screamy vocals but poetic and thoughtful lyrics. Thick fuzzy guitar
riffs but minimal electronica-inspired arrangements. To make a sound so huge and
compelling with only two people, a single guitar and a stripped back drum kit is by no means a small feat.

The band comprises vocalist/drummer Joel Maudsley, who cites bands such as
Preoccupations and protomartyr as references, alongside Blixa Bargeld and Factory Floor
influenced guitar/electronics wizard Raymond Jennings. Having only begun gigging in early
2025, they have already racked up an impressive list of performances alongside The DSM IV, Hot Wax and Jane Weaver. Maudsley has previously been seen behind the drum kit for Bingo Records bands Dog Daises and Mr Ben + The Bens, whilst Jennings cut his teeth playing bass in a host of bands and composing short film scores. The two, who met DJing at disco and electronic nights in their hometown, bonded over a shared love of immediacy and minimalism in music. They recreate this love with abundance in their intense live shows. The drums are pounding and motorik, the guitar throbs loudly with sub bass and Maudsley’s vocals range from screamo shouting to sprechgesang Matt Berninger-esque crooning. It is a spectacle to witness.

They take a similar approach in the studio. Maudsley says, ‘Immediacy at all costs. Not over thinking things, just going with what feels right’. This is evident in their debut single,
‘Spilling’, which is released on the 15th November by Northwest taste-maker label, Cracked Ankles Records (Evil Blizzard, Yaang, Pyncher, King Gizzard + the Lizard Wizard). Recorded with one-time Fall member Simon ‘Ding’ Archer and mixed by Leonard Kaarge of the Berlin
noise-pop outfit ERRORR, the single sees dull. uncompromisingly setting out their stall:
minimal overdubbing and multi-tracking, one-take vocals and little studio wizardry. The
recording of ‘Spilling’ emulates their live show in its intensity. Jenning’s monster bassy
guitar riff ties the track together whilst Maudsley’s, at times erratic but always considered,
drumming creates the perfect back drop for the captivating vocal performance.

‘I am your conscious kin, I slide my little songs from under you…’

The B-side, ‘Helpless, In Their Nature’, exemplifies the aforementioned contrast and
contradiction in dull. Beginning with fuzzy harmonics, demonstrating Jenning’s love of
guitar playing which merges simplicity with sonic manipulation, the track soon melts into a
darkly atmospheric ambient electronic piece with Maudsley’s demonic whispers at the
forefront. It illustrates perfectly the complexity and intelligence of what dull. are doing. What sounds simple and sparse initially evolves into something much deeper and intentional: their eclectic music tastes and years of exploring the limits of what songs can be through their DJing has equipped dull. with the tools to create something quite unique. They have done just that… and it sounds enchanting.

Upcoming Live Dates:

The Golden Lion, Lancaster, 15/11/2025
Sunbird Records, Darwen, 23/01/2026