Review

Oh, Wet Leg. The Isle of Wight's finest purveyors of sardonic surf-pop return with *Moisturizer*, a sophomore effort that gleams with irreverence, sass, and an unexpected dose of emotional depth. Where their eponymous debut was a fizzy, chaotic laugh in the face of indie rock’s often-too-serious disposition, *Moisturizer* is, dare I say it, a bit more grown up — though thankfully not too grown up. From the opening track “Soggy Logic” — a swaggering, bass-heavy stomp that somehow manages to rhyme “existential dread” with “crumpets in bed” — it's clear that Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers are still proudly taking the piss. Yet, behind the cheeky lyricism and deceptively simple riffs lies a more confident band, unafraid to dip a toe into something that feels like sincerity. Take “Bathmat Blues”, a woozy, reverb-soaked number that teeters somewhere between Blur’s *13* era balladry and a Lynchian fever dream. It’s surprisingly affecting, and a reminder that Wet Leg aren’t just a one-joke outfit — even if the joke is still bloody hilarious. The production, courtesy of long-time collaborator Dan Carey, is tighter than ever, with jangly guitars, fizzy synths, and the sort of post-punk bite that calls to mind early Elastica on one track, and a lost Britpop B-side on the next. “Hot Tap,” a scorching highlight, lurches between tempo changes and kitchen-sink drama with a knowing wink, while “Lukewarm Lover” – a slacker anthem to disaffected situationships – could easily soundtrack every indie kid’s summer breakup. Yet it’s the closer, “Moisturiser (Reprise),” that truly surprises. Stripped-back, slow-burning, and almost — whisper it — earnest, it signals that Wet Leg may be preparing for something grander on the horizon. It’s a long way from “Chaise Longue”, but no less addictive. *Moisturizer* is everything a second album should be: recognisably them, yet reaching further. More texture, more cheek, and more heart than one might expect. Wet Leg might still be laughing, but they’re laughing with a glint in their eye and one perfectly moisturised foot already in the future.

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