Debut album from Twenny Bucks

Hailing from Exeter in the UK, Twenny Bucks is the solo musical outlet of Ed, a songwriter, producer and professional luthier whose creative life revolves around the same workshop where he hand-builds guitars. It’s an environment where guitar making and creativity overlap, with instruments taking shape on one side of the room while songs are forged on the other. That uniquely personal setting has become intrinsically linked to the project itself, giving Twenny Bucks a distinctly handmade quality that reflects the care and independence behind every release.

Since launching the project back in 2017, Ed has maintained complete creative control over every aspect of his music; writing, performing, recording, producing and mixing everything himself, he’s built Twenny Bucks into a fully self-contained artistic world where ideas are allowed to develop without compromise. Working from his sawdust-filled shed studio, his recordings carry the character of the space they were born in, balancing technical skill with the spontaneity that comes from following his own unique creative compass.

That steadfast independent thos mirrors the music itself and while taking inspiration from the energy of Queens of the Stone Age, Viagra Boys, IDLES and Ramkot, Twenny Bucks embraces loud guitars, angular songwriting and vintage-inspired tones to create a sound that feels highly personal. In his sonic output, abrasive riffs can sit alongside moments of emotion and playful humour often shares the spotlight with poignant songwriting.

After introducing the project with the EP Kinds of Motion in 2020, Ed continued developing his artistic voice through 2022’s sophomore outing Sleeper, a release that fully mapped out the identity of Twenny Bucks. On those initial recordings, songwriting became a therapeutic process, allowing ideas, anxieties and observations to find expression through music. This year, he returned with new material, releasing a trio of singles in the build up to his most ambitious release thus far.

Now he brings us his brand new debut full-length record titled The Aviation Station, a ten-track album that takes the perfect snapshot of Ed’s creative identity. Its opening track, “Small Green Frog,” captures the record’s playful side with a frantic burst of energy centred around the wonderfully surreal fantasy of escaping adult responsibilities by becoming an amphibian. Propelled by the pulse of snapping drums and fuzzy guitar stabs capped by the rhythmic bounce of vocals, the song’s abstract theme eschews a descent into novelty, but within the context of the album it becomes symbolic of something much deeper, framing the desire to step away from the pressures of everyday life, if only for a moment.

“FIZZY” flows with the steady patter of percussion as moody vocals and crunchy guitar tones form a grooving alternative rock jam that rolls with catchy hooks and infectious rhythmic punch. “Cherrypicker” glides with uptempo energy where the steady strike of drums and pulsing bass lines underpin enthralling vocal performance and twanging guitar elements to deliver an energising outing brimming with punk angst.

Title track “The Aviation Station” leans in Ed’s more melodic side, offering a downtempo scene of mellow passages, laid back riffs, intricate lead guitar work and restrained vocal performance, showcasing the range of the Twenny Bucks sound. Other highlights on the record include tracks like “JBQ” featuring Jonah Hitchins which serves up a lively slice of driving rock music cut with impassioned vocal performance, splashing drums and exhilarating guitars.

“I’ve Changed My Mind” brings desert rock swagger while “Dandelion” simmers with breezy guitar layers and soft vocals before launching with driving energy to offer a track packed full of thrilling ebb and flow. Closing the record with “Bleed,” the rustle of percussive textures is met by gentle, clean guitar elements and hushed vocal style to present an intimate finale to the incredible debut album from Twenny Bucks.

Listen to The Aviation Station below