Wot Gorilla? – Clowns (Drongo Records)

Ahead of the release of their first album in nearly 15 years later this month math-pop pioneers Wot Gorilla? share single Clowns. Pete Darrington reviews. 

Artist: Wot Gorilla?
Track: Clowns
Label: Drongo Records
Release date: 20 January 2026
Find it: Bandcamp

Maths is hard right? Math Rock is even harder – it’s not just doing sums, it’s doing sums with guitars, bass, drums and even some other instruments sometimes. Which is probably why Wot Gorilla? have had 14 years off to write and record their second album Stay Home, out 20 February on Drongo Records.

I’m guessing they were having to wait for quantum computers to have advanced enough to be able to capture their music adequately, when normal computers would just ‘blue screen’. No, go with me on this – because bits and bytes in quantum computers can be in 2 states at once – just like Wot Gorilla?‘s music. Like I said maths is hard and math rock is even harder but math rock that has a tune you can hum along to and actually is a pop song at the same time? That almost never happens, the two things are diametrically opposed – they can’t happen at the same time – unless you have a quantum computer! And Wot Gorilla? must have, because they have pulled off the impossible with their most recent single Clowns.

Vocalist and guitarist Mat Haigh said of the track, “Clowns is about the impact of climate change and the frustrating reality that the people with the most power to make a difference seem to be turning a blind eye. It’s like money always comes first, no matter what.

“I’m basically asking—why deny something that’s backed by so much science? And even if you’re not totally convinced, what’s the harm in doing something positive anyway? The title relates to people taking the piss out of those who care enough to speak up and try to protect the planet. That attitude really confuses me.”

‘Money somehow supersedes our survival / I can’t get my head / Around the scheming / Our home is bleeding / Right in front of us’

Time signature changes at the drop of a hat, Rubiks’-cube-drum-rhythms and guitar arpeggios that seemingly only a robot could perform push your processing power to the limits from the off – that is until the vocals come in. They immediately steady the ship and help you navigate the musical maelstrom – tight, tuneful and even soothing harmonies grab you by the hand and reassure you it’s going to be OK, don’t be frightened, this is a real song you can sing along to, because it is.

But don’t get too relaxed – Wot Gorilla? want you to stay focused and alert and of course they do this by suddenly changing course, punctuating smooth sing-along-verses with screamo post-hardcore exclamation marks are underlined by bold all-in-caps chugging guitar, that somehow still fit within the context of the song.

Clowns demonstrates that art rock can be both clever and accessible at the same time and if it points the way to what the rest of the album is like, it’s going to be a corker.

Clowns by Wot Gorilla? is out digitally now. Album Stay Home is set for release on 20 February 2026 via Drongo Records.

Find Wot Gorilla?: Website | Bandcamp | Instagram

Live dates:

• 26 February – 1 in 12 Club, Bradford
• 27 February – The Rainbow, Birmingham
• 28 February – Voodoo Daddys, Norwich
• 5 March – The Blind Pig, Sowerby Bridge
• 6 March – Cafe Kino, Bristol
• 7 March – The Castle, Luton

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