Mule Jenny – Take Enough Leeway
Release Date: 19th September 2025
Label: Vicious Circle Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Rock, Math Rock, Indie, Post-Punk.
FFO: Fugazi, Polvo, Slint, Lysistrata.
Review By: John Newlands
Mule Jenny are a trio from Paris who formed in 2020 and have one release under their belt. The band release their sophomore album Take Enough Leeway on September 19th 2025, which the band say was recorded in just 3 days after a significant amount of preparation, which is a new method of writing and recording for them and refer to the release as “a straightforward, frank and impulsive album which creates emptiness with movement”. Which I feel is quite an accurate description.
Take Enough Leeway starts off strong with leading track Liberty Is For Sale, which despite being the longest track on the album at 7 mins, does not feel overlong. It feels like a statement piece with political undertones. The track has a real Fugazi-esq feel and sound to it, opening with a rhythmical staccato guitar and bass section punctuated by some tight drumming, before opening into a more full and epic chorus section.
I must say, immediately I was left scratching my head trying to recall where I have heard this vocal tone, style and delivery before. Not that it is bad in any way, I like it. Eventually it hit me, it’s like the vocals from synth-pop band, Hot Chip mixed with an indie band from Glasgow called Sluts Of Trust, but with a distinctly French accent shining through. It works really well with the music style and gives a distinctive edge to the Mule Jenny sound.
After the opener, the band continue to churn out up beat, well-thought-out tracks which are reminiscent of early Foals, Slint, maybe a touch of Chavez and Polvo and of course the aforementioned post-hardcore gods, Fugazi.
Standout tracks for me are Its Over Now, Outsiders and Pull Yourself In Someone Elses Shoes.
When I listen to this album, I enjoy it being on, but sadly it doesn’t often grab my attention. To elaborate, there is nothing overly complicated, abrasive, overly challenging or intrusive here. It is fun, full of energy (at points), well produced and has some great wee tracks on it. I can totally see me chucking this on to do some work, have on in the background while cooking or tidying up the house.
That said, there are lots of albums that I love that fit this genre (from any of the artists mentioned earlier in the review) and those have a time and place in life as really enjoyable “easy” listens. However, it is of note that most of them have more hooks, earworms or melodies that are memorable and make me go back and listen again and again.
Unfortunately, for me, Take Enough Leeway somewhat lacks those noteworthy moments and with a few more it would have made the album a bit more memorable.
I do not want to come over as over-critical here, I think Mule Jenny have released a really solid album and folks should definitely check it out if they are into this music style. The band have the potential to improve with each future release, and I’m keen to hear what comes next.
(3.5 / 5)
