Album Review: Ratbag Apartment

Bottom Bunk Club is a Folk-Punk quartet based in Wellington. They released their self-titled EP in 2024, and have just followed it up with their debut album, Ratbag Apartment. Bass, banjo, guitar, and mandolin are the foundation that the four-strong vocal array sits atop, providing a full and boisterous soundscape.

Golden Shower is the first track up, a good old-fashioned upbeat folky number, with a solid walking bass, guitar and banjo indulging in thoughtful interplay, and mandolin sitting sweetly on top. This is the bright and breezy background to lyrics sardonically cynical on the unpopular subject of “trickle-down” economics, a song that charges into a race-you-to-the-end speed-up in its latter moments. There’s a grand, sweeping opening to Nosebleed that lulls back into a more pensive space, then builds up again under the suitably reflective lyrics. A violin has joined the fray on this one, and there are some powerfully gorgeous harmony lines along with the banjo and mandolin. A lovely haunting little moment in the middle, followed by a build-up into one last hearty chorus, with the bass then joining in on the melody/harmony section to take the song out.

Hannah From Work is a fast-paced number about an office workplace crush that possibly skates up pretty close to an H.R. incident, thankfully the protagonist does “give a shout out to Human Resources, for giving me permission to take a chance”, so it seems as though all appropriate bases are covered. A raunchy little belter of a song. Euthanized has an Americana vibe, a big open feel with some rolling arpeggios sitting tastily in the mix. A tale as old as time itself, the once-bitten-twice-shy scenario presented here in its own quirkily unique way. Fem Fingrar Rabatt has a punky approach with some aggressive bass playing and some snarly vocals. When the full band kicks in, it’s like a heavy Violent Femmes thing going on, but the harmony lead section of banjo and mandolin wouldn’t be out of place in an Iron Maiden song.

Sink Our Ship is reminiscent of Weezer, in a truly excellent way, to begin with. Then it opens up to a lively folk feel with some great vocal harmonies, eventually drifting out as just mandolin and solo vocals. Sister is another number that has happy-go-lucky music contrasted with somewhat dodgy lyrics. This song’s central character wants to be introduced to your sister. Avoid doing that at all costs, avoid it like the plague, any plague, just take your pick. Ghastly fellow, this ravenous lothario. The chorus is as catchy as it gets, sliding right into your ears’ DMs on American Proletariat, a scathing indictment on the average U.S. lifestyle, a stand-out line being “we don’t need religion to opiate the masses, we’re too mesmerised by Kardashian asses”. There’s a nice Alt Folk-Rock sound to Dick, an ode to staying single, dedicating a life to being a lover, not a fighter. Punchy and energetic.

Snoozebutton is a song that many can likely relate to, stretching out that dreaded moment of having to get out of bed. A driving rock song played with vim and vigour, with pith and vinegar over all too soon at one minute fifty-five seconds. Room Noise is an instrumental piece with plenty of strength and presence, lustily stampeding along for three minutes, followed by 30 seconds of silence, then a final little fifteen second farewell inspired by the very worst catastrophes one might find in the lyrics of a Country song. A fun little end to a fun album.

Ratbag Apartment is a solid album that should enjoy wide appeal, these lads would be well at home anywhere from the tiniest Irish bar to the biggest festival stages. A strong effort.