Masca – 'Love Letters' Album Review

5 hours ago
2 min read

Tracklist:

Act My Age
Elevate
Love Letter
Oxytocin
Cry Baby
Sucker
Fitting In
DWIW
Bones
Diggin'
Old Friend

Masca formed in lock down and have slowly been building a reputation since then, even a personal change due to one of the band being asked to tour with Dua Lipa has not derailed their upwards progress.

They are now ready to release their debut album, which will be released on the 3^rd of April via Cold Hard Bangers. The Bristol trio have been garnering a reputation on the live circuit, so it clearly time to go for wider impact with this album.

Are they a rock band with pop sensibilities and sparkle or a pop band who love a great riff, it doesn’t really matter. Their interest is in making you both dance and think at the same time, in head banging along to their riffs and moving your body to the rhythm, in immersing yourself in the songs but using your brain at the same time.

They succeed in their plans in bucket-loads. The album was written and recorded while lead singer, Christina Maynard, was pregnant. Two of the band are a couple and their young son now goes on tour with them, what a way for the child to start their life.

It’s a joyous album with an intellectual underpin. Both throwing some shapes and using your mind are integral to the bands approach. At times they made me think of Bowie, at times there is a Haim like feel to them and at others an almost Garbage like feel with a hint of Rhianna but, importantly, they don’t actually sound like anyone else, they are very much their own band with their own view and their own sound.

It’s an album that is going to worm it’s way into your consciousness and stay there. You’re going to find yourself learning the words to songs you didn’t realise you needed in your life then you’re going to keep singing them, find yourself bouncing about to them and then wondering where you’ve been all of your life.

Masca are not a band I’ve seen live, not a band I’d actually heard before sitting down to listen to this album to review it. I hadn’t been planning to review this album if I’m honest, I started listening to another new album but really couldn’t connect with it and thought I would give this album a listen. It’s one of the better decisions I’ve made in 2026.

So, my question is, and maybe the band or their PR will read this and respond, is there a plan to be on the festival circuit this year? Anywhere we can catch them?

Tina has been very clear that being pregnant while writing and recording the album had a definite impact on it, recording vocals between bouts of morning sickness cannot have been easy. The sheer determination that went into getting this album in to shape and ready for release cannot be underestimated. The whole album is a testament to the bands determination and commitment to their craft.

The determination has made an album well worth waiting for, well worth giving a go, and well worth putting on repeat.