Photo by Victoria Prestes

“I’m not so young anymore, three letter band names are cool, and I’m tired of being mistaken as a rapper,” Ben Cook says of his latest moniker update. And so Young Governor, which begat Young Guv, is now simply GUV. Take that as yet another step forward in the creative evolution of the songwriter, who in past lives once was an integral part of Fucked Up up before departing in 2021 and still circles the pit with his original hardcore band, No Warning. It’s his solo outlet that can be seen as a story of truly playing the long game well, however, from its early days of crafting lo-fi jangle punk before powering up the psychedelics and dreamy hooks in its pop upon signing with Run for Cover Records.

“Let Your Hands Go” — the lead single from GUV’s cast-heavy new album, Warmer Than Gold, which includes the likes of Meg Mills of Turnstile and Hatchie — sounds like he’s rightfully taking his place within a scene that’s only just begun catching up with his veteran tastes with its recent deluge of ’90s aesthetic-radiating Madchester, Brit-pop and Baggy worship vibing its way through the underground, all on time. The difference maker is that Cook actually has the English upbringing in his background while being a master of the craft to stitch yesteryear’s cool into his current look. “Want it / Get on it / See it comin’ / Easy does it.” This just comes naturally to the GUV.

GUV’s WARMER THAN GOLD will be released January 30th on Run for Cover Records.