poor effort is back with new single ‘talking mouth (on & on)’ — lo-fi synth-punk with teeth

Salford’s resident urban poet and lo-fi punk provocateur poor effort returns with a brand new single, talking mouth (on & on), a slow-burning, synth-drenched meditation on the madness of modern communication. It’s the latest offering from his upcoming debut EP, set to drop October 3, 2025 on Hope Taping, in partnership with EMI North.

Known for turning minimal fuss into maximum punch, poor effort (aka Matty Dagger) rides a tightrope between post-punk poetry, DIY electronica, and alt-hip-hop grit. If you’ve ever wondered what it might sound like if The Streets, Sleaford Mods, and early Gorillaz sat in a crumbling Manchester flat trying to explain the internet to each other, you’re in the right place.

talking mouth (on & on) is a hazy, low-frequency swirl of barbed one-liners, lo-fi basslines, and anxiety-stained insight. Lyrically, Dagger is locked into the chaos of information overload and the strange ego trip of digital life, skewering it with a smirk.

“At first ‘talking mouth’ was a lot faster and more of a thrashy garage punk song,” Dagger explains. “But I struggled to get the chorus to feel right at that pace. I slowed the tempo down and found that this let it breathe a lot more while still maintaining its distinct drive. The synth melody and sequencers then transformed the nature of the song completely.”

The result is classic poor effort: sharp, moody, and tongue firmly in cheek. It follows the June release of City of Hope, a frenetic and politically-charged anthem that sparked airplay on BBC 6 Music, Radio X, and BBC Introducing Manchester, with shoutouts from Deb Grant and Chris Hawkins.

This new single continues that momentum and builds toward what’s shaping up to be a killer debut EP. Written mostly in isolation and shaped with producer Dean Glover (Roots Manuva, Anthony Szmierek) in Cheetham Hill, the EP is a patchwork of synth textures, punchy drum loops, and observational grit. It’s music made from overstimulation and crafted with care.

poor effort made early noise with raw and ready singles like You’re Wrong, I’m Right (Symphony) and HMRC in 2024, grabbing the attention of DIY Magazine, Louder Than War, and the BBC. Live shows followed, including gigs at Colours Hoxton, The Eagle Inn, and underground nights like Thump! and Akoustik Anarkhy.

Now with a live band in tow and a growing catalogue of sad bangers, poor effort is taking his distinctive sound into bigger rooms while still keeping that back-room energy alive.

So whether you’re doom-scrolling on your lunch break or sitting in the pub with your mates, let talking mouth (on & on) soundtrack the chaos. There’s more where that came from—and if we’re lucky, maybe those unreleased fast versions will see the light someday too.

Listen to talking mouth (on & on)
Debut EP out Friday, October 3, 2025 on Hope Taping / EMI North
www.pooreffort.co.uk

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