Gang awry are certainly a far cry from their "needing a new high" days, but even on their debut album Politics, there is no denying the seductive trickle of funk that still underlines their music. I have to give them credit, sticking to one genre is not a comfort that Gang Awry afford themselves. After my fateful mission down to Leading Edge Penrith to pick up a copy of Politics, I raced home to throw it in the cd player and was quite stunned, did i have the right record?
I didn't hear the russle of melodic guitar interplay, what I heard was the honeycomb crunch of distorted guitars, amped up in full. "The Jaws of life" opens the album with an almost sinister warning of what our world has become and vocalist Nick Norton is asking to be spared from the turmoil. Closely following is the early Grinspoon-esque riffage that opens "Brittle Being" and any notions of a slowly building allure or fragility to Gang Awry's sound is quickly shattered.
Fear not though funk loving brothers and sisters, Gang Awry do not desert you completely. The very west of Sydney inspired "Don't be so suburban" gives an alarmingly accurate description of what it is that makes everyone so annoyed at what I call "hills kids". Definitely a personal favourite of mine.
In the space of just 10 tracks, the amount of genre-ground that Gang Awry cover is impressive. At times the album doesn't follow any specific flow from one to the other but none the less, I think this is a tactic new bands should employ by giving the fans a real sampler of everything you have on offer and then seeing what they like the best. For me, initially I never thought I would be able to get past my love of the funk, but their ability to craft light rock balladry like "Pretty mess" has opened my ears to the variety of talents that Gang Awry possess and while it did take my conservative music opinions some time to adjust from pure punk, I've certainly got to that place now.
In comparison to their previous EP, the neigh sayers who compared them to a RATM inspired outfit will surely see a definite evolution in the unique sound that is Gang Awry. Catch Gang Awry @ The Basement, 25th May. More details on their space.
Myspace: Gang Awry (they have one of my personal favourites "Take me over yonder" available for free download)
I've been quite taken by Expatriate's "In the midst of this" and was really pleased to here the news this morning that they have scored a supporting slot with none other than the only rock band who has more fans than Eskimoe Joe, Powderfinger. The idea for the tour is almost that of a pre-tour for both acts, warming up their sets for full scale attacks later this year.
The pulse of Expatriate's music should really compliment nicely to get the crowd well and truely amped up. While Bernard Fanning's solo work has got me sick of his voice, presence, face, there is no denying that if you've seen a Powderfinger live set, they do deliver in fine style.
So good on the boys and get yourselves out there early to check em out, full tour details as always, over at their space.
Myspace: Expatriate
