AAA Gripper may just be my favourite new coat!
After recently seeing AAA Gripper at Corsica Studios in London, I was impressed enough to pick up their debut album, ‘We Invented Work For The Common Good’ at that very same gig.
What we get are nine tightly knit songs of struggle and desperation where work is shown to be the big suppressor when living life. Angular guitar sounds, fabulous encompassing rhythm that are nicely iced with vocals so subconsciously affecting you can’t help but be swayed by M Edward Cole’s lyrics. Many will know that he is the very same singer from Joeyfat and yet there is a brilliant calibre in all areas of AAA Gripper; Guitar from Thomas House (Sweet Williams), Joe Thompson (Hey Colossus) on bass and Lee Richardson (Mawkin & Seazures) on Drums.
‘We Invented Work For The Common Good’ clocks in at 32 minutes and what a half hour of music bliss it truly is! There’s a weight to the album that doesn’t leave the listener feeling short-changed. Each of the nine tracks feel distinctive and yet give that feeling of listening to something conceptual. The free flowing, stream of conscious-like lyrics agitates feelings of resistance and hopefulness in the bleakest of times.
Both ‘Lower Demons’ and ‘Angel Washes’ set high standards as openers for each side of the album on vinyl. And thankfully, there are no diminished returns past these points. “I’m not a natural beauty; it may surprise you to know” – The opening line from ‘Angel Washes’ drops a large dose of ironic self-awareness that has surprising warmth and threat in equal measures.
Taunt, wound up and aching to snap, the lyric “I just hope this is a trap” runs the feeling of wistful hope for a kind of feeling that isn’t safe (‘Young Paunchy’). With its punchy bass intro and strangulating guitar there’s a feeling of spiralling towards an unavoidable conclusion, “something’s not right, it’s quiet just quiet enough this is a trap”.
Overall, the album is brilliantly unique. Influences can be heard yet this is a musical experience that needs to be heard. See them live. Buy their album and revel in a band who might just prove that music can be the best therapy.
‘We Invented Work For The Common Good’ is out now – buy the vinyl/digital versions HERE.
Upcoming gigs
Mar 28 – The Green Door Store, Brighton UK
Mar 29 – Walthamstow Trade Hall, London UK
May 28 – Magasin4.be, Bruxelles*
29 – La Zone Liege, Liege*
30 – Cirque Electrique, Paris*
*all with USA Nails
- Lower Demons
- Wasp Women
- The Arcade Claw King
- The Saucer Makers Boy
- Let Me See Your Hands
- Angel Washes
- Young Paunchy
- Hair Vampire
- The Gold Sells Out
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Music is my therapy. Since I cut my teeth writing a punk music fanzine in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, seeing bands live and sharing those experiences has shaped me as the person I now am. Personal favourites tend to veer towards post-punk/noise but I have a friendly ear for music that has the punk ethic at heart.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
