The Legendary
post-punk / goth band Sex Gang Children have
returned with a new album, "OLIGARCH", released officially digitally
on the 24th of April 2021, with the CD format released on their own Liberation
London label. This is the bands first offering since their 2013 album "Viva
Vigilante!". On this recording, founder and frontman Andi Sex Gang is
joined by original drummer Rob Stroud, John Rigby (bass), and Jerome Alexandre
(guitar). According to the bands manifesto, Oligarch is where the ghosts of Orwell
and Huxley come together in this dark vision of our dystopian world. True to
their uncompromising style and spirit, Sex Gang Children have released an album
providing an audio foray into the dark times thrust upon us. “Take a break
from the nanny state. Be on the outside looking in. Lopsided global monopolies
and top-heavy capitalist philosophies do not make sense. Voice a challenge to
those that would keep you down. Battle the spectre of our times - the Oligarch”.
The powerful cover photo is work of photographer/artist Bari Goddard.
First track is "Dead
Peasants", a dark piece featuring Andi’s dark poetry with a spoken word
approach, giving it a creepy and sinister feel. Next is "Cannibal Lives",
a largely guitar piece, containing some really great vintage guitar styles
reminiscent of very early post-punk. Things start to kick in on "Masquerade"
with the drums taking a more rhythmic tempo, with the razor-sharp guitar riffs
spilling throughout. In the same vein we have "Bang!" a great example
of their original post-punk style, so very authentic sounding. The only
difference to their early dynamic works is the more subtle drumming compared to
tribal thumping from that era. Something that makes the tracks sound fresher
and more modern. The atmospheric "Seraphim Fall" flows gracefully
over a melodic but hypnotic bassline.
As they usually
do on all their releases, "Asia Divine" has that eastern element
joint together with glam rock. While on "Puritan Now", things
couldn’t get more post-punk, but with a darker more claustrophobic vibe. In
similar style we have "The Gorgon & The Sow", a song that thumps
and stabs, giving it a nocturnal feel. Then we have a change in scenery with the
acoustic "Berlin Kiss". A song that was known to me, since it has
been played live for many years now. "Death Mask Mussolini" that
follows, was the first single from the album and is a killer track! An instant
danceable classic! It is a remake, originally recorded by Dirty Roseanne (an
Andi and Piero Balleggi collaboration) back in 2009 and then also with a
different version on Andi’s 2011 solo album "The Devil's Cabaret".
The album ends with "Barbarossa Revisited", originally on their third
1993 album "Medea". Here they have transformed it completely, a much
slower take, making it sound more like a cursed southern blues song, something
you would expect to hear from The Birthday Party, but with Andi’s
characteristic voice and storytelling singing style. The whole album is grower,
the more you listen to it the more it gets addictive.
The CD version also
features 3 bonus tracks. You will find three different remixes of the single
"Death Mask Mussolini". The "Cutter & Bone - Dominic Hawken
Remix", "MIlitia Babe - Kitty Lectro Remix" and "Mouth Of
Hell - MGT Remix" by guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Mission, Peter
Murphy).
Review by
Nick Drivas
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