November the 5th 2019. Guy Fawkes night, here in UK. Mark the date in your diary – in red ink, and circle it.
For this is the day I predict The Gaa Gaa’s (yes, the apostrophe is intended) will finally get the credit and attention they are well overdue.
This is the day, finally, when, after years and years of raised hopes and dashed dreams, The Gaa Gaa’s release their debut album!
If ever there was a Grammy styled award for the band most beset with controversy, mishaps, setbacks and upsets, it’s the band out of Jersey and now London / Brighton based. The Gaa Gaa’s would be an absolute shoo-in, believe me.
That’s not to say they have been dilatory in their efforts to release their music to a wider listening public. It’s just that life, and things, keep getting in the way. Perhaps they lost a little focus as a result, but a look at their Bandcamp page shows that they have had their productive periods.
Their music is loud, dark and manic; it hinges, if indeed it’s not entirely ‘unhinged,’ upon the repetitive motorik pulse of 70s Krautrock. But more fuzzed up.
I first wrote about the band back in early 2011. It was a feature on new and upcoming bands. Some of the personnel have changed in recent times, bu having spoken with guitarist / vocalist Gavin, I know the band are looking upon the album release as a new beginning.
Which is brilliant news for the band and their fans – and means I can regurgitate my interview piece from Artrocker Magazine, almost eight and half years ago!
‘New and upcoming bands?’
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you … The Gaa Gaa’s.
THE GAA GAA’S……. (NEW BLOOD)
“You’ll never have a revolution if you stay underground!”
It may sound like a rallying call to arms, but this proclamation was not issued by some shady, subversive organisation. Rather, it’s the considered opinion of Jamey, bass player with Brighton three-piece, THE GAA GAA’S. (Stand easy, MI5!)
Describing their music as ‘infectious dance’ and citing such influences as The Danse Society, Brian Jones Town Massacre, The Rapture and King Crimson, vocalist Gavin acknowledges the increasing popularity of scuzzy, dark, dance music. But as drummer Stewart expands:
“It’s nice to be part of an ‘underground’ movement, but we’re not scared of our music becoming fashionable as such. We just love what we’re doing and if it gets some recognition, then that’s a bonus.”
THE GAA GAA’S were formed way back in 2003, however as Gavin explains, it’s only now that they feel ready to formally release their music:
“ There have been many different line-ups over the years, but we’re now at the strongest. We’re all really good friends, from Jersey originally, and have moved to Brighton to ‘fulfil our musical goals.’ The musicianship feels great between us and our debut single, ‘Voltaire,’ is due for release on 1st November on Playground Records. It’ll be available on 7” vinyl format as well as a download basis and the B-side of the vinyl will be a Punx Soundcheck Remix of ‘Voltaire.’”
What was the thinking behind releasing two versions of the same song as the band’s debut, as opposed to showcasing another from their ‘live’ set-list?
Gavin continues:
“That was the label’s idea. Punx Soundcheck work with Playground Records and are part of the Kitsune label who are based in France. The intention is to get our music out to a whole new, additional market.”
“Although we play London more than Brighton at present (we’re a lot more suited to the darker dance wave that circulates the Capital) as far as media coverage goes, we’re a lot more established in Europe due to our playing the Drop Dead Festival recently,” says Stewart.
(The Festival organisers for this year’s event approached THE GAA GAA’S as they felt their music and image would fit he bill. When asked how the experience was, Jamey simply replies, “Itchy!”)
(Let’s not go there, shall we?)
With the artwork for the cover of their Demo EP ‘Repulsion Seminar’ influenced by revered French photographer Guy Bourdin, and their new single taking its title from the name of the eighteenth century French Enlightenment writer, it would appear that these guys are pretty well read. That being the case and at the risk of being impolite, I have to ask – why the unnecessary apostrophe in the band name?
“We really like apostrophes,” is the rather simplistic answer from Gavin. “We really like catastrophes as well,” he adds somewhat cryptically.
Hmmm – catastrophes I can do without. But a little revolution never really hurt anyone, did it?!
Sign me up!
