A freezing winter of discontent, a Labour party hell-bent on making itself unelectable, controversial warmongering and record levels of inequality. It may sound like yesterday’s papers but these themes were also addressed by iconoclastic post-punk artrockers Gang of Four in the late Seventies and early Eighties, more than 10 years before the Manics brought agit rock to the masses. Next Monday Gang of Four release Content, their first original album in 16 years.
With their dance-friendly bass mated to Wilko Johnson-style guitar, Gang of Four were famously an influence on acts ranging from Franz Ferdinand to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and their comeback has stirred excitement from political, poetical and musical corners. Now more Gang of Two Plus Two, with the original bassist and drummer replaced, the question of what sort of audience middle-aged firebrands Jon King and Andy Gill might find in 2011 remains to be seen. Content is a recording that theartsdesk feels shows that age hasn’t mellowed King and Gill, even if it has refined their spiky sound a little. However, if you want to judge for yourself, below is an exclusive video taster of the album and interview about its origins.
- Find Gang of Four on Amazon
- Gang of Four are appearing at Heaven on 2 Feb
Watch an exclusive video taster of Gang of Four's new album Content
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