GANS are a West Midlands duo consisting of drummer Euan Woodman and bassist Tom Rhodes who release their debut album `Good For The Soul` this month and whose subject matter addresses topics of acceptance, self-destruction, and body image.
The album opens with `A Fool` which is a pounding thumping reflection on the “Little England” mentality and the actions and attitudes of Reform supporters. We have with `In Time` a number that reflects on media manipulation leading to support for extremist organisations. It speaks of the desire to be free and time passing as the world spins. The vocals are wonderfully remote at times with an almost Gary Numan flowing synth texture shared as the track evolves.
`It`s Just Life` seems to come from a sense of frustration with vocals shared in a kind of realistic matter of fact defiance. There`s a wonderful passage that includes the lyrics “Money, work, power, freedom, prison, school, success, legion, living, dying, driving, surviving. Better or worse, it’s just life.” We have a delightful soulful number in `Nightwalking` which has some aching brass tones that possibly mirror the internal struggles the narrator has while trying to reject or escape unhealthy outside or external influences.
`Far And Wide` for me had a tinge of INXS meets Talking Heads about it with vocals that had an almost preacher like vibe about them. Understandably there`s a fairly contemplative feel to `Everything In Extreme` as I read that it reflects on a long term relationship of Tom Rhodes that came to an end.
`I Think I Like You` is a song about body dysmorphia and its effect on relationships. A number with a real groovy texture whereas `The Kings Head` bounces along and appears to be about the shenanigans associated with a local hostelry.
The electronically shaded `This Product` ironically refers to how electronic gadgets may improve your life while the pulsating and combative `Oh George` was written about and refers to mental health issues.
`Well Done` is a sort of concluding fragment. It has a thoughtful melodic piano driven underbelly with heartening family segments shared atop.
`Good For The Soul` isn`t an album that can be easily categorised as there`s a variety of gentes and styles that seem to have influenced this duo. There`s pounding anthemic offerings, soulful musings, electronic cuts, and more reflective contemplative observations but for a debut release it`s a cracker.
I was at a gig last May in Birmingham when GANS opened for Big Special and Callum Moloney from Big Special shared “you’ll all be standing here next year watching Gans.” While that hasn`t quite come to fruition yet, these are an outfit with a very bright future.
Rating 8.5/10
