Red Giant is the brainchild of guitarist and vocalist Dave Simpson, whose YouTube channel has made him a trusted voice for more than 147,000 subscribers.
That might explain the chops, but it doesn’t explain the feeling. Because “RG EP, Vol. 1” isn’t merely the work of a bloke who knows his way around a fretboard. It is the sound of someone tightening the screws on the songwriting too.
If you’ve heard Simpson’s stuff before, then you know the drill: big, thick grooves, expert playing and guitar tones that fill every available inch of space. The difference this time is simple.
The songs have caught up with the talent.
“Are You Alright?” opens things with a breeze in its step, but the lyrics are anything but sunny. “I hurt myself to feel free,” he sings, and there’s the trick of this EP, really. It sounds open, almost easy-going, but underneath it all there’s a weight that keeps dragging at the ankles.
“Can’t Find Me” keeps that feeling going, full of movement and melody, but with the sense that the smile might crack at any minute. “It’s All Gone Wrong” is where the bleakness really bites. “We’ve got nothing left, no hope, no joy, no rest,” he sings, and yet somehow it still sounds anthemic. That takes some doing. There’s a strange kind of defiance in making despair sound this big.
Then “Overcome” brings in militaristic drums and a marching quality, with a folk edge that almost nudges towards The Levellers. Even here, though, even when the thing is at its bleakest, there’s catharsis.
Because my God, “RG EP, Vol. 1” is bleak. But it’s marvellous too. There’s more focus here, more bite, more craft, and crucially, better songs. This isn’t just another Red Giant release. It’s a clear step up from the debut album.
And as we all know, happy people have no stories.
RATING: 8.5/10
