Noise rock is among one of the genres that I have gotten into more recently, as in more or less five years ago, and it is definitely a gift that keeps on giving. Today’s band is a perfect exemple of what I like about the genre, and even of what I dislike about it. But enough yapping, it is time to talk about Gofai’s new record Safety, Always Off…so let’s dive in!
The moment you hit play, you notice that the quartet means business, because the opener immediately blasts you in the face with a barrage of sound. This very unapologetic approach pretty much remains the same all throughout these ten songs, which is exactly what I like about this record.
Another big reason for liking it, is the fact the bass plays a very big role in their sound and it has the necessary oomph to do so, too. I promise you tha the chunky riffs will immediately give you stank face when listening to them, that is a guarantee that I stand by.
The other major part in the band’s approach to music is the use of guitar effects to create a sort of permanent unease in the listener; at times I imagined that this is what it must feel like to have a manic episode, because the sheer sensory overload that some of the guitar riffs and effects manage to induce is fascinating.
But as well all know, every stringed instrument is only as good as the drums that give them their backdrop, and it goes without saying that the proverbial carpet matches the proverbial drapes. All throughout these thirty minutes, the man on the throne gives it his all and is the ideal partner in crime to the two men on the strings.
With those ingredients, Gofai would already be a band worth listening to, but they also have a vocalist that matches the intensity (in ten cities) of the instrumentals. His singing style reminds me quite a bit of the frontman of IDLES, and I would bet that he is among one of the inspirations, but I feel more, dare I say, despair here. The afore-mentioned dislike purely stems from the fact that, just as with many other noise projects, the vocals are slightly more buried in the mix than I would like them to be…which I know is part of the deal with the genre.
All in all, Safety, Always Off is a record that goes by in the blink of an eye and before you know it, you’ve pressed play again. It is highly enjoyable for fans of the genre, and I’m confident in saying that basically anyone that likes it a bit rough, musically, will get enjoyment out of it. The official release of the album is this Saturday, October 11th, at Rotondes and you can find more information on the band’s Instagram page. And make sure to listen to the song below if you want to get an idea of what awaits you!