“Who can steal when everything is free? Who am I when everything is me?”
Philosophical question from this post-punkers which, thankfully, they leave unanswered, allowing you to take whatever meanings you wish. Hailing from a time when The Clash and The Jam were tearing up the charts, Gang of Four haven’t had the critical success their forbearers have seen, but this hasn’t stopped them from putting out good quality songs and this track, a single from the excellent 'Content' album, their first proper studio album for sixteen years, is utterly sublime.
Starting at the beginning where Gang of Four channel Primal Scream’s 'Rocks', the thick, funky bass pole vaults the song into your face immediately, and with clever, politically aware lyrics, the band prove that despite releasing their music for thirty five years (all be it on and off with line-up changes), they haven’t skipped a beat, lost a trick, or grown old gracefully. Some bands, who should probably remain nameless, get tepid as they continue through their careers as if playing music is something they’re required to do. Gang of Four have not. The track continues in typical foot-stamping style, changing tack once in a while to keep the whole thing sounding fresh and interesting, ensuring it never outstays its welcome.
'Who am I?' borrows from enough generations of music, including the aforementioned Clash and Primal Scream, and creates a sound that doesn’t sound entirely out of place in todays music scene either. Put simply, Gang of Four have got it right, although over the years they have had a lot of practice. Some people believe that 2011's 'Content' is the greatest album they’ve released since the seventies, and based on the strength of this single alone, who’s to argue?
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Starting at the beginning where Gang of Four channel Primal Scream’s 'Rocks', the thick, funky bass pole vaults the song into your face immediately, and with clever, politically aware lyrics, the band prove that despite releasing their music for thirty five years (all be it on and off with line-up changes), they haven’t skipped a beat, lost a trick, or grown old gracefully. Some bands, who should probably remain nameless, get tepid as they continue through their careers as if playing music is something they’re required to do. Gang of Four have not. The track continues in typical foot-stamping style, changing tack once in a while to keep the whole thing sounding fresh and interesting, ensuring it never outstays its welcome.
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