We Are The Way Forward

Music is not an exact science. It’s a living, breathing thing and that’s why we remember great gigs probably more than great records. It’s also why Giveamanakick’s second album bucks the trend and gives you that much sought after visceral thrill. Recorded in one six-day burst, it is the sound of two people, a bunch of instruments and the sheer power of rock ‘n’ roll. Flowery words for such a raw record, I know, but it does provoke that kind of reaction. A huge step forward from their debut, which itself was pretty nifty, We Are The Way Forward combines the ugliness of brute force with the beauty of invention. The recording process may have been swift, yet they obviously worked hard at the songs before going into the studio – often these kind of records grow tiresome halfway through, but here the focus is maintained. The lyrics are spot on, taking a swipe at a range of subjects with a vicious eye for detail, especially the music scene itself: “Hey rock ‘n’ rollers, get up early, have a good breakfast…preach to the jaded, the twice converted”. The influences are obviously American (“you’re Thurston for Moore”) but the duo put enough of themselves into the music to sound almost unique. Giveamanakick then – wrote it, recorded it, fucked off. A classic.