Despite a storied career, including as a founding member of The Raincoats, Gina Birch has never released a solo record until now. I Play My Bass Loud, out this week on Third Man Records, should appeal to anyone who's ever gravitated to anything Birch has been a part of. And having been recorded by Youth from Killing Joke adds another layer of interest, if the whole Raincoats-thing wasn't enough to rope you in.
Lead single "Wish I was You", with guitar from guest Thurston Moore, is full of superb attitude, and a rumbling undercurrent that keeps things moving in the right directions. Elsewhere, "I Play My Bass Loud" adds in dub flavors, while the loose "Big Mouth" should appeal to those of us who loved The Raincoats' adventures in sound. "Dance like a Demon" is spiky and suitably aggro, while "Feminist Song" is full of both smart lyrics and flashes of clever instrumention.
All throughout I Play My Bass Loud, we can hear Gina Birch taking risks. And the varied sonics of the selecions do suggest some connections to the legacy of The Raincoats. Still, it's hard to be as bold and iconoclastic now, when all's been seen and heard. So the music here is likely going to appeal more to those of us well familiar with Gina's back-catalogue, than convert new fans. But that's of no surprise as listening tastes are what they are these days. Dig in, enjoy the flashbacks to the post-punk glory days, and rock out.
I Play My Bass Loud by Gina Birch is out on Third Man Records on Friday.
[Photo: Gina Birch Bandcamp]