Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Gang of Four: "Return the Gift" Is Solid-Gold Entertainment!

Here's a Gang of Four update from billboard.com:

Gang Of Four's influence over scores of rock acts that came in its wake is on display more than ever on "Return the Gift," an album of 14 new re-recordings due Oct. 11 via V2. Originally dubbed "Whitey's Gift" and penciled in for a Sept. 20 North American release, it comprises the U.K. quartet's first new recordings with its original members in more than 20 years.

"Return the Gift" focuses on material from the group's first two seminal albums (1979's "Entertainment!" and 1981's "Solid Gold"). But beyond a clearer mix and a slight deepening of singer Jon King's voice, Gang Of Four remains nearly identical to the band that crafted those albums, still wielding the same caustic sound best heard on "Natural's Not in It," "Not Great Men" and "Damaged Goods."

The group also puts a charge into the sparse funk of "I Love a Man in Uniform" and "We Live As We Dream, Alone," both drawn from the 1982 album "Songs of the Free."

...Meanwhile, Gang Of Four will return to the road this fall, beginning Sept. 18 in Hamburg, Germany. The trek will reach North America Sept. 29 in Providence, R.I., and will run through an Oct. 21 show in Anaheim, Calif. As previously reported, the band will also perform at the first Across the Narrows Festival on Oct. 1 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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I'm glad they are able to capitalize on the resurgence of their style of music. By the way, I haven't been posting much because I'm working on a project that has been taking most of my time and energy. But I'll be done soon.

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