Gang Of Four - 'Songs of the Free'/'Hard' Profile

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 22 / 8 / 2008

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Anthony Strutt examines Gang Of Four's third album from 1982, ‘Songs of the Free’, and fourth album from 1983, ‘Hard’, both of which have been recently reissued

The Gang of Four’s third album from 1982, ‘Songs of the Free’, and fourth album from 1983, ‘Hard’, are finally remastered onto CD for the first time. The Gang of Four are a big influence as they married a post punk sound to a dance element. Sadly ‘Hard’, which isn't hard at all, is one of the worst albums of that period that I have ever heard, but ‘Songs of the Free’ stands up well. It combines catchy tunes of post punk reference with big chunks of slap bass, the latter of which was the band’s signature. Jon King’s vocals sound like a mix of Pete Wylie and Phil Oakey, but he carries it off well. ‘Muscles for Brain' has a touch of David Bowie's ‘Golden Years’, while ‘Love A Man in a Uniform’ sounds a lot like the Human League's ‘Don't You Want Me Baby’. ‘Life, It is a Shame’ recalls the Scouse pop of the era, and bands such as the Icicle Works or even a pre-ZTT Frankie goes to Hollywood. ‘The History of the World’ is as Gothic as ‘Faith’-era Cure and has the flow of the Chameleons or a funky PIL. ‘Songs of the Free’ is definitely worth a purchase.

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