Words by Steve Shelverton
“This one goes out to all the family, the choice is yours, the choice is yours, Godspeed.”
It’s not just an opening line in the introduction to the namesake album ‘GODSPEED’, it’s an open invitation to continue on the same path as These New South Whales (TNSW). A challenge thrown down, inviting you to soar amongst the legion of loyal (and proudly left) followers, on a journey of self-fulfilment that is co-incidentally accompanied by a roasting-hot soundtrack. I have placed my adoration of TNSW aside to proclaim without bias, ‘GODSPEED’ is essential listening, no matter what your music leanings — this thing is hot with feel-good, soothing self-assurance.
The post-hardcore brute-force fury of TNSW hasn’t wavered; it’s advancing the attack with new strategies and pace, akin to the theory of the pen being mightier than the sword. TNSW approach geo-political buffoonery, ethical calamities from genocide in Palestine, and a need for self-empowerment in order to stand up for yourself and others. They do this with story, compassion and wit — not just within their music discography, but by encouraging community through What a Great Punk Podcast, and the visceral presence of their dynamic live shows.
The opening verse of INSTINCT offers the sturdiest advice to a mind wracked in sickly self-doubt. The lyrics attempt to liberate a subject’s decision-making process that may otherwise be prone to a desire for external validation: “Listen to your instinct, Fuck what the what the rest of them think!” This is the entire essence of TNSW, and a crucial element of the ‘GODSPEED’ album.
‘GODSPEED’ is expertly produced by Ben Greenberg and engineered by Sam Johnson without fault, enhancing the band’s ethos lyrically and without straying from the post-punk pillar the band erected many albums ago. This iteration of TNSW brags juicy, supple layers of compression with concentrated volume and expansion. The punches have sharpened, songwriting is dialled in, and sweet peaks of vulnerability are exposed, saturated from life experiences that have shaped TNSW, with eleven new tracks.
Take a close listen to NOBODY LISTENS, and note Jamie Timony’s distinct vocal resonance highlighted in this track. Can you feel Jamie’s truths — the boldness beautifully exposed with gentle piano keys underlying his emotions as they step through a thin haze of synth keys? Todd Andrews breaks in midway to support Jamie with his own expression via a restrained and raw guitar solo. This is new ground for them in the TNSW discography — if you don’t at least have a lump in your throat, are you even human? What a gift this is. I am completely and unashamedly besotted by this song (ok, I admit maybe not all adoration is put aside).
Will Shepherd, I have to ask, “Can Energex have their power cables back, please?” You’ve either kidnapped Geezer Butler and snuck him on your tour bus, or that’s exactly what you’re using for bass strings on R.I.P ME. Will’s bass holds this track down like sticky bitumen on a pre-monsoonal summer day. It rolls along with percussion, synth chords, and controlled guitar waves from Todd that match the even energy of Jamie’s voice.
The percussion also deserves a mention, as I reflect on questioning Frank Sweet once about why he regularly opts out of pre-show beers. Frank explained that he doesn’t want alcohol to affect his timing on the drums due to the hectic pace of several tracks (pre-‘GODSPEED’ album). It looks like the “Frankenator” has guaranteed the prolonging of this tradition of pre-show sobriety, with his skins getting belted to breaking point on BIRDBRAIN and BE WHAT YOU WANNA BE.
My punk tinea was starting to itch and tingle with uncertainty and the languish of being six songs down — “Where is the TNSW banter that must prevail?” We get it in triples with PIG. Adhering to the punk guidelines of a song under two minutes of spicy goodness, it is the prequel to earlier tracks POLICE STATE and FILM THE COPS. I don’t want to rob you of the chuckles due from reading the lyrics, only to note it is the best use of the word “budgerigar” ever, and you’ll still be chortling during the jazz outro.
Most album reviews don’t cover the marketing strategies of an album release, but this has been slow-cooked to perfection — drip-fed singles to build a hairy hype, and a solid lead time to lust for what is a truly satisfying album.
Closing the album with the title track GODSPEED, exposing a crunchy overdrive R.I.F.F-style closure, just makes bloody good sense. Please check out the stop-motion-style backdrop film clip directed and edited by Passive Kneeling, accompanying the song that briefly brings back the nipple tape (blink and you’ll miss it).
‘GODSPEED’ closes with the same sentiment it began with, encouraging belief in self:
“Don’t let anyone in your life tell you what you can or can’t do, the choice is yours, the choice is yours, Godspeed.”
‘WE DID 500 EPISODES OF WHAT A GREAT PUNK
AND ALL WE GOT WAS THIS LOUSY TAX DEBT’ TOUR
Fri 28 Nov – Good Chat Comedy Club, Meanjin / Brisbane [TIX HERE]
Sat 29 Nov – The Lansdowne, Eora / Sydney [TIX HERE]
Sun 30 Nov – Railway Hotel (Bandroom), Naarm / Melbourne [TIX HERE]
‘GODSPEED’ INSTORE PERFORMANCES & SIGNINGS
Fri 28 Nov – Sonic Sherpa, Meanjin / Brisbane
Sat 29 Nov – HUM On King, Eora / Sydney
Sun 30 Nov – Record Paradise, Naarm / Melbourne
Thanks to Twnty Three
Discover more from Good Call Live
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
