Third Man Records
Gina Birch initially rose to prominence as a founding member of 70s experimental post-punk pioneers The Raincoats, a band that heavily influenced Kurt Cobain, Kim Gordon, and Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill. Birch has always been a proud feminist, leading an all-female group and rejecting the masculine traits shoved upon some of her fellow female punk stars. Birch describes the album as “A map of my musical, political, and artistic life”, and she channels her fury brilliantly.
Birch has kept herself busy since the Raincoats disbanded in the nineties, turning her creativity into art. Birch loves painting, and the album’s cover features one of her pieces, Loneliness, inspired by her experiences squatting in London in the late 70s. She had a solo exhibition of her art displayed last year at London’s Gallery 46, while she also illustrated a book of Sharon Van Etten lyrics. Birch has also directed several music videos, notably for New Order, the Libertines, and Beth Orton. Birch uses her creativity to make sense of the world, and I Play My Bass Loud is no different.
I Play My Bass Loud is a combination of new songs as well as older compilations, as Birch lets her emotions bubble to the surface. The record is full of powerful feminist anthems, none more potent than on the semi-dystopic ‘Feminist Song’, where Birch recognises, “There are more women in positions in power/But so many more in chains in drudgery”. Birch’s words are direct and shockingly visceral at times, making their statements even more powerful, her punk spirit well and truly alive. Elsewhere she recognises fellow female icons, with the song ‘Pussy Riot’ dedicated to the Russian punk group of the same name, famously imprisoned for their 2012 protest performance at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
‘I am Rage’ is equally unbridled, Birch snarling, “Don’t ask me to be reasonable”, as distorted guitars swirl around her. ‘Digging Down’ is equally defiant, with the repeated chant of “Don’t chase me out of my house and home”. There are moments of humour, too; on ‘I Will Never Wear Stilletos”, Birch asserts, “I will not wear stilettos”, asking, “Give me Doc Martens”. Similarly, the same song carries sinister messages, Birch posing a warning “Can you run in them?”. Birch’s words are given greater shape by her varying vocal delivery, drifting from direct semi-sprechgesang to a biting snarl and even indulging in the odd faux-angelic melody. She deals in powerful mantras and frank statements throughout; this isn’t an album open for interpretation, nor should it be.
Co-produced by Killing Joke’s Martin Glover (A.K.A Youth), the album features the varied sonic palette that characterised the Raincoats’ music. The catchy, rhythmic ‘I Play My Bass Loud’ has a distinctly dubby feel and features five female bass players, including Birch, as she celebrates the bass as voice and promises to “play my bass loud”. ‘Digging Down’ and ‘Pussy Riot’ are similarly dub-infused, while ‘I Will Never Wear Stilletos” delves into more experimental territory. The haunting ‘And Then It Happened’ is filled with reverbing synths before blending seamlessly into the punchy ‘Wish I Was You’. Thurston Moore provides some trademark distorted guitars on the latter, the track fizzing along with a sound that echoes nineties alternative rockers the Breeders.
The album’s closing track, ‘Let’s Go Crazy’, feels like a perfect conclusion, encouraging women to come together in joy and rebellion. It encapsulates the album’s tone, defiant, rebellious, and powerful, but with a sense of togetherness. Birch has a powerful voice and encourages others, channelling her personal experiences and wider issues into a powerful statement. Filled with catchy mantras and direct statements and backed with pounding rhythms throughout, I Play My Bass Loud is a fantastic musical return from an essential voice.