Music history is littered with performers whose identities are shrouded in secrecy, The Residents, Nash the Slash, Buckethead, postcards from new zealand and one man Experimental Hardcore project Drug Toilet; the latter two artists who in fact I covered for The Sleeping Shaman. There's also the likes of Kiss and Slipknot who I didn't mention initially seeing as we they have been well and truly unmasked by now and of course less said about Sleep Token and Ghost the better.
You can now add to that list self-described autistic Scottish multi instrumentalist Rip Space who emailed yours truly not so long ago with regards to reviewing recent release Thank These People. The theme of Rip Space's latest according to the few promotional notes that have been provided is that its “inspired by the catharsis of overcoming otherisation, public humiliation and otherwise targeted acts of evil that resulted ultimately, in official diagnosis in 2021”. This clearly personal work follows up from a plethora of EP and single releases simply too numerous to list here in their entirety. With very little information and history to draw from (I don't think the project has even any type of social media presence - unusual yet refreshing in 2024), I'll just stop dilly dallying and start reviewing the damn thing.
'Thank These People' tips its hat to discordant Sludge Metal and its nostalgic offbeat goofy charm recalls the finest work of bands such as Nightstick (featuring ex-Siege Drummer Robert Williams) as well as Husker Du's more experimental moments ala 'How to Skin a Cat' from New Day Rising. This is alternated quite beautifully with some truly ferocious and vicious Blackened Hardcore/Crust-Punk before eventually closing out with an acoustic cover of Sheryl Crow's 'Everyday Is a Winding Road'. Quite a lot going on for a track that lasts a mere 2:28, and yet one which in its own curious way works rather well. 'The Green Ripper' takes a more Stoner Rock approach with moments informed by the Bluesy punch of Fatso Jetson and even the cool as fuck Punk-Blues/Noise-Rock of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. What's even better about the track is that Rip Space proudly maintains a rich Scottish accent which helps elevate them from their contemporaries who are rendered indistinguishable from their American cousins. Once again, Hardcore comes into play towards the latter part of the track in a fashion that recalls ultra nationalist/pro-independence/pro-SNP Anarcho-Punks Freedom Fist, just in case you were finding that things were getting just a wee bit too cozy. The effortlessness and ease of such a transition between musical genres is truly outstanding. Finally there is 'Welcome To Mother Earth', the longest number on the album at over four minutes, musically it's the most progressive and I use that term loosely, piece on the record. There are some nice quirky oddball Butthole Surfers/Monster Magnet vibes going down, a little Countryfried Meat Puppets, as well as a nice dose of White Zombie slipped in for good measure, especially the at times Rob Zombie Vocal inflections. Certainly the most intriguing track on the album, this makes for something of an ideal conclusion to proceedings.
So there you have it, three tracks at just under ten minutes long, not a massive investment of your time and the good thing about it is the record offers up something new each time you listen to it. In an age where bands are overexposed and clogging up your news feed on a regular basis, Rip Space's refreshing approach not just eschews but positively spits in the face of all that.
Comments