Sydney blues-rock act The Gypsy Bangles are back with their brand new EP Peace, Love, Rock ‘n Roll.
The EP’s title is very accurate as the band’s sounds takes us back to the era of free love. It hasn’t evolved a great deal between this recording and their previous release Women & Whiskey, but you know what they say about sticking to a good thing.
And The Gypsy Bangles sound is a very good thing. Again the band grabbed me from the get-go with the EP’s ballsy opening track “Pay Your Dues.” It’s defiant and bold, and a whole lot of fun. The following track “The Old Oak” sees The Gypsy Bangles easing their foot from the throttle a little to create the kind of epic rock ballad that reminded me of Led Zeppelin. I can just imagine how this dramatic but measured song would captivate a live crowd. The Gypsy Bangles followed this tune with another slow-burning song called “Heroin.” It’s a powerful look at addiction, with poignant lyrics underpinned by driving piano and drums. The four-tracker is beautifully balanced by another upbeat number, the closing song “Frustrated.” It was the perfect way to bring the EP home, with its rollicking sing-along chorus and the rich intermingling of the Hammond organ and electric guitars. These instruments create a vintage sound which is still so sweet after all these decades.
The Gypsy Bangles are a throwback to the past, but with so much modern music forgotten almost as soon as it arrives I don’t think that’s a bad thing. They value lyrics and sound over image and flash, and that’s refreshing. They haven’t reinvented the wheel, but in Peace, Love, and Rock ‘n Roll The Gypsy Bangles have created another solid EP.
Peace, Love, Rock ‘n Roll is available to pre-order from The Gypsy Bangles Bandcamp page ahead of its official release in May.