151: Standing in the Way of Control, by Gossip

Gossip (USA)
Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
10 tracks, 35 minutes
Bandcamp ∙ Spotify ∙ iTunes

Gossip are a group that prove you don’t need a big set-up to make a lot of noise. There’s just three of them (voice, guitar and drums) and their sound is simple, stark even – most of the time, Brace Paine on guitar doesn’t even play chords, opting for riffs instead. But they do make a hell of a racket.

The main focal point is obviously Beth Ditto’s stunning voice. It truly is jaw-dropping at times. She packs so much soul into her lines, you have to feel that if she felt so inclined, she could put up a fair showing among those such as Aretha Franklin, Koko Taylor and Etta James. There’s even a bit of Dolly Parton in the way she crafts her runs.

To ignore the rest of the band in favour of Ditto’s singing, though, would be missing the point a bit, I feel. As impressive as her voice is, it is within the context of the band that makes it really interesting. Between Paine and Hannah Billie on drums, the two make a sort of EDM-informed punk with a slightly blues-tinged White Stripes vibe on the side. It’s simple, but it’s super effective, and its juxtaposition against Ditto’s rich vocals makes something very special. All put together, it creates something that is filled with fiery and pent-up rage, but also has the ability to sound intimate and even conspiratorial at the same time.

Standing in the Way of Control is one of those albums where every track is a winner. Those first three tracks in themselves are just insane: ‘Fire With Fire’, ‘Standing in the Way of Control’, ‘Jealous Girls’, they are so good. It carries on like that all the way through, as well, with not an ounce of filler. That does mean it’s quite short overall, but that really doesn’t matter – it’s precisely the correct portion, not artificially padded out and not leaving anything lacking, either. And plus, if you’ve been enjoying it properly – that is, by hurling yourself around the room in a furious but ecstatic rage – you’ll be knackered enough by the end of it anyway.