An Slua: Sure Look It
(Distr-Oi! Records)
LP | DL
Out Now
Sure Look It is a fine chunky slab of thumping upbeat Celtoi says Nathan Brown
The Greeks wrote about a people called the Keltoi who lived on the western fringes of Europe, including Ireland. They buried their dead in cairns, wedge tombs or mounds and built hill forts, ring forts and stone circles.
This new album from An Slua from County Galway is a fine slab of twin guitar fuelled gruff Oi adorned with intricate artwork of the Grianán of Aileach ring fort by County Donegal artist Sean Fitzgerald. They sing about the state of modern day Ireland and their name translates as The Crowd. If ever a record demanded to be called Celtoi it’s this one.
Low register vocals pushed to the verge of breaking deliver an intelligent attack on society but the message is more of a “We can do better” than sticking up two fingers to all and sundry to say “Eff Yous All”.
Picking out a few songs, Plan Of Campaign addresses the housing crisis in Ireland but is clear the problem lies with an unjust system cultivated by corrupt politicians that has betrayed the aims of the Republic. “When families are without their basic needs and the island is riddled with air bnbs”.
Mountain of Rubbish is a lament at humanities destructive impact on the planet and the creatures living on it.
The singalong Thick As Shit is directed at followers of the far right National Party and promotes the ideals of Connolly et al when they say “It’s something in the air, not the shade of your skin.”
Saoirse Don Phalaistin declares their support for a free Palestine, in Gaelic.
Musically they draw on a range of influences, but centred round a heavy thumping fast take on Oi. It’s in the raw vocals, the terrace roar of crew choruses and the pounding drums. I hear the incised guitar attack of AC/DC, the power chords of Steve Jones and that 12 bar blues riffing of Cock Sparrer/Status Quo (take your pick), albeit heavier and darker. Everything sounds pushed into the red so you get the full ferocity.
They will no doubt draw comparisons to Anarch-Oi stalwarts Oi Polloi but whilst there are a few stylistic, political and musical parallels, An Slua have their own thumping identity.
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Words by Nathan Brown. You can read more from Nathan on his Louder Than War archive over here.
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