Stream the new ‘Long Songs’ EP by Rough Music

By Ben Tipple

Welsh three-piece Rough Music have a lot to boast about. Within their three members lie a range of accolades, from playing in Samoans to classical training and fatherhood. All of them, presumably in part as a release (we’re looking at your, fatherhood), bring a heavy sound to the table. Or in their words, a “loud as fucking fuck” one.

“We called the EP ‘Long Songs’ because, in the context of everything else we’ve written, they are,” Rough Music explain their new EP.Β “We also structured it a bit like our live set. Quite often we play shows where people aren’t really expecting such aggressive music, so we open with ‘Battles’ to lull them into a false sense of security before shouting at them; we hardly ever play that song on a heavier bill.”

“Lyrically it deals with some varied stuff: pop music culture (‘Wonderful World’); politicians (‘The Wedding’); and family relationships (‘No Name’). Musically we try to make things pretty brutal when it’s heavy, and quite crunchy even when it’s not.”

There’s more to ‘Long Songs’ than just loud noises though. Rough Music, inspired by their academic study, have some things to say.

“β€˜The Wonderful World According to Jimmy Pursey’ is written from the perspective of the Sham 69 frontman giving a GCSE history lesson on the story of punk. I listened to and read a lot about Sham while doing my PhD, and ended up writing a case study of their involvement with Rock Against Racism.”

“I really admired Pursey’s conviction in defining punk and what it meant, and the lyrics of this song deal with the perception that a lot high profile punks used it as a means to achieve success and ‘ripped off’ those who bought into it. I’m not saying they did or didn’t; I just think it’s really interesting how everyone has their own idea on what it is to be ‘punk’ and how this often leads to the violent rejection of an alternative interpretation.”


Stream ‘Long Songs’ exclusively below. The record is available to pre-order via BandCamp. Catch Rough Music live at a couple of shows later this month.

JUNE
19 NEWPORT Le Pub
25 OXFORD The Library

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