Photo credit: Alex SK Brown

Many things have come from Brooklyn; Jay Z, most of Wu Tang and a bridge. Gooseberry are tipped to be next. Picking a band name isn’t everyone’s forte I suppose.

The trio consists of vocalist/guitarist Asa Daniels, drummer Evin Rossington and Will Hammond on bass who blend blues and alt rock to create their sound. Gaining hundreds of thousands of fans and streams through the release of their debut EP ‘Broken Dance’ which was soon followed by their second EP ‘Validate me’ which cemented them. Gooseberry have recently been on the road to support the release of the new album which included headline dates like at the legendary Bowery Ballroom in NYC.

The name “All my friends are cattle” comes from the track ‘Cattle’ which is described by vocalist Asa as “Describing the guilt felt upon realising how selfish the pursuit of art, or really greatness in any field can seem. Artists spend so much of their time promoting that it can feel like all we do is badger our friends and family to listen to our work and support us by buying tickets over and over. It’s mentally draining because you realise that, even if because you realise that, even if you don’t intend to, you’re suddenly using the people closest to you to further your own ambition.”

So, are Gooseberry as good as many are stating or, is the name something to go by?

The first single ‘Kikiyon’ starts on a heavy note with fast guitars and the drummer playing for his life. Simple but effective lyrics which would be perfect to get the crowd interacting and jumping around. The use of feedback on the solo gives the raw nature the song needs. ‘Kikiyon’ provides pop punk elements.

The distortion on the guitars at the start and the chorus of ‘Cattle’ seems shoegazey or Smashing Pumpkin inspired yet the vocals sit on top cleanly. The rhythm section stands together allowing the guitars to attack. The slowing down of every element gives a softer touch like a moment of clarity before it’s broken.

Blues oozes out of the guitars on ‘Bitter’ in a comparable way to Jack White. Lyrics speak of similar themes as the classic blues powerhouses like B.B King and Muddy Waters but bring modernity to it. The drum and bass don’t do anything too extravagant yet do exactly what is needed. The slowing down before the vibrant finally allows a quick breather.

Echoing guitars at the start of ‘Dying to meet you’ sounds straight from AICs ‘Rooster.’ The song takes a less chaotic approach, yet the guitars are still loud however this builds up to what we know from the band before it slows down and vocals become softer. This doesn’t last long as the heaviness of the bass and drums hit the epitome and vocals sound rash and raw and the song ends in a blaze of glory.

‘Cherry blossom’ is a love song to bring the tone down, armed with an acoustic guitar it gives the listener a warm feeling inside. The piano and saxophone are lovely touches whilst the rhythm section can do no wrong. However, sticking to just the acoustic elements would be more impactful, yet it doesn’t take anything away from the song.

‘Baby, do you?’ is a short ditty similar to ‘Fell in love with a girl’ by The White Stripes which is an obvious influence. The thrashing guitars and pounding drums work together creating a sound explosion for the ears.

Vocally ‘All the same’ provides something different with Asa being able to show his range and melts into the backing vocals. Jazz infused drumming which the bass replicates. The saxophone solo further gives it a jazz feel but with an alt rock twist.

‘Golden’ sounds midwestern emo inspired but the vocalist can actually sing. The guitar riff sounds similar to that of ‘Death Cup’ by Mom Jeans. The guitars then become harsher, and the drumming becomes more intense like the earlier songs which the drummer can show off with a little drum solo.

‘One of the good ones’ sounds straight off the debut Foo Fighters record. The simple beat allows all the other elements to shine. Vocally it is the strongest being melodic as well as raw hitting amazing notes. The saxophone shouldn’t work but somehow does.

There isn’t much to say about ‘Start over’ but incredible. It takes you on a rollercoaster in seven minutes like a prog rock song. Everyone is on boss form working as a unit.

A debut which combines many elements to create an experience. Blues and garage rock is an evident influence, but they create a unique sound. The album works as a collective piece each member showcasing how to do it. A good album with some elements being overindulgent and sometimes being repetitive but that shouldn’t be taken away from the effort, but they should have taken longer on the name.

Gooseberry: All My Friends Are Cattle – Out 6th September 2024

– Kikiyon (Official Video) (youtube.com)