Hate, Love and Anarchy in “Contre-courant” by 22 Longs Riffs

The third album by French band 22 Longs Riffs gets straight to the heart

For those who, like me, in these days are celebrating (so to speak) a year without concerts, the need to feel strong emotions in the musical field becomes more and more pressing. Since we are denied to find them in the sweat of the collective ritual of a live show, we stick to the magic play button, thanks to those artists who bravely in this inauspicious period launch new records not knowing when they can present them on a stage.

In this spasmodic search for new lifeblood for ears and soul, I virtually mark on my calendar the date of February 15, 2021, when “Contre-courant”, the third album by 22 Longs Riffs, will be released. I have already enjoyed and consumed the first two works, “À bout portant” and “Balle populaire” by the band, coming from wonderful Brittany. And my high expectations will be anything but disappointed.

The album cover, like the band’s name itself, alludes to the power of music used as a weapon. And indeed the 9 tracks of this album aim straight at the heart and overwhelm like a barrage of blows, leaving no escape.

During the listening you are invested by a series of contrasting, but equally powerful, engaging and direct, emotions.

Hate and anger. Against the masters of the world, capitalism, police violence, those who exploit other human beings, those who pollute and destroy the planet. A fierce hate that comes to hypothesize extreme solutions, as in “Bang!”, supported by the high-impact video made by Edza Films.

Love. Yes, this album is loaded with hate but also with love. For life, for the planet, for comrades, for the oppressed, for the imprisoned, for oneself, for ideals, for freedom. Love that flows into melancholic tenderness in the small, moving jewel that is “L’étincelle”: the spark of loved ones who have left this world but never stop accompanying us with a silent but constant presence at our side. Love that flows into solidarity for those who risk their lives to exist on the other side of the sea (“De l’autre côté”) and for precarious, underpaid and exploited workers. (“En silence”).

The coexistence of hate and love that characterizes the lyrics is also manifested on a musical level. Harsh and sharp guitars clash until they merge with sweet and catchy melodies, bringing together hardcore lovers and those who prefer less aggressive sounds and a vocal style that is biting, but more sung than screamed.

It’s hard to put “Contre-courant” by 22 Longs Riffs in a sub-genre. It’s a simply, deeply punk record, which synthesizes the values and the essence of punk. To quote the title track, “The black flag is my emblem, equality my will.”

Elvira Cuomo

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If you missed our article about punk in Brittany, read it here.

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