'Trouble' is a patchwork of sorts: its 11 songs are not only eclectic in genre, but play like stitched-together vignettes, fly-on-the-wall scenes in which Gina describes meeting a stranger on a train, or a flare up with her teenage daughter, or the nostalgia of driving past a certain part of your neighborhood that’s been unchanged for as long as you can remember. It’s the politics of the everyday, a work that is feminist not because of slogans or placards, but because it’s a candid portrait of a female artist simply existing. “It's a bit out there, a bit off the tracks, and I always like to go there,” says Gina about the album’s diaristic undertones. “I unofficially subtitled the album ‘Trouble I've Caused and Trouble I'm In’, so the songs are based around that feeling—that dangerous place to be.”

As such, the connecting factor that links all the songs on 'Trouble' together isn’t one single ideology or theme or topic, but Gina herself. It’s her vision, informed by her status as a rock icon, her voice as a forward-thinking artist, and her perspective as someone who just thinks life should be a bit of a laugh sometimes. For a musician who has had such an impact on her genre, it’s downright life-affirming to realize that she still has so much to share with her audience—and frankly, 'Trouble' is just cracking the surface. “These songs came to me like a radio tuning, the airwaves going along, and I just plucked them out of the air. Something just clicks in the atmosphere, and I just take it. I'm not writing an opus about one thing. I'm writing an opus about being me.”

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Broadly speaking, I'd probably chuck 'Trouble' into the rock / punk pigeonhole if I had to, but focusing on Birch's acidulated vocals and purposefully off-piste melodic angle would be understating her ability as a musician. there are moments of intentional oddness but there are also moments of calm and measured stillness, balanced perfectly and presented in Birch's inimitable style.

TRACK LISTING

1. I’m Going To Live Forever
2. Happiness
3. Causing Trouble Again
4. Cello Song
5 Keep To The Left
6. Doomonger
7. Don’t Fight Your Friends
8. Nothing Will Ever Change
9. Hey Hey
10. Train Platform

London-based Gina Birch began her storied career in music in 1977 when she formed the feminist punk band The Raincoats with fellow Hornsey School of Art student, Ana da Silva. Gina and Ana witnessed an early performance by The Slits and although neither of them knew how to play any instruments, they knew they had to start a band. Just months after they picked up their instruments they were on stage doing their thing around London and the UK in the fledgling and groundbreaking punk rock scene. The Raincoats quickly developed a large and loyal groups of fans and supporters, among them Red Krayola, Swell Maps and Geoff Travis and his new record label, Rough Trade. The Raincoats went on to record 3 albums for Rough Trade that are frequently found on lists of the most important records of the punk rock era and are still name checked as influences by artists today.

Originally, The Raincoats broke up in 1984 but were talked into reforming in 1994 when Kurt Cobain asked them to go on tour in support of Nirvana (sadly, that never happened). With a renewed interest in the band led by Kurt and Kim Gordon, The Raincoats records were reissued with liner notes by Kurt and Kim themselves. Worldwide tours and a brand new 4th album on DGC resulted in 1996. The Raincoats still perform today for special events and have started their own record label, We Three Records, to handle their back catalog.

Gina is a respected painter, a celebrated filmmaker and video director (directing videos for The Libertines and New Order to name a few) and is a mother of 2 wonderful daughters. She has formed and fronted the band Dorothy and The Hangovers.

In September of 2021, Gina released her first ever solo single, Feminist Song, on Third Man Records in celebration of the opening of their brand new London location. Now Third Man release Gina’s brand new and first ever solo full length album, I Play My Bass Loud, recorded by Martin “Youth” Glover from Killing Joke and featuring Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth.

STAFF COMMENTS

Laura says: The debut solo album from the former Raincoats singer / bassist is a glorious amalgamation of new and old sounds. Meandering bass weaves around brooding synths, while Gina's vocals sway from heavily processed and angsty to softer (but no less defiant) to sprechgesang and spoken word. There are some great dub infused tracks that hark back to late 70s post-punk too. It's an album that could really have been made any time between 1977 and the present day and would sit nicely alongside your The Raincoats, The Slits, Big Joanie and Dry Cleaning LPs.