Alvin Gibbs And The Disobedient Servants – State Of Grace EP

The immediate impression you get on hearing this three-track offering from UK Subs bassman Alvin Gibbs and his Disobedient Servants is that it owes more to Lloyd Cole‘s laconic, languid metropolitan pop than to the furious and raucous First Wave punk tradition the Subs have been carrying the flag for since ‘the day’. And that’s not a bad or negative thing, because Gibbs‘ songwriting needs that broader, more nuanced canvas for its full expression. That initial Cole comparison derives initially from the vocal delivery, but it’s much deeper than that. Ruts DC‘s Leigh Heggarty, making his six-string contribution to this recording remotely, adds brilliant layers of distinctive sparkle and finesse to these three tracks to create a complex yet oddly powerful soundscape.

That complexity, that almost studious musicality makes these three songs growers. What State Of Grace as an EP lacks in immediacy, it gains in richness and polish. If you come to this expecting some kind of UK Subs derivative, you’re going to be disappointed. If, conversely, you are genuinely open to something different and outside the punk norms, this is definitely something you should check out. While title track State Of Grace and Too Bad She’s In Love deal elegantly with relationships, longing and thwarted desire, there’s cutting social commentary in Brother, Sister. This, for me, is this EP’s standout track and underlines that Gibbs is a real songwriting talent – lyrically and musically.

Is this punk? It’s half of UK Subs (Gibbs plus the Subs‘ drummer Jamie Oliver) and a third of Ruts DC, so the pedigree is impeccable. Add sleeve artwork by Gaye Black (The Adverts) and mixing duties performed by ex-Vibrators bassman Pat Collier and you have a slice of real punk aristocracy. Apart from all of that, and regardless who’s behind it, it’s a superb EP from a top flight line-up. Excellent work.

The digital EP is out now via Time & Matter Records with the limited edition hand numbered vinyl shipping in August.