ASHPIPE from Italy has released a new album.
It is the band's first album in eight years!
In the meantime, there was still a release, but “13 years and still waiting for wave“ was only a best-of album. I can recommend the best-of to anyone who does not know the band and wants to get to know ASHPIPE. The best-of provides a good overview of the band's work and creations.
With “Giostre e Baracconi“, ASHPIPE presents ten songs that all come out in a very accessible style from the speakers. Folk-punk is the headline, but there are also plenty of ska-punk influences, all wrapped in a smooth, poppy guise. This might be due to the recording, but I find that the pressure has been somewhat eased in favor of melody. The drums sound relatively soft, and shrill tones from guitar, mandolin, or violin are almost completely absent. It is very pleasant to listen to and yet captivating.
It might give the impression that the music has also made the lyrics a bit softer. This is not the case. I am quite surprised by how much emotion and power lies in the lyrics. It is important for ASHPIPE to convey a message that shakes people up, reminding them of their (shared) strength. The title of the album could also be called “Together we can achieve something” or in Italian “Insieme possiamo ottenere qualcosa”. The title “Giostre e Baracconi” translates loosely into German as “Carousels and Tournaments”. It sounds more like a fairground. A fairground of possibilities, of freedom.
There are lyrics in English, Italian, and Ancient Greek. Great emphasis is placed on demonstrating in the lyrics that we, as humans, can make a difference when we stand together. Be it in unions, creating something personal, or getting involved to make this world a better place. The lyrics give strength and encouragement. The song “There is a power in a union” could, yes must, be the new anthem for the emancipation of workers. Even though the term worker historically primarily referred to factory workers, it simply does not matter what we work at. We work for a (mostly) low wage, are exploited, and give half our lives, our best years, to those who enrich themselves at our expense. The state does this with its employees just like private companies and, of course, start-ups. It does not matter what we do; when we stand together, we can make a difference. The many strikes prove it.
Let us stand together again! And listen to “Giostre e Baracconi” while doing so.
It is the perfect soundtrack for this.
