EP REVIEW: CHRIS GIBBS & THE TRANSMISSION – News Of The Day

Shane | 6 May 2017 | Reply

EP REVIEW: CHRIS GIBBS & THE TRANSMISSION – News Of The Day
Noise-A-Thon Records
15 April, 2017
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8 ½ /10

Chris Gibbs’ 2014 album Big Appetite was a solo album in the very definition of the term, right down to being produced in his home studio. Three years later, he’s brought his band of the last 24 months, The Transmission, in to rework five of the tracks from Big Appetite for this little gem of an EP, News Of The Day.

Where Big Appetite had loops and programmed drums, News Of The Day has Josh Gallagher’s fluid, feel-heavy drumming. Where Big Appetite was full of “mostly acoustic hard rockers,” News Of The Day is slinky and layered, full of feeling and groove.

To say the songs are an improvement is an understatement – the new treatments bring out the subtleties of Gibbs’ songwriting and amplify them, as well as allowing The Transmission to put their own stamp on them. That the songs have had a few years being played live to grow inside themselves is also evident, Take On The World, Said The Spider To The Fly and Big Appetite especially sounding like they’re now fulfilling their abundant potential.

Playing the two releases side by side – the very good Big Appetite, and this even better EP – only leaves us hungry for a full length, full band collaboration. Bring it on, Sir!