It’s with good reason that Aerial Salad describe themselves as “Madchester Punk”. From their formation in 2016, the power trio were always as in love with the Happy Mondays and Stone Roses as they were The Fall or Buzzcocks. Their 2020 Dirt Mall album certainly hinted at this cross-pollination of styles and sounds, but it’s on forthcoming new album R.O.I., dropping on 12th April via Venn Records, that they’ve really seen the union of different inspirations come to a successful fruition. And none more so than in thrilling new single Tied To Pieces Of Paper, which is let loose today.
Aerial Salad
“It’s inspired by something I read where Steve Ignorant from Crass was saying that basically, back in the day, humans had less reliance on money (not needing phones, broadband, and houses being affordable) meaning that, you could go and be a fuckin punk rocker and do a bit of cash in hand work and you’d be alright,” explains vocalist/guitarist Jamie Munro. “These days the world is so driven by money and thus, employment, the song is a shout out to everyone that’s still trying to do creative endeavours alongside managing a fuckin job.”
You can hear the frustration bursting out of every single second (160 of them, to be precise) of Tied To Pieces Of Paper. It starts with a juggernaut bass and drum rhythm with Jamie spewing out the words over the frenzied beat and it’s a full minute and a half before any guitar cuts into the track, but when it does it has all the impact of being slammed face first into your shit office job desk by your tie. “What’s the point of saving any money, I’ll die,” sneers Jamie, as the noise thunders around him. It’s as exhilarating and inspiring as punk rock can get in 2024 and has a visceral power that can’t be ignored.
Watch the video for Tied To Pieces Of Paper video below:
Recorded lovingly in Vibe Recording Studio, Cheetham Hill in Manchester with Dean Glover, R.O.I. is an album that moves seamlessly from pulsing post-punk beats to unstoppable stadium rock anthems. The Same 24 Hours (As Beyoncé) is Britpop rallying against the fake facade of influencer culture, All Yer Dreamin is Mark E Smith at the Hacienda, Chances is Oasis taking on Talking Heads. Aerial Salad find space to explore new genres without losing the sense that this is a band born out of the hard touring, DIY punk scene, a community that continues to be close to their heart.
Aerial Salad have also been asked to collaborate with Dr. Martens to model their new Ramsey Monk Kiltie creeper shoe, with the band perfectly representing the creative expression of the shoes.
The northern three-piece want us to know they’re as authentic as it gets. Injecting that raw chaos and violent charm from the stage straight into their recordings. Their goal is to make themselves known to everyone and anyone, from rave heads to indie kids, poets to rockers. R.O.I. is fantastical while acutely bedded in modern post-Brexit, Un-united Kingdom canon. We’re all trying to find our places in this new world, let Aerial Salad be the soundtrack.
Upcoming UK live dates:
MARCH:
6th – London, Old Blue Last
MAY:
30th – Leeds, Oporto
31st – Newcastle, Zerox
JUNE:
1st – Sheffield, Sidney & Matilda
5th – Birmingham, The Victoria
6th – Brighton, Green Door Store
7th – Bristol, Crofters Rights
8th – London, Water Rats
15th – Manchester, Gorilla
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