BIG STIR RECORDS SINGLES SERIES is pleased to announce that single #104, “Radio Safe” by THE SPEED OF SOUND, is up for pre-order at
bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/music now and out this Friday November 13 on Spotify and all major digital distributors!
Driven by hand claps and acoustic guitar with a hint of Ramones in the pounding thumping chorus, “Radio Safe” is both a statement of discontent and a target for destruction. A protest song in a very direct sense, a cry of exasperation at commercially safe radio which has eaten itself in a frenzy of corporate greed and nostalgia, whose main purpose is either to sell units of the latest bland major label offering or to subdue a trapped office workforce with monotonous aural cottonwool.
This release also features “No Kicks” - a rapid ascending fanfare of 12 String Rickenbacker chords heralds this bright and breezy rant of desperation. Documenting a dead evening spent waiting for a phone call, reading trash, watching trash, eating trash - which is a form of emotional violence - all enabled by the greatest of human addictions - Love. “If you’re not here, I can’t get no kicks.”
The Speed of sound is immersive and absorbing, literary and articulate, edgy while remaining accessible, possessing what Lord Litter described as a ‘naturally snarling kiss my arse attitude’ and has been a presence in the music underground for over thirty years. The combined talents of John Armstrong, Ann-Marie Crowley, Kevin Roache, John Broadhurst bring us to imagine Debbie Harry and Lou Reed fronting The Who and Television at the same time.
Big Stir Records is thrilled to have the band back with our singles series. Throughout time they have always had something to say, lacing it with positivity and empowerment. Without a doubt, you will feel radio safe!
released January 1, 2016