Come And See. Gurriers

In the past few weeks several post punk records were released that deserve attention but somehow kept laying on the stack of releases. Like for example Come And See the debut band of Irish band Gurriers. Right from the bat the band goes for it. The intro is long for a debut album and a declaration of intent. Ugly guitar noises and a stark rhythm set the stage for singer Dan Hoff to start spitting out his lyrics. 'Nausea' is the title of the song and I've never heard a song coming so close to the feeling of being nauseous. The guitar sort of whirls like a head can before being sick from too much drink (so I've been told...)

'Nausea' sets the stage for a storm of an album. If the band managed to  capture half of the energy that Gurriers brings to the podium in the recording  studio, playing shows must be near death experiences for band and audience. That's where the band got smart. It has built in these little interludes in songs that bring the tempo and mood down for a short while. Post punk mixed with psychedelia? Yes, maybe unintended but that is the effect it has on me. Near surreal sequences enter my mind, before the storm is unleashed again. Listen to 'Des Goblin' or the vocals in 'Die Alone' to hear it.

Gurriers is a band from Dublin. It takes its name from a chiefly Dublin slang word, meaning loutish young men or ruffians. Don't be mistaking them for a Dublin band from around 2000 called The Gurriers. The five, Dan Hoff, Emmet White, Ben O'Neill, Mark MacCormack and Pierce Callaghan, musically live up to their name. They come to the world with a hearty punk attitude and incorporate everything from The Undertones to Arctic Monkeys, the early of that band.

A storm Come And See for the main part may be, it is a varied album because of the interludes. It makes for exciting listening, as the songs on the album are totally unpredictable because of it. But when all is said and done, the band plays post punk, whatever that term exactly means, with sharp guitar sounds, weird guitar sounds and a rhythm section that never lays back. Dublin has produced another band that will be interesting to follow.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and order Come And See here:

https://gurriersdub.bandcamp.com/album/come-and-see