ALBUM REVIEW: Born Gold - Bodysongs

by Mark Gillis

For the past year or so I’d always heard about the band Gobble Gobble but I never put very much effort into trying to listen to them. Gobble Gobble recently changed their name to Born Gold and released a new album called Bodysongs. I have no idea what the reason for the name change was, but for one strange reason or another it made me pay attention and I finally decided to give these guys a shot. I’m so glad that something finally prompted me to listen to them because I was definitely missing out.

I had always known Gobble Gobble to be kind of the “kings” of the under-underground music scene in Canada. It’s weird how a perception like that can influence what I thought Born Gold would sound like. I figured I’d hear some dirty lo-fi pop or rock music, I’d give the album a few listens, and then I’d be on my way to listen to something bigger and better. I could not have been more wrong.

Right from the first track “Lawn Knives” this album is an all out assault of electronics that is far more suitable for a 24/7 dance party than the small club shows that these guys normally play. The best musical comparison I can think of is Crystal Castles just because of how skittery and scatterbrained the electronics are. I’ve listened through this album multiple times and I still find myself trying to figure out exactly what is going to happen next because there are so many sounds going on at once it gets a little bit overwhelming to the ears, but in a good way.

Even though I do feel that there is a Crystal Castles comparison to be made, I don’t feel like it’s necessarily a very comprehensive comparison, it really only represents one aspect of the music for me. The mood surrounding Born Gold’s music is much more upbeat and happy. It’s a mood that I’d associate with the energy of any number of upbeat electro-pop bands, but these guys take that energy and amplify it by a factor of ten, which makes the album some of the most enjoyable 28 minutes of music that I’ve listened to this year.

I actually think that if it weren’t for the mess of electronics, the vocals on this album would go over very well in front of a mainstream pop beat on any average pop/rock radio station. That being said, the spastic tendencies of the music really give this album so much raw energy, and for me, makes it so much more enjoyable than anything I’d ever hear on the radio.

So in short, if you just want an album that is straight up energetic, unrelenting, and fun, then give this thing a listen. You can even get it for a pay-what-you-want download (free) over at their bandcamp page.

Favourite tracks: Lawn Knives, Boring Horror

Score: Light 8/10