The GoatHill Clippers identify themselves as a three-piece rural rock band from the Humber estuary in Northern England.
The band is named after 'The Yankee Clippers', a Glen Miller-esque band formed by members of United States Army Air Forces when stationed in Lincolnshire during the second world war. GoatHill is the olde English name for the village of Goxhill.
Reference to ‘rural’ aspects of their sound conjures up images of muddy fields, dirt-track roads and rusty farm vehicles. In other words, their music does not inhabit the suburban landscape of shopping malls, cul-de-sacs and family saloons.
Black Sabbath, Syd Barrett, The Beastie Boys and The Velvet Underground are listed among their influences but in truth they don’t sound like any of these. Their music is a more down-to-earth cross between pub-rock and indie-punk.
Songs include an ode to cleaning products (Not Enough Bleach) and a gory tale of treatment for a cyst (Hospice Juice). With titles like Dr Jo’s Disco Pants and Never Eat Shredded Wheat you know that these are not tunes to be taken too seriously.
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Ghosts for Company was written in memory of friends lost but a potentially maudlin topic is delivered in an upbeat manner.
Ted’s Return Home is a homage to local author Ted Lewis who wrote Jack’s Return Home, the novel which was the basis for the cult movie 'Get Carter' starring a young Michael Caine.
With ragged riffs and shouty vocals none of this is not designed to be slick or pretty. It could hardly be anything different since this debut album was recorded over just two weekends using one laptop, a pair of headphones and two standard microphones.
It’s all about as rough and ready as it gets but the humour, vitality and raw energy are qualities that are not to be sniffed at.
Bandcamp link
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