Steve Ignorant and Paranoid Visions- Now and Then..! (2016)

Steve Ignorant and Paranoid Visions- Now and Then..! (2016)

By: Ghost Writer

Considering Syriza trying to permanently seize power in Greece, Theresa May taking the UK into uncomfortable places after Brexit, and Donald Trump threatening USA democratic process, there would be no other best place and time for UK's jagged edge anarchists Crass to reappear than this moment, and although a Crass reunion is just simply not going to happen, even with Crass frontman Steve Ignorant making a tour claiming to be playing Crass songs for the last time in his life, there is a chance that we could still enjoy some of that old anarchist spirit precisely in the persona of Ignorant, who still seems to carry some of the poison of his former iconoclastic band. 

Although Steve Ignorant already exorcized Crass from his system, he is still a snake with enough venom in his fangs,  still a formidable and volatile element when put on the right equation, along the right company, and by the right company I mean the raucous Irish art punk band Paranoid Visions, fiery punk rock devotees not afraid to take some chances to expand their musical concept, taking advantages of some of the old tricks used by the mighty Crass, like the use of samples,  chugging guitars and the call-answer vocal dynamics, all of them put in practice during opener Look Mummy Clowns, where Ignorant's harsh vocal delivery is greatly augmented by an epic female chorus, rounding a powerful song whose sheer brilliance lies on the way the group is able to create tension and keeping it during the whole theme. 

Loudmouth is a full blown punk rock theme with the band's roaring guitars at full speed, the perfect scenario for Ignorant to recall old glory days, and if you look for those man-woman dueling vocals of Crass they are prominently recreated on Strange Girl 2016, while the opening riff in Something More simply reminds me of the great Breadfan tune recorded by the little known band called Budgie,  the song is a truly wild blast of furious punk rock, it remains loyal to punk tenets and is brilliant played by the band, who quickly changes gear on the post punk like sounding Fan the Flames, a song that results perfect for Ignorant to display his snarling vocal approach, while guitars serve as the perfect guide for the dynamic Where is Love, another piece that definitely puts Ignorant on the spotlight, also letting him push his delivery as vocalist one step beyond, and it is very satisfying to hear Ignorant's evolution with these punk rock collaborators. 

Now and Then..! Continues the amusing evolution of Ignorant's as an anarchist punk rock icon, if such thing exists, is also another proof if the brilliant team developed with Paranoid Visions, a band that seems to be comfortable about pushing punk rock clichés away, Bleak Town Revisited is a totally highlight, along the urging Art and Craft and the pulverizing No More Running that clearly show the way for future successful collaboration between these rabid punk rockers and the volatile Ignorant, who still has the capacity to startle.