Two guys (Matt and Mao) met at IMW campus where they wanted to learn to record their own music. They talked about starting a band similar to The Pogues. Time went by and finally they formed The Babes, a new bagpipes punk band based in London. 

Some Czech guys have the same idea some years ago and Pipes and Pints were born. Curiously both The Babes and Pipes and Pints blend bagpipes and punk, but the link to The Pogues is not so obvious. In fact, I daresay that The Babes‘ attitude is closer to The Rusty Nails’ approach. The Rusty Nails from Pennsylvannia were probably the first band to play bagpipes (punk) rock without being pigeonholed as Celtic.

The Babes debut album is titled “Greetings from London” and the artwork idea is based on a postcard. “Greetings from London”was engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Mao Holiday. Mao plays the gaita asturiana (Asturian pipes) and sings, Matt Ren Ex plays the bass and sings and Marvin plays the drums.

The album kicks off with a badass bagpipes instrumental: “The Awakening“.  As Mao learnt to play the bagpipes in Xixón, the tune has an Asturian touch. The next number is called “Gold Star” and it’s their single. Once again, the folk spirit is more Asturian than Scottish on this midtempo song.

The Babes move to the hardcore territory on “Down Here”. The following cut, “Do Something”, is a fantastic number where the pipes sound like sirens. “Lima-Limón” gets a streetpunk treatment. “Song of Finola” is one of my faves and it follows the same path of “Gold Star”.

The only cover on “Greetings from London” is track no. 7, “Rampton Song” (Disorder). “Kids” is another highlight and sometimes reminds me of Sham 69. Mao sings lead vocals in Spanish on “Dandellions”: kick-ass song featuring a bagpipes march.

“Tomorrow seems so far away” was The Babes first song and video, and it’s the only track that features electric guitar. Awesome number, isn’t it? The Babes come back to the streetpunk end with the amazing “The Choice is up to You”.

“Chia Sue” is the closing number. It has an intro à la The Stooges but soon evolves into a hardcore number. Mao sings in Spanish in a song about the role played by the Catholic Church in South America, specifically in his own country (Colombia).

The Babes play their own blend of punk and bagpipes. Celtic punk? Punk folk? Folk Punk? Let’s say bagpipes punk. Probably not your usual bagpipes punk, but highly recommendable. As Gord Taylor said in an interview: “(…) my advice for new bands who wanna play bagpipes in their band…don’t worry about trying to be ‘Celtic Punk Rock’. Just try to be Fucking Good!” And The Babes are fecking good!

Track listing:

01 – The Awakening 1:18
02 – Gold Star 4:03
03 – Down Here 1:46
04 – Do Something 1:52
05 – Lima Limon 2:29
06 – Song of Finola 3:55
07 – Rampton Song 1:31
08 – Kids 2:11
09 – Tomorrow Seems So Far Away 4:55
10 – Dandelions 3:18
11 – The Choice is up to you 1:46
12 – Chia Sue 3:01

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Review by Kinksmarkham