More about: Gang of Youths

In the five years since their highly-acclaimed sophomore album Go Farther In Lightness, there’s been a lot of change for Australian alt-rock group Gang of Youths. In late 2019 founding member Joji Malani left the band, before being replaced shortly after by multi-instrumentalist (and Noah and The Whale alumnus) Tom Hobden. More importantly though: in 2018, frontman Dave Le’aupepe lost his father, whose life and legacy serves as the primary inspiration for their sensational new album, angel in realtime.

Although angel in realtime is ultimately a personal story centred on Le’aupepe’s own loss, the themes and emotions that course through the record are universal. Not only does it succeed in being a touching and emotional tribute to his late father, but it also goes further than that by delivering a life-affirming work of art that touches on some of the major aspects of the human experience—life, love, death, grief and religion. 

Sonically it is dazzling too, with Gang of Youths remaining a rock band at their core but bringing in elements of classical, dance and folk music, helping this collection of songs to really soar. There are also more than a few nods to Le’aupepe’s heritage found within the eclectic sounds on display too, with contributions from Pasifika and Māori vocalists, as well as samples of composer David Fanshawe’s recordings of indigenous music from the Polynesian Islands and wider South Pacific region. 

All of this is evident almost immediately too, as 'You In Everything' is a spellbinding, hugely orchestral opener where Le’aupepe intricately describes the final moments with his father. It is the perfect scene-setter, with widescreen instrumentation as Le’aupepe goes through each sense on the heartbreaking refrain of “I will (need/see/hear/feel) you in everything.” It’s an emotional hook that pulls you into the record, with the recently-released 'In the Wake of Your Leave' continuing the story, as backing harmonies are provided courtesy of the Auckland Gospel Choir and percussion by several drummers from the Cook Islands. Lead single 'Angel of 8th Ave.' is then where you can really start to hear Tom Hobden’s influence coming into the fold—a hugely anthemic love song set in London, buoyed by strings, synths and a big singalong refrain of “there’s heaven in you now.” 

The tone then shifts slightly with 'The Returner' and 'Unison' representing a pair of string-tinged folk numbers, with the sound of banjo and saxophone added into the rich, diverse arrangement on the latter. Late 2021 single 'Tend the Garden' is a brighter, summery track, with Le’aupepe offering a poetic explanation for his father’s love for gardening through the retelling of his difficult journey from Samoa to Auckland in the '60s. 'The Kingdom Is Within You' and 'Forebearance' are then mesmerising dance/rock crossovers that offer shades of Moby and Springsteen in equal measure, whilst 'Spirit Boy' is one of the album’s mini symphonies thanks to a wonderful flurry of strings over the final stretch.

Oddly, despite the wealth of instrumental splendour, it is probably the album’s most stripped-back song that offers the finest moment. Le’aupepe never knew the full extent of his father’s life and ancestry until after he had passed away, which is where he also learned he had two older half-brothers. After tracking them down and meeting them for the first time, he wrote 'Brothers', a raw piano ballad that pays tribute to his father’s legacy whilst outlining the highs and lows of the relationships he has with his siblings. It is exquisitely written and makes for a devastatingly stunning piece of songwriting.

'The Man Himself' is then another orchestral track where Le’aupepe gives a stirring vocal performance as he once again tackles his own grief. The grand 11-minute two-part finale then ensues with 'Hand of God', a piano-based hymnal built on religious imagery and a familiar chorus of “Hallelujah”, which segues seamlessly into closing track 'Goal of the Century'. With more cinematic strings and tribal influence in the backing vocals and drums, it calls back to the textures of the opening track and nicely bookends the record, ending flawlessly on the words “You were an angel in realtime.”

For Dave Le’aupepe and Gang of Youths, the goal for this new record was clear: “I hope the record stands as a monument to the man my father was and remains long after I’m gone myself. He deserved it.” Whilst time will tell whether they have ultimately met their target, one thing for now is certain—this is a beautiful and moving tribute that extends beyond Le’aupepe’s own experiences and allows the listener to connect with the human stories they find at the heart. With gorgeous writing, an emotional resonance, as well as magnificent, diverse compositions throughout, you can’t help but get completely swept away.

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Gang of Youths