Alien Airforce - Give Pigeons The Right of Way (2024) Hi-Res

Very first solo album by one of the most exceptional rock guitarists of contemporary times, Crispin Gray (Founder member and songwriter for Daisy Chainsaw, Queen Adreena, Starsha Lee).

Alien Airforce is the first ever solo venture from Crispin Gray (Daisy Chainsaw / Queenadreena / Starsha Lee) and his debut album, Give Pigeons The Right Of Way, is now available via Easy Action Records. What is all this talk of pigeons you may ask? Most people view them as dirty, pesky birds, but not Crispin. Gray does like pigeons and does indeed try to give them the right of way (he doesn’t like to see people stamp at them). The album is entirely recorded and performed by Gray, although five of the fourteen songs are co-written with his wife, Sofia Martins Gray (Starsha Lee). One track, Not My World, was originally written by Gray for Daisy Chainsaw, but was only ever played live.

Give Pigeons The Right Of Way is uniquely and distinctively Crispin Gray. Anyone who has followed his long career since Daisy Chainsaw first exploded onto the scene with the twisted noise-pop of Love Your Money will find a lot to recognise and love within Alien Airforce. There’s a distinctive sound and style that has weaved its way through all of Gray’s bands and endeavours, but the difference here is this is one-hundred percent Gray. The sounds, ideas and images come directly out of his head, plug straight into the home studio set up, unfiltered, uncluttered and free to explore a multitude of different feelings and styles. From the dark, throbbing electronica of Used To Bruise to the lurching lo-fi stomp of opening track and lead single Good Luck World (I Think You’re Going To Need It).

Give Pigeons The Right Of Way is a sonic cleansing from start to finish, beautifully baptised in noise and that distinct fuzzed out guitar tone. Almost never satisfied with any of his previous bands recorded output, Alien Airforce is an attempt by Gray to tie up loose ends and see if he can finally distil his musical ideas and bring his style to some sort of culmination, with only himself to blame if he doesn’t succeed. Give Pigeons The Right Of Way is the beginning of that road, not yet the end.