Club Valley are no longer the silent players of South Africa’s new punk wave. They’re the pioneers, leading the way with their incredibly bold and incredibly distinct artistry.
The first time I heard them, I knew that these guys had something different to offer. Something special.
Fast forward two years and I got the chance to see them open for Alice Phoebe Lou in Cape Town. They rose to the occasion, triumphantly, confident in the ordered chaos of their improvised live show.
What you see is what you get with Club Valley; an intricate, often tortured sound that is at once both electrifying and heart-breaking.
On “GHETTOS” – their latest offering – they trade their usual bashing drums and anthemic melancholy for a pure punk feast. It’s old-school, reminding me of The Smashing Pumpkins circa Machina/The Machine of Gods.
The music video, directed by Luke Johnstone & Alex Sono, features a cast of familiar faces on the local punk scene. Hugo (Pooe), Adam, Death, Sam, Emmanuel, Shanti, Gabe, Diverse, and of course, Jason and Nigel themselves.
Filmed to the backdrop of a crumbling concrete structure, yellow words fill the screen: GOD HAS ETERNAL TREASURE TO OFFER SEEKERS.
It sets the tone for the monotone playground that follows – a head-banging, mosh-pit celebration of friendship, as a young and dejected generation tries to find their place in this ever-changing world.
