Cockroach Clan - A New England out now

Outraged and upbeat! has been Norwegian oi-punk act Cockroach Clan formula since its inception in 1994. The band released two albums held dearly by those in the know, but somehow always managed to screw things up just when they were about to take the next leap. Then, out of the blue, 22 years later the band got signed to Fysisk Format and returned with "Songs about blunt knives and deep love" - a collection of new tracks combined with re-recorded gems from their backlog. All of a sudden, the band was the buzz at Brooklyn Vegan and Metal Injection!

A New England was a leftover track from the album session, finally available for all you!


Singer Billy Cockroach comments:
"«I don’t want to change the world, I’m not looking for a new England, I’m just looking for another girl».
What kind of love song is this? I asked myself. It was the mid 80’s and I was an angry brat. I couldn’t stand love songs. I wanted it hard, brutal and aggressive.
Still, this Billy Bragg gem came creeping into my head over and over again. It was impossible to keep it out. And I finally had to admit that I loved the bloody song.
There was this authentic touch to it. And I could relate. Very much so.
Years passed by, and I kept the song close to my heart.
So when we decided to do our own version of it, it felt like I was singing my own personal soundtrack.
We recorded it for our EP, Going Underground (-96). An EP paying tribute to some of our inspiring elders.
Soon the song became a natural part of our set list, and the crowds loved it. It’s a rather nice one for a drunken sing-a-long after all.
I remember meeting Billy Bragg in Oslo some years ago. And I gave him the EP. I never heard from him again. Perhaps it was because I never gave him my contact info. Perhaps he hated it. Perhaps he never listened to it. I don’t know.
Still, our version from the EP felt rather outdated when we went back to studio recently. So we decided to give it another try. And this is the result.
And maybe ... just maybe ... good old Mr Bragg is streaming and enjoying our love and respect this time.
Anyway ...here goes."

A New England was recorded at Instituttet for Tung og Tøff Rockelyd, Oslo, Norway.
Produced, mixed and mastered by Hugo Alvarstein
Billy Cockroach: lead vocals
Akke Knoff Glomstad: guitars and background vocals
Cato Holmen: drums and background vocals
Simen Jeistad: guitars and background vocals
Morten Mormone: bass guitar

Lyrics:

I was twenty one years when I wrote this song
I'm twenty two now, but I won't be for long
People ask when will you grow up to be a man
But all the girls I loved at school
Are already pushing prams

I loved you then as I love you still
Though I put you on a pedestal, they put you on the pill
I don't feel bad about letting you go
I just feel sad about letting you know
I don't want to change the world
I'm not looking for a new England
I'm just looking for another girl

I loved the words you wrote to me
But that was bloody yesterday
I can't survive on what you send
Every time you need a friend
I saw two shooting stars last night
I wished on them but they were only satellites
It's wrong to wish on space hardware
I wish, I wish, I wish you'd care
I don't want to change the world
I'm not looking for a new England
I'm just looking for another girl
Looking for another girl
Looking for another girl
Looking for another girl