Kim Gordon shares new single ‘Bangin’ on the Freeway’

Posted On October 11, 2024October 11, 2024

Kim Gordon has returned with a new single, ‘Bangin’ on the Freeway’, taken from the deluxe edition of her stunning second solo album, The Collective.

While Gordon shouldn’t need much of an introduction thanks to her contributions to long-running experimental rock outfit Sonic Youth, her recent work under her own name has taken her on an arguably even more daring path, straddling deconstructed club, trap beats and harsh noise often in the course of a single song.

Her latest album was praised when it was released back in March 2024 for its bold amalgamation of genres, and for putting Gordon forward as an example of an artist who has not let her foot off the gas or waned in her cutting-edge approach despite being over 40 years into her career.

‘Bangin’ on the Freeway’ opens with a digitally distorted bass that one could reasonably envisage rattling your chest if played loud in a club, before descending into feedback buzz and industrial beats backed by brief samples of tropicalia-style guitars. If you bear in mind that this has all taken place within the opening 30 seconds, you can only imagine how disorienting the track would feel to anyone who hasn’t braced themselves before pressing play.

Despite sounding like a horrific concoction on paper, it works a treat and demonstrates a flair for the myriad styles she attempts, despite her origins being far removed from them. Not only is it clear from this that Gordon still keeps a vested interest in current musical trends, but she applies so much care and attention to detail when utilising these styles so as to not have any single one dominate the others or appear to be slapped on for the sake of it.

There are some artists that you could draw comparisons to, with elements of bass icons Demdike Stare, industrial hip-hop producer DJ Haram and samba legend Arthur Verocai all cropping up at various points, but Gordon manages to still be individualistic in the way she melds together her influences. These are all crucial to the song, but also don’t take away from the permanent brilliance of her nonchalant and breathy vocals as she delivers cryptic bars over the demented beats.

Sitting alongside the previous single ‘ECRP’, ‘Bangin’ on the Freeway’ is a wonderful addition to The Collective and possibly the most outright fun track to have come from this album cycle. Not only is it perfect for the club or psyching yourself up at home, but it’s probably pretty good for, well, bangin’ on the freeway, too. Why on earth was this left off the record?