I was delighted to get the chance to review the second solo album from feminist icon, artist, and former member of the iconic punk band The Raincoats, aptly titled Trouble. Gina Birch is not known for being silent — in fact, a piece of art she made back in 1977, 3 Minute Scream, was the centrepiece of the brilliant 2023/24 Women in Revolt exhibition. It’s an image that has stuck with me ever since I saw it at Tate Britain in late 2023 — a woman caught mid-scream, full of rage and power. It set the tone for everything Gina stands for.
Trouble is art punk in its purest form — edgy, eccentric, alternative, and delightfully quirky. It’s fearless and playful, political and deeply personal. The lead single, “Causing Trouble“, is without question my favourite track on the album — a bold, catchy, punky riot that feels destined to become a modern feminist anthem. With lyrics like “we’re rising up, we’re creating, we ain’t gonna stop” and a list of powerful women name-checked (including my own personal icon Kathleen Hanna), it’s a glorious celebration of resistance, rage, and creative rebellion.
“Doom Monger“ is a song of contrasts — it sounds bright and summery, with an almost cheerful vibe on the surface, but the lyrics reveal something far darker: a reflection on the exhaustion of trying to stay positive in a world where bad news is relentless. “Destruction is our destiny, we’ve made it our prophecy,” Gina sings, nailing the despair so many of us feel while scrolling the headlines.
“Don’t Fight Your Friends” shifts the sonic palette to a more electro-tinged, experimental space. It’s got warped vocal effects and a pulsing rhythm, but the message is crystal clear: stop fighting those on your side. “There’s so many things to be mad about, so many bad things that bad people do — don’t fight your friends, fight your enemies.” In these times of constant online infighting, it’s a much-needed reminder. The track “Keep to the Left” continues in this electro vein and immediately reminded me of Chicks on Speed — playful, political, and pulsing with feminist art energy.
But the album also knows when to slow things down. “Happiness” is a psychedelic lullaby, floating and soothing, while “Cello Song” pairs Gina’s raw, distinctive vocals with calming cello, showing her range not just as a punk provocateur but as a composer of depth and beauty.
This album is everything I could have hoped for from a legend like Gina Birch — political, feminist, defiant, vulnerable, experimental, and so very human. Trouble isn’t just music — it’s art, activism, and heart all rolled into one. A triumphant return from an artist who never really left — she just kept evolving.
‘Trouble’ is out now via Third Man Records
Gina Birch Socials-Instagram/Facebook/
Review by Hayley Foster da Silva
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram | Threads | Mailing List