30 Years Come Back (Repost Part 2)
20080211
Severed Heads - Lambougini
Appearing only* on an interestingly looking compilation from 1982, this is a fantastic and startlingly ahead of it’s time track that seems to pre-empt a distinct dance music trend 20 years in advance. By that I just mean the ‘micro’ element of the production generally. Everything sounds (unintentionally?) strained and concentrated but in a way that evokes a summer haze with an hallucinogenic tinge.
As a result this track, for me, eclipses ‘Dead Eyes Opened’ which would follow a couple of years later and itself establish a reputation for striking prescience two decades on, or at least just highlighting how much the dudes at Kompakt and other German house labels were (presumably) influenced by SH.
Severed Heads - Lambougini
*track later listed as Lambourgini on this comp from last year and a reworked version called ‘Petrol’ is more widely available.
20080212
Cabaret Voltaire - Just Fascination
Stark basslines and skeletal beats from an industrial city in decay. I love CV’s dancier moments and their resolute, hypnotic effect. About a year before this release Blancmange’s ‘Feel Me’ took a similar approach, building around a harsher and slightly more powerful electronic bassline. But ‘Feel Me’ runs out of steam somewhat halfway through with Neil Arthur’s repeated invitation to “feel the pain!” and the accompanying diva yelps amounting to little but an urge to move on. ‘Just Fascination’ avoids this trap by concentrating more on ambience, recurring synth and guitar flourishes strained and warped to create an equally exotic and intense picture but with Steve Mallinder’s vocals more reserved and driven.
20080213
Greg Phillinganes - Behind The Mask
I was quite interested in the story behind this song when I finally discovered that the impressive original was from Yellow Magic Orchestra’s ‘Solid State Survivor’ LP. The version I knew was the more succesful cover by Eric Clapton in 1986. The link between the two is Phllinganes who, as I understand it, did some session work on the track for YMO before then working with Michael Jackson on his next two albums. Phillinganes thought the track would be ideal for Jackson and you can hear why - it would fit very well on ‘Thriller’ had it only been an original composition. Undeterred, Phillinganes re-recorded it himself with Jacko supposedly supplying backing vocals - if these are the vocoded parts then kudos (the “hee-heees” are surely Greg’s own). Clapton took the song on himself when Phillinganes sessioned for him soon after.
While the YMO original is great I find the vocoder voice obscures the lyrics too much. Not a problem here, with Phillinganes belting it out quite admirably. The music itself is, shall we say, ‘faithful’ to the original but that’s also a plus. The song went on to be covered a few more times including by The Human League but I think Greg’s version is the best so here it is.
20080214
Model 500 - Night Drive (Thru Babylon)
Still surprised this is from ‘85 and had always assumed it was from 2-3 years later than that despite knowing ‘Clear’ and ‘The Chase’ before this one. ‘Night Drive’ is a clear link between the two really in terms of how Atkins seemed to be getting to grips with the technology at his disposal and flirting with the emerging acid sound, building on his Kraftwerk-influenced electro template.
Interesting how much Atkins used (his own) vocals in comparison to his peers. Although murky and shrouded there’s elements of humour here (”Excuse me but isn’t a black leather micro-miniskirt a bit much?!” or something like it at 3:20) within the general menacing air.
