To be straight with you, I never thought I'd hear reinterpretations of the music Arthur Russell made - despite his entanglement in that world of disco edits and refixes, a lot of his music just seemed too personal and private for that. But it kind of makes sense if you think about it: if it seemed personal and private to me, then I suppose it must do for a lot of other people too. A lot of those other people - Faze Action singer Mary Moore, My Tiger My Timing and New Young Pony Club's Andy Spence among them - have banded together under the name Killer Whale to offer their own takes on some of Arthur's most seminal cuts. Here, it's the turn of Brooklyn's Pocketknife to chance his arm - along with new Rough Trade singer Joe Worricker and fellow Londoner Ray Burst. Personally, I think it works great - what do you think? Snap up the wax over at Juno or head along to the Killer Whale album launch party at London's Relentless Garage (November 27) to make your feelings known.
Sounds Like: ESG, Hercules & Love Affair, Arthur Russell
Pocketknife - Get Around To It (feat. Joe Worricker) (Ray Burst Remix) (Arthur Russell Cover)
Pocketknife's RCRD LBL Page
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"True Stories"' lyrics are made up completely of song titles chosen by the popular New York beat combo Talking Heads. Does that bother you? It bothered me. But then I heard the track and everything made a strange sort of sense, 'cause the melody flows and guitars were just how I like 'em - sharp, smart, neat and lean, their excellently focused power punching holes in percussive walls. That's Datarock. Dressed in red tracksuits, punching through all your walls. Their new album Red was released last month.
Sounds Like: Roxy Music, Orange Juice, Abe Vigoda
Datarock - True Stories
Previously:
Datarock - Computer Camp Love (SLR LIVE)
Datarock - Give It Up (Kissy Sell Remix)
Datarock's RCRD LBL Page
I don't remember exactly when I heard "High Pressure Days" for the first time but I remember being shocked to learn it was made at the end of the '70s rather than at the beginning of this century. Whether that says more about the pioneering sound The Units had going for them or the adeptness with which bands like The Rapture were able to rip them off, I don't know, but either way the song's a genuine post-punk classic, all (up)tight, trebled lead lines, barked vocals and fumbling, existential funk bass. This rework comes courtesy of Headman, the recording alias of Relish Recordings boss Robi Insinna, who offers up a fairly loyal take on the track, not wanting to mess with it too much, keeping things tight, if slightly more grounded by bass weight. Relish are re-releasing this plus the original on 12", while there's also a remix from Rory Phillips, who himself bathed in the post-punk revival around the century's beginning with a residency at late London club Trash. Come to think of it, the first place I heard this might well have been at Trash, so there you go - circularity.
Sounds Like: The Rapture, Talking Heads, Late of the Pier's "Bathroom Gurgle"
The Units - High Pressure Days (Headman Rework)
The Units' RCRD LBL Page
