Posted on January 8, 2010, 5:00 pm

A musical rocket or damp squib?

Posted on January 11, 2010, 8:41 am
Last edited on January 11, 2010, 6:03 pm

"Is it ok if I smash your windows please? " "Ooh look, I knocked a copper's hat off and they're putting me in a van" Sorry, I don't see the point of this song and the backing is thin in spite of the gothic organ.

It's almost 30 years since "Metamatic", the album by John Foxx hit the shops.

It still sounds radical. Thomas Dolby is another figure I would suggest for his wise and humorous political satire mixed with fine electronic pop/rock.

Posted on January 11, 2010, 2:36 pm
Last edited on January 11, 2010, 6:03 pm

I thought I was going to like it for the first 10 seconds but then I realised that was because it had unaccountably reminded me of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band's Swampsnake, and 10 seconds later I was re-living them live at Charlton City Football Ground supporting The Who.

So no, I didn't like today's Tuna, but it sent me off on a very enjoyable retro romp, ta!

Posted on January 11, 2010, 4:41 pm

I like some of the track quite a bit. In particular the feedback-like noise in the lead up to the first chorus is magnificent and I like the way the backing vocals are used.

My problem is with the lyrics. I think politics and Pop/rock are very difficult to mix. Vague slogans like "All you need is love" is fine but get too specific and you risk people disagreeing with the lyrics.

So, I could explain how I believe (taking Marx's analysis) how the nature of Capitalism leads to the over-consumption of the Earth's resources. And I want to tell the band that it wasn't ever any decisions by someone called Maggie or Tony who caused this problem.

Which is, of course, all rather distracting and takes away the enjoyment of the music.

So, stop blabbering and buy some candles...