Ripped out of the progrock context of LP "Six", "Negative" is a glam sci-fi
weapons satellite, twin guitar lasers locked on your house and ready to fire.
When Draper sings "I sink downwards" and the rest of the band conjure up
a sonic whirlpool to accompany him to the depths you know you are listening to
something pretty damn special, as visceral as an opened vein and louder than
the beat of your own heart. Positively awesome.
"When The Wind Blows" on the b-side is gentler and more thoughtful in tone, and
whilst not being a cover of the Bowie track, is still inspired by the Raymond Briggs book of the same name. As such, the searing chorus "I still love you when the wind blows" is one of the most emotionally affecting things you will hear this week. "King Of Beauty" is the last track, a New Romantic sweep of
mascara sprinkled with glam glitterdust.
Rating: 9/10
The Rest
Faith No More are an ex-band (like Kenickie now appear to be - RIP). They are
also an excellent band; and harder, rockier and capable of living the life (complete with outrageous antics aplenty - shit sandwich anyone?) more than a million other bands who only pretend. "I Started A Joke" is a release from forthcoming compilation LP "Who Cares A Lot?" (go on - buy one for mum's Christmas) and is an example of their lounge singer style, more famously demonstrated on their cover of "Easy". This is a Bee Gees cover and although done more or less straight, an unmistakable undercurrent of malevolence and perversity runs through it: The Satanic Comedy, if you like.
Another example of this style lies on the b-side and a Burt Bacharach cover "This Guy's In Love With You", recorded live in Sydney. Live, these kind of FNM songs work brilliantly as they are usually a lull before an apocalyptic storm, such as the next track (also from the Sydney gig) "We Care A Lot". The stomping skatecore noise steamrollers over everything in sight as Patten barks like a sergeant in Hell's army. It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it indeed...
Keep the Faith.
Rating: 8/10
The Beasties' coolness factor is not in question as they bounce around addictively to this breakdancing groovathon. What is perhaps in question is the overall quality of the track, which leaves a taste like candy floss in the mouth and is about as satisfying. Mind you, spin it again and you'll enjoy it just as much, so what the hell - don't think about it too much and it's a great track. It does however have one of the best single covers of the year, the breakdancing pooches at least an equal to "Intergalactic"'s Godzilla-sized hamster.
The uniquitous Mr Slim remixes the track on the b-side, adding a b-boy piano track and an undeniably deft touch, turning the original into something more interesting - a rare feat for a remixer. "Peanut Butter And Jelly" is the last offering, a slo n lo instrumental peppered with babyspeak (Lucy Wagner, according to the sleevenotes). It - like the rest of this single - is kinda cool.
Rating: 6/10
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