This is a lovely artifact. A white vinyl 7” resplendent with ornate black and white illustrations of ducks, drawn by the Glaswegian author and artist, Alasdair Gray, adorning the singles labels. And, better still, the music is equally as intriguing and enjoyable as well. Vic Godard and Subway Sect probably require no introduction, having been around since the punk era, recording infrequently but always producing fantastic records. ‘Stool Pigeon’ is taken from their most recent album 1978 Now, a project that found Godard and his cohorts re-recording songs from their legendary lost 1978 album. A version of the song made it onto their excellent 1980 album What’s The Matter Boy, but this version dispenses with the keyboards and polished production to revisit the song with an raw, energetic approach. ‘Stool Pigeon’ is a beautiful song and still sounds as fresh and fun as ever with its gorgeous tune, little twists and turns and rough around the edges approach.
Port Sulphur are a rather odd but intensely engaging proposition. ‘Discord’ is a seriously insane and warped take on an already seriously insane and warped Fire Engines song and includes the Fire Engines’ Russell Burn on drums and cowbell. It’s a mad, punk-funk song given an electronic makeover and is over before you really know it. ‘Finsbury Park’ is allegedly built up around ‘random notes and foundsound from 1983’ and sounds remarkably cohesive with its disturbing vocal samples, crazy saxophone and funky electro sounds. It’s massively good fun.
All in all, this is a pretty fine, rather eclectic and lovely little thing.
//Andy Wood