The Filthy Tongues – Pandemic Pete
The real-life apocalypse that 2020 has become has fucked with The Filthy Tongues schedule of recording the third album in the apocalyptic trilogy they started with the darkly magnificent duo Jacobs Ladder and Back to Hell. To keep Tongues fans satisfied the band have just released the second of their global epidemic related tunes, following up Gas Mask Blues with the mighty Pandemic Pete.
The song is a microcosm of everything you could want or would expect from The Filthy Tongues. Colourful storytelling and characterisation. Biting lyrics with a wry dark humorous edge. The opening couplet drolly listing the ways in which an disaster that writes off a whole year might have announced itself…”I wanted zombies and diamond dogs, I wanted triffids and a plague of frogs….” before going on to reveal the reality “All I get is morons and Pandemic fucking Pete”. Spat out venomously by Metcalfe at his bitter best.
Musically the song has a gritty pulsating proto-punk rhythm, with a bit of an eastern vibe going on. Add the guest keyboards from Goodbye Me Mackenzie’s Rona Scobie and the tune takes on a kind of Stranglers feel/Dave Greenfield tribute towards the end. I’m sure we all know someone that resembles Pandemic Pete. Have a wry smile to yourself as you listen and imagine the frenzied state they are getting themselves in over the most recent developments.
Power of Dreams – Hurricane
Meanwhile across the water in Ireland Power of Dreams continue with their welcome comeback, releasing the follow up to their double A side America/Across the Shannon. Hurricane is the next track from their forthcoming new album Aüslander and guitars take a back seat this time as a playful bass line takes front & centre stage along with synths providing a fresh crisp sound, with snippets here and there resembling the squeezebox in The The’s This is the Day. Lyrically Craig treads familiar territory with the ups and downs of relationships under the microscope. I look forward in anticipation to the album.
Strange Bones feat. Bob Vylan – Menace
One of the breakthrough artists of this year, who has already released the single of 2020 in “We Live Here”, Bob Vylan appears on Strange Bones latest single Menace. Fire and Fury erupt on the appropriately titled single, it is a menacing aural assault combining the forces of the two imposing frontmen going all out with ire and wrath backed by a heady mix of brash guitars and moody beats. A striking collaboration.
Paul Research feat. Leeloo – Brandenburg Gate
From breakthrough acts to a legend of the Scottish alternative scene. Scars axe hero Paul Research released his first solo outing in August following the termination of alt-supergroup Voicex. Brandenburg Gate is a many layered and textured complex post punk tune featuring an impassioned vocal from Leeloo. Hopefully more to come along soon with an album on the cards from Paul and a variety of guest vocalists. This and a triple CD reissue of Author! Author! coming soon. 2020 isn’t all bad.
Arab Strap – The Turning of Our Bones
So, as already indicated, a favourite of mine from the 1990s, Power of Dreams made their comeback in 2020. The good news (well from a music perspective – 2020 doesn’t hold much in the way of good news otherwise) continues as another iconic band made their return with a welcome new song. Arab Strap announced their return with cryptic posters on social media before revealing their single The Turning of Our Bones. Having always loved the brutal honesty of the band, I took a spirit of hope and desire from their epic storytelling. Others I know just heard dour and depressing. I always had a desire to hear the duo together again, despite loving the solo material produced by both halves of the cheery duo. It was with a sense of trepidation I listened to the new song. No need to worry though.
As Aidan Moffat sang the first lines “I don’t give a fuck about the past, our glory days gone by, all I care about right now, is that wee mole inside your thigh” I knew all was well with the world and the boys were back. The song progresses with a mesmerising rhythm ramping up with a saxophone squeal and tom toms. Electronic drum beats layering up with strings and keyboards as the song reaches its zenith. As I would expect there is a certain sense of despair and gloom and dry sarcastic humour in the lyrics, but the song still manages to be uplifting and exhilarating thanks to the clever musicianship. Welcome back Messrs Moffat and Middleton, I’ve missed you.