by Mott the Dog
**** 4 Stars
Way back in 1986 were born a group with wild haircuts,
attitude, claims of world domination, and hyped with slogans as “it’s
easier to teach someone to play drums than to be thin,” and “the music
is merely a soundtrack to the video.” Yes, Sigue Sigue Sputnik wanted it
all and did not care how they got there. Signing for EMI for 4 million
pounds, front page headlines in the Sunday Times even before a song had
been released. A roller coaster that would not stop, or so they thought.
Well, after the much hyped first single “Love Missile
F1-11” shot to No 1 in 15 countries, a Top 10 follow up single, a
sell-out European tour, and Platinum selling album “Flaunt It” (that
actually had adverts in between the tracks), things started to go rather
quiet for Sigue Sigue Sputnik. The press backlash began and for the first
time the Sputniks were no longer in total control of their own destiny and
the brave decision to manage, write all their own songs, and control all
their own marketing and press releases looked liked being the wrong one.
Unrest at EMI and poor marketing of the second album
“Dress For Excess” and subsequent singles in 1989 resulted in Sputnik
being kicked into touch (despite actually selling more than 1 million
records) and to be never seen again.
Wrong! Sputnik just went into hibernation and waited
for the public to catch up. “A band 10 years ahead of their time.”
That time is now. For the last 2 years Sputnik have
formed their own label, toured all over Europe, and released a stunning
album “Piratespace”, and sold merchandise via the Internet.
“Something this great will never lay down and die,” claims Tony James,
band leader.
Sigue Sigue Sputnik have proved the critics wrong, they
can actually play, and in fact play very well. “Piratespace”, the
comeback album, was full of hardcore techno Rock ‘n’ Roll that only
Sputnik can play. However, it did see Sputnik moving into new directions
with songs like “Alien@tion”, a dreamy classical techno rock ballad
that would have fitted perfectly into any James Bond movie soundtrack.
Slave Trade with its Mark Bolan guitar licks and The Prodigy backing track
mixed in dub and littered with movie samples from movies such as the
Matrix, Sputnik always seemed to be playing well below themselves,
claiming that it wasn’t about music for them. But their influences have
always been the greats. Bowie, Bolan, James Williamson, Bryan Gregory, and
now Sputnik are all about music albeit still marketing themselves in ways
that no other band could possibly dream of.
The new album “Blak Elvis vs The Kings of Electronic
Rock And Roll” is an Album of not so much covers of Elvis tracks, but
how Sputnik feel the music should have sounded then and in the future.
Sputnik still have a head full of glam, but with roots firmly in the
future dreaming of what Rock ‘n’ Roll will sound like in the year 2050
and trying to create that now. Bold indeed but fun all the same. This is
Sputniks Tribute to Elvis.
The songs have been completely re-hashed even as far as
changing the titles. “Always on my Mind” in the new millennium is now
“Always on my Mindwarp”. Vocals in dub are ripped up with Stun Guitar
Movie samples and Driving Space Bass (A Roland G 707 Synth Bass).
The album also sees a new song entitled “King of Rock
n Roll”, Sputnik’s tribute to the King, which is a glam rock
masterpiece. “I’m the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and I la lalaaa like
it”. However, the two highlights for me are “Hound Dogg” and
“Burning Luv”. Maybe Elvis would have sounded like this in the future
or maybe not, but I’m sure Elvis - if alive - would be shaking his blue
suede shoes!
Overall the album is all very much the same, but
entertaining, innovative, and certainly different. Personally I think this
album has been released for the band’s benefit, as I question who the
target audience might be. Elvis fans may buy out of curiosity (and they
should). Although the press release claims that this album is a back to
its roots Sputnik record, I see very few similarities to the Sputnik’s
early material with its driving Giorgio Moroda Donna Summer bass line and
therefore it maybe a slight disappointment for hardcore Sputnik fans.
However, it is actually a very good album and well worthwhile addition to
your CD collection.
In conclusion: Sputnik have been through it all,
superstar status and in the gutter and dreams shattered. Maybe those
dreams were just visions of the future and that future is now. Sputnik are
back! Welcome back. It’s what the music industry needs right now, a band
totally in control of their own destiny, not prepared to conform. As the
Sputniks preach: “History will prove us right.” Well, it may just do
that Mr James and Co.
Elvis will probably be shaking in his grave! Check out
the Sputnik story at www.sputnikworld.com
Musicians:
Martin Degville - Vocals
Tony James - Space Bass
Neal X - Stun Guitar
SSW 005 released on Sputnikworld records
Tracks Listing:
1. Trailer
2. King of Rock and Roll
3. Hound Dogg
4. Heartbreak hotel (Chainsaw mix)
5. Always on my Mindwarp
6. Burning LUV
7. Shook Up
8. Double Trouble
9. Mystery Trainz
10. Kan’t Help falling in Love
11. King of Rock and Roll widescreen
To contact Mott the Dog email: [email protected]
This
book is the result of research done by Chiang Mai resident Garry Harbottle-Johnson,
who had originally intended making a map of the ruins of Wieng Kum Kam,
but in his foreword he mentions how the work expanded as the historical
details were uncovered. This book Wieng Kum Kam (ISBN 974-85439-8-6) is
the result from that research. It is very much a Lanna effort, with the
publication in Chiang Mai of the text this year and distribution being
handled by Chiang Mai University.
This movie is about an Italian ocean liner called the
Antonia Graza that was journeying to America 40 years ago with several
hundred people onboard. Something goes terribly wrong causing the deaths
of almost everyone on the ship and the abandonment of the survivors. The
ship was left in the middle of the Bering Sea.
Mott’s CD review: