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Public Image Limited - What The World Needs Now

Public Image Limited
What The World Needs Now
Double Vinyl Album
Compact Disc / Digital Download

 Public Image Limited. What The World Needs Now

It's 2015, can PiL still challenge, surprise, and remain relevant?

It's off to a stunning start, single Double Trouble is an instant PiL classic. Confrontational from the off, it pushes you into a corner with its no-nonsense, no backing down, take no prisoners lyrical barrage. The music is equally as crisp and brash, ducking and weaving like the subject matter. There's a splash of humour thrown in to keep the listener's thought processes on the move. If you thought PiL might be going soft, or predictable, you are wrong.

The intensity is kept going with Know How, as John shakes off annoying individuals who have out stayed their welcome. Noisy, fast and spikey, PiL are proving that anger is still an energy in 2015 with a concise burst of vitriol.

Soild bass underpins Bettie Page, a look back at the origins of the USA & its original intent. Peel back the layers and the Land of the Free is exposed as the greatest pornographic country in the world, a nation of contradiction, of the naked and the brave. Not that John is knocking this, more pointing it out as he casts an observational eye over his adopted homeland.

C'est La Vie; that's life. Age hasn't mellowed John, but it has given him a sense of resignation over the elements you cannot control, or more to the point, frustration at those who've thrown in the towel. It seems mankind has reached a crossroads. A contemplative musical arrangement makes you sit back, absorb, and think.

A different perspective is on view in Spice of Choice. One in which you make choices & take consequences; you get to choose your life, you get to lose your life. Bottom line, don't complain, do something! Soaked in a rich crystal soundscape infused with bursts of adrenaline, this is a PiL career highpoint. "What the fuck are you on about? Am I in or am I out? I'm pushing in and you're pulling out."

The One is an unexpected treat. A flavour of glam rock & hint of gospel. Another new PiL sound-twist. Toe tapping helped in part by the drum beat. Infectious. Maybe you're the one..

When PiL push the time towards the 10 minute mark, anything can happen, and probably will. The epic length of Big Blue Sky reflects the epic nature; taking your place on the planet, feeling lifted by life, then feeling so very small in the scheme of things. Musically, verses oscillate gently between the stratospheric feel of the chorus, with some sublime details tucked in; catch those cougar night sounds.

Whole Life Time. The wisdom of age bears fruit in this reflective tale of getting to know and forgive yourself, and others. It's no coincidence this PiL have been together six years; the rhythm section is natural modern-day PiL, embracing the old and the new.

I'm Not Satisfied is a full frontal sequel to Double Trouble. John is annoyed. References to hospital beds show again how his entire life has led him to this point. It's not just others he is referring to, but also himself. Challenging is a central emotion for John, and he nails it here. The day John becomes satisfied is the day he stops. It won't be happening anytime soon.

Corporate gives a world view - the globe as one family, one community. "Murderer" is John's verdict on those who abuse this privilege and fail to respect each other by fighting and squabbling endlessly. The haunting guitar seems fitting as it forces us to think to our roles as individuals in this new world, one concerned more with the icloud than each other.

What the world needs now is answered by the closing Shoom. Like Double Trouble, it goes for the jugular, stripping down the pretentions of life to what they actually are, bollocks. John targets human attitudes, human restrictions, human institutions; nothing is off-limits. Where does this leave you and me? Forget explanations and excuses, get back to humanity's basics.The final two words are the reset button. Wrapped in 2015 PiL rhythms, Shoom is an outstanding track to close an outstanding and compelling album. Pure Lydon, pure PiL.

There have been 3 years between This Is PiL and What The World Needs Now for a reason. Quality. PiL seem unstoppable on this form. The tracks sit effortlessly alongside any era of PiL, yet sound bang up-to-date.

The phenomenal success of Double Trouble not only backs ths up, but highlights another important point - PiL continue to pick up new fans.

To enjoy fully, I advise treating yourself to a physical copy. Both the CD and the double LP are beautifully presented lavish items, which ooze the care and attention to detail which has gone into the project as a whole.

Not sure how they've pulled this off, but they have. And thrown in a few surprises. Isn't that what makes PiL so great?

Review by Phil Singleton

What The World Needs Now CD

God Save The Sex Pistols ©2015 Phil Singleton / www.sex-pistols.net
All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission.


God Save the Sex Pistols

God Save The Sex Pistols ©Phil Singleton / www.sex-pistols.net