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Quality. Wonderfully presented, PiL's new 10" single is housed in a glossy card sleeve, with colour inner dust jacket.
You'll be familiar with John's cover art, but the back is eye-popping. Bloomin' 'eck! The inner sleeve art is rather, shall we say - expressive. Very funny.
Very smothering.
As for the musical content, 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.
Solid 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.
Then there is the non-album track, Turkey Tits. A funky affair, it's no filler; establishment figures claiming undue credit for the genius of others, child sex shame, prostitution, and a dollop of John anger, give Turkey Tits some balls. It even brings to mind The Cowboy Song, the first ever PiL B-side, only this time the end product doesn't meander; it's sharp, snappy, and clever.
As with all PiL, interpretation is very much in the ears and imagination of the listener. This is my take, buy it and discover your own. I guarantee it'll make you think.
Review by Phil Singleton |
