For those of us who like our female frontwomen feisty, here’s a little reminder of who many of your heroines look up to. Poly Styrene from X-Ray Spex back in the 70’s had all of the fire, aggression and balls that you laud in the likes of Karen O and Lovefoxxx, and from this CD it’s safe to say that the flames are far from out.
Nearly 30 years after their last live shows in 1979, X-Ray Spex snuck out in and amongst the raft of reforming acts to play to their much respected ‘Germ Free Adolescents’ to die-hard fans at London’s Roundhouse.
As one who wasn’t around when they were, this album is something of a first exploration. Based on the audio alone, it doesn’t sound like you’re listening to a band reflecting over the decades, but a punk act at the heights of their powers and – more importantly – charm. The waves of sax that litter many of the tracks here make sure that the rants and demands are delivered in a tuneful, party-friendly way.
So this isn’t the full original line-up, and for those who were there at the time this might make a difference. To the uneducated, though, this is punk music full of life, humour and passion, delivered with all of the importance you would have expected decades ago. I’d imagine for those who anticipated this reunion during the reigns of Thatcher and Blair, it means even more than that.
It’s laced with wit (‘I Am A Poseur’ being one of many prime examples), as well as instantly catchy tunes that Be Your Own Pet could only dream of. This is the opposite experience of usual music reviewing; instead of trying to work out who they are derivates of, this is a chance to draw up a list of the people they have influenced.
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It’s not a set of solely shouty numbers. ‘Crystal Clear’ is a tame number, quickly followed by the immediate ‘Let’s Submerge,’ another moment where you’re torn between leaping around like a loon or attempting to bust some of your best rock club moves. ‘Oh Bondage Up Yours!’ gets two plays that you can’t resent, or help singing long after the final cheers have faded away.
We’re never going to see The Clash again, so these moments need to be treasured. This CD should be issued as an introduction for those who (like me) need to be filled in, and for the fans who perhaps haven’t been made to feel this way about music since. A storming, ferocious set, packaged neatly onto a CD that should be delivered to anyone who wants to make music that makes people care. This one rocks more than 1,000 Rage Against The Machine Christmas number ones. When your punk can transcend generations, then celebratory gigs like this are a must. A masterclass.
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