4AD was always a record label that had it's antennas looking out for new and fresh sounds. In the early 80's they signed The Wolfgang Press a post-punk band inspired by PIL's Metal Box. In their early days they played another post-punk music like many others but during the later years they created from their roots a sound that absorbed funk and dance into their sound. Bird Wood Cage their third album from 1988 was one of those which were at the height of times back then and made it easy for those who could try to step into a new sound experience. Almost three decades ago The Wolfgang Press made a record that is worth to be remembered although the mass didn't recognized them.
The Wolfgang Press - Kansas
The Wolfgang Press - Raintime
In 1991 they made a cover version of Randy Newman's Mama Told Me Not To Come a song about a desert party in Los Angeles in the seventies of the last century in which drugs and whiskey were the basis for extensive orgies. I love this song in almost every versions but the way The Wolfgang Press played them was extremely great.
The Wolfgang Press - Mama Told Me Not To Come (Bad Boy Mix)
3 Kommentare:
I absolutely loved Raintime. Still do. Wasn't so keen on the dancey, electronic direction they took, but 'Bird Wood Cage' was a very fine record.
The Wolfgang Press remain one of Post Punks most underrated bands in my opinion. They were unbothered by making music of a certain style or genre. The one link threaded through their masterful catalogue is soulfulness. They made music for listening in you bedroom with the lights out, for driving down the highway at twice the speed limit, for sexing up a partner on the dancefloor and for recovering from that night of thrown shapes and trantic hedonism. They also managed to make songs that should have burned down the charts, but sadly never had a chance. Anyone who ever wants to know more about The Wolfgang Press needs to hear Sweatbox, Kansas, Raintime, Cut The Tree, Question Of Time, 11 Years and Heart Of Stone.
After one of their songs featured on my recent 'Liars & Hypocrtites' post, I've spent the last week listening to Queer, the album which also includes Mama... I love TWP in all their various phases and was fortunate enough to see them (supporting Pixies!) in 1989, touring Bird Wood Cage, where they proved to be an equally compelling live act. Your post title is very apt, Walter.
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