CHARITY SHOP CLASSICS (27)
A couple of chart hits from six years ago from the charity shop. A bit of pop music from Holly Valance with Jah Wobble, and Electric Six rocking out with Stuart Price under his Thin White Duke guise.
First up, Australian popette Holly Valance. Holly was in Australian soap Neighbours but decided to leave to pursue a pop career (don’t they all). But her first single was a cover of Turkish singer Tarkan’s Kiss Kiss which was a huge hit. Here its winsome pop sugariness is given some depth with some huge loping bass from the acclaimed bassist Jah Wobble. Seems like he’s been around for ever, with a career that started back in Public Image Limited back in 1978.
Next, Electric Six is a six-piece Detroit-based band that plays what has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of “garage, disco, punk, new wave, and metal”. In other words, sometimes good, often a shambles. The band had been around for some years before having a hit with “Danger! High Voltage”. Here, remixed by Stuart Price in his Thin White Duke guise. Stuart is from Reading but originally was Les Rhythmes Digitales, claimed he was French and that his name was Jacques Lu Cont. He was originally on Wall of Sound records, more normally associated with Big Beat. But his style was much more electro with a heavy 80s influence. In addtion to LRD, he’s also been Zoot Woman. And that’s not to mention his work producing Madonna and The Killers.
Holly Valance – Kiss Kiss (Jah Wobble Remix)
Electric Six – Danger! High Voltage (Thin White Duke Mix)