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| RADIO K PRESENTS... THE LONG BLONDES |
with DRUG RUG and RAVEN, THE DUKE OF DARK
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The Long Blondes still mix the extravagant and the everyday as only
they can; the illicit thoughts that let a chink of excitement into the
ennui of suburban life. But this is no longer a sepia-tinted picture
postcard of a past era, instead it is the aural equivalent of people
watching the moon landings on a newly-acquired colour tv or Futurists
painting cityscapes of dizzying shapes and violent colours. It is the
SHOCK of the NEW.
 First
of all, that album title. "Couples". Note that the quotation marks are
imperative, not only highlighting the Long Blondes' penchant for
self-referencing (see track three on the album) but also tipping a hat
towards Bowie's "Heroes" and Adam and the Ants' "Antmusic". Although
many may pass this off as mere triviality, it is just such an EYE FOR
DETAIL that defines the 'Blondes worldview. And is it possible that
tongues were tucked firmly in cheeks when choosing the title? Questions
as to whether this is the next great break-up album in the lineage of
Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' and Abba's 'The Visitors' are sidestepped by
the band but the comparison is not impertinent. You, dear listener, are
free to make your own mind up.
 Legend
has it that the recording of the album took place under the watchful
gaze of the 'couples wall', constructed in the studio by the band and
featuring images of dynamic duos throughout history; The Two Ronnies,
Gilbert and George, Ron and Russel Mael of Sparks and Basil and Sybil
Fawlty to name but a few. More prosaically, most of the songs relate to
the relationships between couples, or at least ex-couples. Even album
opener 'Century', a song expanding the Blondes' traditional subject
matter, is still an ode from one century to its predecessor.
The Long Blondes were aided and abetted on this new musical journey by
visionary dj / producer Erol Alkan. Already recognised as one of the
most revered and respected DJs in the world (He is the provider of
stadium size remixes for the likes of Klaxons, Hot Chip and Daft Punk
amongst many others), he has a burgeoning reputation as a producer that
is sure to be sealed with "Couples".
 Musically,
"Couples" sees The Long Blondes stepping, dancing, falling and laughing
into BRAVE NEW WORLDS; the crystalline 'Century' fuses the lyrical
collages of Bryan Ferry and the musical cut-and-paste of Saint Etienne.
The glacial, minimal 'Too Clever By Half' contrasts with the dark
murmurs of 'Round The Hairpin', essentially a 1950s teen death-disc
taking an unsettling turn via drummer Screech's Krautrock rhythms and
Kate's backwards singing. 'The Couples' and 'Guilt', meanwhile, take
furtive dances with Stereolab's charm and the Pet Shop Boys' HIGH
ART/CAMP midpoint respectively. Then there's the poignant maturity of
'Nostalgia', the heavy lidded piano and Kate's smoky vocals reaffirming
what, by now, you'll already know, " that was then, and this is now…
that's all in the past... "
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