|  Disc
2 starts with ‘Another’, originally the B-side of ‘Memories’
and later featured on ‘Metal Box’ as an instrumental entitled
‘Graveyard’. Despite this track being featured on the UK CD
issue of ‘Flowers of Romance’ it’s often overlooked simply
because it was a B-side, it’s actually one of my favourite PiL
tracks. Another of my faves is next ‘Albatross’ I absolutely
love the beginning, and lyrics are good too, it’s obvious the albatross
is the Pistols, and I don’t think many people would argue that
with the release of ‘Metal Box’ PiL finally exorcised the
Pistols ghost (at least for the time being).
The remaining
five tracks from ‘Metal Box’ are featured next and if you
take into account all the alternative versions featured on disc 1 then
the album is featured in full. I could spend all day going on about
‘Metal Box’, but don’t worry I won’t, you all probably
know it anyway, it’s quite simply one of the finest records ever
made. 20 years ago it sounded ahead of it’s time, 20 years on it
still sounds remarkably contemporary...
One of PiL’s
rarest tracks is featured next, ‘Pied Piper’ a track recorded
by Keith and John along with Rich Kids guitarist Steve New (listed at
“Shooz” on the original credits, a nickname given to him by
Jeanette Lee). The track was originally featured on the Virgin compilation
album ‘Machines’ but has since disappeared. To be honest it’s
not the greatest track they ever did, it’s very repetitive and
manly features John screaming “Can’t go on, drag along, Pied
Piper lead me to the water” over the same three or four notes.
This was the first track the band recorded on Wobble’s departure
and Steve New’s appearance on the track was always a bit of a mystery
to me, when I was in London last year I asked him about it and he told
me the track came about because he and Keith were friends at the time
and used to shoot up together, they always talked about working together
and finally did one day, ‘Pied Piper’ was the result. However,
apparently his appearance was always meant as a one off.
The whole of
the ‘Flowers of Romance’ album is featured next. Yet another
change in direction for the band, with no bass player the band decided
to go for a more stripped down sound, mainly relying on JL’s vocal
and the dynamic PiL drum sound. Personally, while I don’t doubt
its influence on some of todays dance music, ‘Flowers of Romance’
isn’t my favourite PiL record. I like half of it, I like ‘4
Enclosed Walls’, ‘Banging The Door’, ‘Go Back’,
‘Under The House’ & ‘Flowers...’ but I can’t
go stuff like ‘Francis Massacre’ and ‘Track 8’.
There’s not much I agree with Clinton Heylin about in his spiteful
PiL book, but I agree with him that PiL should only have released ‘Flowers...’
as an EP and not an LP. Personally I feel some of the tracks (especially
‘Francis Massacre’) were only half finished and really not
worth releasing, but it’s all about opinions isn’t it! Lastly,
why does no one ever mention the ‘No Future’ rip off at the
end of ‘Hymie’s Him’ (listen carefully).
The disc concludes
with the classic ‘Home is Where the Heart is’ the B-side of
‘Flowers of Romance’ and a track originally dating back to
the ‘Metal Box’ sessions, and even played live on some of
the US tour. This version was re-recorded by Keith and John after Wobble
left, with Keith re-recording the bass using a loop, however, it’s
done in such a way that you’d never know it wasn’t Wobble... |