After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed Public Image Ltd in 1978. I was magnetically attracted to PIL - much more so than the Sex Pistols. The Pistols were great for what they were, but PIL was more thoughtful, much darker. With their uncompromising sound, this under-rated group produced some of the most diverse music of the 70's and 80's. The approach was abstract and characterised by Lydon's cryptic vocals, Jah Wobble's propulsive dub reggae-inspired bass, and the metallic jagged guitar playing of Keith Levene. And yet the combined contributions from each character feels completely natural. Levene in particular is incredible - not just the sound he produces, but what he chooses to play (or 'not' play). All in all, it's pretty avant-garde stuff, very experimental. And that is all in its favour.
'Metal Box' was apparently recorded in several sessions with a few different drummers, none of whom were credited. It transpires that two of my favourite tracks - 'Poptones' and 'Careering' - were recorded without a full-time drummer, with Levene playing drums on one and Wobble on the other.
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01. Television : 'Marquee Moon' (1977)
02. Lou Reed : 'Berlin' (1973)
03. Public Image Ltd. : 'MetalBox' (1979)
04. Talk Talk : 'Spirit Of Eden' (1988)
05. Steve Reich : 'Reich: The Desert Music' (1997)
06. David Bowie : 'Aladdin Sane' (1973)
07. Radiohead : 'OK Computer' (1997)
08. Massive Attack : 'Collected' (1998)
09. Morrissey : 'You Are The Quarry' (2004)
10. Eno : 'Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy' (1974)
11. The Beatles : 'The White album' (1968)
12. Górecki : 'Symphony #3, Op. 36' (1992)
13. Pink Floyd : 'Meddle' (1971)