Cool! A picture disc. Let’s take this out of the sleeve and give it a OHMYGODWHATTHEFUCKISTHAT!? Is it the famed ‘Beast with Two Backs’ that everyone at uni spoke of seeing at parties, while I was staying in and alphabeticising my CD collection? Whatever it is, ATP and Deerhoof went to great lengths to ensure the strengths of the picture disc format were fully exploited by asking the awesome David Shrigley to provide the artwork. Deerhoof have a history of working with cutting edge illustrators (teaming with Ken Kagami during the Milk Man period and, more recently, Tomoo Gokita for 2008’s Offend Maggie) and roped in Shrigley to create the Friend Opportunity artwork (of which there are apparently twelve variations on the cover sleeve).
‘The Perfect Me’ was the first taste of that album and displayed the poptastic heights Friend Opportunity would scale. Although instantly catchy and memorable, there is enough off-kilter stuff going on to keep you coming back play after play. The angular guitar squall and free improvisation of their earliest releases have all but been eradicated, replaced with keyboards, Satomi’s endearing childlike vocals and an emphasis on melody. However, bat-shit crazy drummer Greg Saunier brings spasmodic rhythms and there are more time-signature shifts than you can shake a metronome at. Throw in some satisfyingly crunchy guitar playing and you have something that is certainly not your ordinary pop song. It’s as if there about five songs all in one here, though not in a ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ kind of way – it’s all going on at once, which is probably what makes the song so exciting. Overall, the whole thing is just a gloriously free-willed, spirited, uplifting, unique and downright fun track to listen to.
What with this single coming out at the tail end of 2006, the B-side is the semi-seasonal ‘The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill Continuing into The Little Drummer Boy.’ Having gushed all over the A-side, I couldn’t wait to hear a similar treatment of The Beatles’ ‘Bungalow Bill,’ but as with many Deerhoof covers I was left a little disappointed. Deerhoof exercise their more experimental sensibilities and produce a fairly sparse and strangely calypso-flavoured version. Quite nice, but somewhat slight. The same can be said of ‘The Little Drummer Boy,’ which is a fairly faithful rendition, all sweet and twinkly and chiming; but it’s over almost as soon as it begins.
Well, there were only 350 copies of this released, so if you want one it’ll probably cost you a pretty penny now. Personally, I’d recommend saving the money and getting yourself a copy of Friend Opportunity and The Beatles’ White Album instead!
No comments:
Post a Comment