Horrors - Shadazz

by Anthony Strutt

published: 8 / 11 / 2008

Label: Blast First Petite
Format: 10"

Fine cover of the classic Suicide song by the Horrors, one in a series of limited 10 inches released to coincide with Suicide vocalist Alan Vega's 70th birthday

Review

This record, which is limited to a mere 3,000 copies only, is part of a series of limited 10 inches released to coincide with Alan Vega of Suicide's 70th birthday. The most collectable item in the series is a record by Bruce Springsteen of all people. 'Shadazz' is the first release by the Horrors this year. They started the year by playing a storming set at the London Astoria to plug their second album which still bears no new fruits yet, and have spent the time since then playing countless DJ sets. 'Shadazz' is a cover of an old Suicide song and, while sounding nothing like the Horrors usually sound, it does sound like their influences. This is synth pop of the BBC experimental effects department, of which organist Spider Webb is a big collector. The vocal by Faris Badwin is very restrained, slow and honey rich in sound. The B side features a previously unreleased reading of 'Radiation' from a New York City gig by Suicide on the 28th July 1984. It has Alan doing his thing with his vocals over Martin Rev's keyboards which is of course what Suicide do. Musically it is reminiscent of the Flying Lizards' 'Money', while Alan with his vocals sounds like a mad Iggy Pop. The last track is a trance like reading of Suicide's most famous song, 'Rocket U.S.A.' from Nic Void, which has an air that of Laurie Anderson.