There are some thing which, as far as I’m aware, never appear on bad records: hammond organs, trombones, handclaps.
And, a broader category, ska covers. Why is it, by the way, that two-tone, renowned as a political form of music, got so terrible whenever it explicitly turned to politics? Lots of great tunes about the general shitness of work, poverty, late capitalism; and then when political demands get raised, you get the mediocre “Free Nelson Mandela” and “Stand Down Margaret,” the worst ska record ever made?
Owen at 5:18 am, March 27, 2007
I have made this argument about handclaps on many an occasion, and the usual counter-argument is ‘Helen Love’, which I guess depends on one’s opinion of said act…
voyou at 11:01 am, March 27, 2007
It’s difficult to see how Helen Love could be a counter-argument here. A particularly fine illustration of the truth of the thesis, I would have thought.
mark k-p at 4:07 pm, March 28, 2007
I must violently disagree about hammond organs. In fact, I’d go to the other extreme - the presence of a hammond organ is in itself enough to ruin an otherwise good record. Every time I listen to Moloko, for instance, I mentally mix out the hammond…
infinite thought at 12:32 am, March 29, 2007
As major (sole?) proponent of said counter-argument, I must reassert my claim. Helen Love. I mean, good God.
Hand-claps in music are the mark of the infantilising devil, particularly when used by adult women who should know better!
Owen at 6:34 am, March 29, 2007
Kenickie, according to the credits on At the Club, used ‘thigh slaps’ as opposed to handclaps. Is that more acceptable…?
voyou at 12:05 am, March 30, 2007
Well, it’s about ten years since I last heard a Helen Love record, so I’m not in the best position to defend them. But, as counter-arguments go, I don’t think it’s as damning as wikipedia’s evidence for the prosecution re: Hammond organs:
Ouch.
mark k-p at 1:29 pm, April 1, 2007
One could also mention the whole Acid Jazz genre…
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