There ain’t half been some cynical collaborations over the years. But surely taking the biscuit is the occasion when a messed-up David Bowie, delirious after some nights of crazy excess with Iggy Pop or another one of his mad cronies, guests on Bing Crosby’s Christmas Special. There’s Bing in his cardigan writing some last minute Yuletide cards when the doorbell rings. Behold, it’s the Man Who Fell To Earth! Bing doesn’t seem to know who “David” is - he barely knows who he is himself - but he manages to introduce himself as a new neighbour who’s just moved into the ‘hood. Five minutes later they’ve decided to burst – well, not burst, languorously lurch, more like – into a duet of The Little Drummer Boy. They’ve wisely decided to eschew a cover of Hey Santa Claus by The Sonics or Merry Christmas I don’t want to fight tonight by The Ramones, as being something of a stretch for Bing. At least they both having being thin in column. Bing from a sensible diet, Dave from rampant cocaine enthusiasm.
Anyway.
Here’s some genuinely great collabs.
My favourite discovery was the Malian combo of Al Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate. Though I knew some of Ali’s solo work, what a pleasure it was to come across this magical hybridisation of West African guitarwork.
This is the era of the Sparks, so it was a no-brainer to choose a track from FFS, their collab with Franz Ferdinand. If you haven’t seen the documentary The Sparks Brothers yet, do yourself a favour.
As the years have gone by, I’ve come round more to Thom Yorke. I know he’s a bit whiney, and prone to resort to cliches as profundities when repeated, but his hook-up with Flying Lotus works a treat. He once worked with the wonderful Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse as well, whose wonderful Piano Fire with PJ Harvey also appears here.
We bump shoulders with some rap on this ep with Sage Francis and POS collabing, to great effect. And I was pleased to include a couple of female electro pioneers in the work of Trish Keenan from Broadcast, and Delia Derbyshire, the true genius behind the Doctor Who theme.
Altogether, most enjoyable.
Tracklist:
East wind, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn
Cish cash, Basement Jaxx, Siouxsie Sioux
Johnny Delusional, FFS
Piano fire, Sparklehorse, PJ Harvey
And the world laughs with you, Flying Lotus, Thom Yorke
Monsieur le Maire de Niafunke, Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate
Moviescapes, Poemss
Peter Gunn, The Art of Noise feat Duane Eddy
Safety in speed (Heavy metal), P.O.S.
Left handed kisses, Andrew Bird
4 ½ Inch, The Fall feat DOSE
I see, so I see so, Broadcast, The Focus Group
Quest, Brian Hodgson, Delia Derbyshire, Don Harper
Sea lion, Sage Francis
Revolver, Isobel Campbell, Mark Lanegan
When the road runs out, Blonde Redhead, Devastations