Poly Styrene: Generation Indigo (Future Noise/Southbound)

 |   |  1 min read

Poly Styrene: I Luv Ur Sneakers
Poly Styrene: Generation Indigo (Future Noise/Southbound)

The voice, face and braces of X-Ray Specs back in the punk era, Poly Styrene had a sassy line in probing and poking at convention (even the codes of punk) and despite an intermittent career ever since she bounces back with this often satirical album driven by techno-beats and Seventies synths.

She nails relationships on the internet (Virtual Boyfriend), the consumer socity (I Luv Ur Sneakers) and on Kitsch (which borrows heavily from Pseudo Echo's Funky Town) defends and confronts any criticism that she might be "just a little bit kitsch".

There's a solid retro-New Wave and kitsch sound everywhere here -- song titles reflect that eg L.U.V -- coupled with a bit of dub and dancehall toasting.

The title track is a bit in the manner of "what we need is a great big" Melting Pot (Generation Indigo is the mixed race future) as is Colour Blind (which are noble enough sentiments though although runs contrary to people embracing their race and culture).

But every now and again (as on Ghoulish where she tells a Goth that beneath it all she feels he's quite a nice guy) this does come off as Aunty Poly taking a few shots at the young or obvious targets: "Boys with toys are running our world" isn't exactly the most original insight, even while nailing "trustafarians".

The whole widescreen guitars and synth crash here sounds enjoyably and willfully dated (or fresh and new if you didn't get the first time round) but while Poly brings wit and focus to her New Wave reggae-pop you'd hard say it was a thrilling comeback.

Like the sound of this? Then try this.

Poly Styrene died of cancer in April 2011, a month after the release of this album. She was 53.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

Waco Brothers and Paul Burch: Great Chicago Fire (Bloodshot)

Waco Brothers and Paul Burch: Great Chicago Fire (Bloodshot)

Sounding like uncles who grew up on country-punk, Joe Ely's Texas rebel rock and some early Seventies Stones albums, the rootsy but rocking Waco Brothers here pull few surprises out of those... > Read more

Irving: Death in the Garden, Blood on the Flowers (Rhythmethod)

Irving: Death in the Garden, Blood on the Flowers (Rhythmethod)

Because my record collection has such wayward but much loved albums by bands as diverse as the Unforgiven (spaghetti western rock), the Shoes (power pop), Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (early... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

CHRISTOPHER GUEST, MICHAEL McKEAN AND HARRY SHEARER INTERVIEWED 2003: Tap into folk

CHRISTOPHER GUEST, MICHAEL McKEAN AND HARRY SHEARER INTERVIEWED 2003: Tap into folk

It was less a mighty wind which briefly blew through town than a brisk breeze in the form of actors Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean. The trio may not be glossy-page stars... > Read more

Goran Bregovic: Champagne for Gypsies (Cartel!)

Goran Bregovic: Champagne for Gypsies (Cartel!)

If everything on this album were as flat-tack as the boisterous opener with guests the Gypsy Kings, then you'd be breathless well before the midpoint. And, just a guess here, when Bregovic and His... > Read more