Not only is Public Image Ltd. back in action these days, but two of that band’s key early members — bassist Jah Wobble and guitarist Keith Levene — have reunited to record their first full-length collaboration since PiL’s classic 1979 album Metal Box.
Their new record, Yin & Yang, is due out Nov. 12 in the U.K. and Dec. 11 in the U.S. — and you can stream and/or download the set’s rather profane opening track below.
The duo — who released a new EP earlier this year — have been performing sporadic “Metal Box in Dub” shows in recent months, enlisting a masked Nathan Maverick of The Sex Pistols Experience on vocals, Marc Layton-Bennett on drums and Sean Corby on trumpet.
Of the new album, Wobble writes:
“I reunited with Keith a couple of years ago. He was off smack and keen to play again. We had a bash in a rehearsal room and it went well. To start with I got him to play on three tracks of the album (Psychic Life) that I was making with Julie Campbell (Lonelady). Since then we have performed ‘Metal Box in Dub’ live. These shows were very well received. As far as I was concerned he was back and on top of his game again. I thought it would be a good idea to go and record some new material.
“I wasn’t sure what we would come up with. As we proceeded, in a very relaxed fashion, the realisation dawned on me that we were making music that was linked to psychedelic music (especially the British variety), of the swinging sixties through the mid seventies that we both would have been exposed to when we were young. (Albeit our stuff has a spiteful post modern edge to it, I must admit it was a good (if rather juvenile) laugh referring to myself (and the listener) as a c***, as well as eulogising about my beloved Jags and Staffs in the mist of a psychedelic onslaught). Bands such as Hawkwind and the Pretty Things spring to mind. Our 7/4 version of George Harrison’s ‘Within/Without You’ reminds me of Cream, in its wild approach and execution. There are elements of Americana in ‘Yin and Yang’ as well. Check out the Keith’s acoustic work on the dubby Appalachian flavoured ‘Strut.’ Likewise listen to the Southern States R&B of ‘Mississippi,’ especially the baptist church organ of the multi-talented Jonas Persson. But my favourite track is the moody instrumental ‘Back on the Block,’ just listen to the controlled anger of Keith’s electric guitar.
“When Keith and I performed ‘Metal Box In Dub’ I invited my regular trumpet player Sean Corby along. I knew that he would help inject an element of ‘Electric period Miles’ into the mix. Not long after we had finished recording ‘Metal Box’ back in 1979 I heard Miles Davis’s ‘Dark Magus.’ Well, it absolutely blew me away. Talk about cathartic moments. Since then I had dreamed of introducing trumpet into compositions such as ‘Graveyard’ and ‘Memories.’
“Sean steals the show on ‘Fluid,’ my old friend ‘Little Annie’ does the same on ‘Vampires.’ Marc Layton-Bennett, my regular drummer, plays like a demon throughout. The track ‘Understand’ features Nathan Maverick on vocals. He is the singer that we employed to handle vocals on the ‘Metal Box in Dub’ performances. I was determined to get him to help write a song for this album. And the boy did good. He really reminds me of someone. Just can’t quite put my finger on who it is.”
Check out the full tracklist for Yin & Yang, and hear the title track below:
Tracklist: Jah Wobble & Keith Levene, Yin & Yang
1. “Yin & Yang”
2. “Strut”
3. “Jags And Staffs”
4. “Mississippi”
5. “Within You Without You”
6. “Back On The Block”
7. “Fluid”
8. “Vampires”
9. “Understand”
10. “Understand Dub”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
No Martin Atkins :`-(
Martin Atkins is a dick