There are some artists that I would always prefer artists to steer clear of covering – Bowie, for sure; Zappa, Nina Simone and Kate Bush all spring to mind, for numerous reasons, ranging from tone to technicality, the results generally clutter rather than improve the musical landscape. So when I saw that Oxford post-punkers Shaven Primates had taken on Ms. Bush’s seminal “Babooshka,” I dropped the virtual needle on it with mixed emotions.
However, they manage to transform it into a gritty, groovesome take without losing the original’s delicacy and mystique, dynamic, and poise. The result is a balance between celebration and adventure, both a tribute to the original and an adventurous reimagining.
The other two songs on Chasing The Dragon tell us more about the band. “Airwaves” is an intriguing piece, a blend of gnarly rock and heavenly, almost proggy 4 part harmonies (think 90125 by Yes), and it reminds us that connecting with the people around us is more important than using them as stepping stones for our ambition.
For me, “I’ll Quit Tomorrow” is the stand-out track, wandering almost into musical theatre vibes with its spoken word deliveries, shimmering sonics, dark vocal asides, and anthemic gravitas – a song that is about kicking the habit whilst kicking arse.
If the notion of post-punk music seems nostalgic and backward glancing, then Shaven Primates will be your sort of band, standing on the shoulders of past giants and looking out into the future of what that genre might sound like going forward, and that makes a refreshing change.
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