Hit me two times: from Ian Dury to Bottin
As a blogger on 22tracks.com, I’m looking for an angle when I want to write about a track, or an artist. This is why you haven’t seen me covering any Latin or contemporary classical music here as of yet; it is pretty much alien to me. If you think there’s a good story to go with your favourite song on 22tracks, make sure to let me know at job[at]22tracks.com. Here’s a song with at least two angles, though: Telonious‘ “Hit Me”, the Bottin (pictured) remix of which is #nowplaying on the disco playlist.
I was a bit hesitant about this release because it is a cover version of a classic hit single by one of Britain’s tightest bands ever, Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Here’s the original verion, from a 1978 Top Of The Pops performance:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq4NZEtNTAo
German producer Jonas Imbery AKA Telonius is one of the founders of the Gomma label and also one half of Euro post-punk disco revival pioneers (you got that?) Munk, who made a record titled “Kick Out the Chairs” with LCD Soundsystem‘s James Murphy and Nancy Whang as far back as 2004. His credentials, in other words, check out more than fine. Having said that, I’m not too sure about his version of “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”. It falls a bit flat to my ears. The Blockheads were such a bad-ass band. Earlier this year, an Ian Dury biopic even hit British cinemas, a film that I’d love to see. Here is the trailer for Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMKjx8ilLCY
Italian producer Guglielmo Bottin‘s “Hit Me” remix, however, is excellent. In fact, there’s another Bottin track #nowplaying on the disco playlist. I told you there would be second angle. “Galli (Give it Up)” is a co-production with fellow countryman Rodion, who is signed to… Gomma. I love it when a story ties up this neatly. More importantly, “Galli (Give it Up)” proves that modern day cosmic Italo disco is alive and well. If its uptempo piano groove doesn’t get you going, I’m not sure what will.
Hit me!
