It sounds like the worst idea in the world…ever!, but the reggafied version of OK Computer is a joy from skanking start to dubby finish.
Operating as – tee hee! – Radiodread, the pick-up ensemble includes the legendary likes of Morgan Heritage, Frankie Paul, Kirsty Rock and Massive Attacker Horace Andy who lends his honeyed tones to ‘Airbag’.
The project is the brainchild of UK independent Easystar Records who’ve previously shifted 85,000 copies of – chuckle! – Dub Side Of The Moon.
“We’ve been amazed at how well it’s been working,” enthuses label co-owner Lem Oppenheimer. “After listening to what Michael G and the band has done with the songs, it almost sounds like they were meant to be written for reggae.”
The album is out in mid-September, but you can get a preview by visiting www.myspace.com/easystar and www.easystar.com.
There are more musical treats to be had at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjGy1ApTiyo, which finds goth ‘n’ rollers Trent Reznor, Peter Murphy and Jeordie White (a.k.a Twiggy Ramirez) treating a dressing-room full of fans to an obscenely wonderful cover of The Normal’s synth classic ‘Warm Leatherette’.
From there it’s but a mere mouse-click to www.pdet.blogspot.com, which details Paul Daniels’ ebay transactions.
Yup, the magician and owner of Debbie McGee’s heart has taken to offloading his unwanted golf clubs, polo shirts, cameras, photographs and other bric-a-brac on the internet.
He’s a buyer as well as a seller, with a vinyl copy of The Platters’ ‘Only You’ (99p), Bela Lugosi poster (£5.69) and a pair of leather boots (£59.99) among the items making it into his cart. Truly and deeply bizarre.
Which just leaves time for visits to www.mothergooserocks.com/headandshoulders.html (Bono sings nursery rhymes with Bush, Blair, Oprah and The Pope); www.crazylaws.com (no selling peanuts in Lee County on Wednesdays); and www.armorofgodpjs.com (fundamentalist Christian pyjamas).