“Your Cassette Pet” by Bow Wow Wow - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1980Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s

TJR says

This is one of those ultra-rare occasions where every single ingredient is as important as the next in the creation of the whole delicious concoction, there being five of them for this dish. Firstly, a lot of credit must go to the man who created the vision for the recipe – Malcom McLaren. His love for African Jive and World Music in general was the square root catalyst for the extra-ordinary fusion that would ensue. McLaren’s first move was to raid the staff-bank from the HQ of Adam Ant. Fresh from their success with Adam and The Ants on 1979’s “Dirk Wears White Sox” LP, David Barbarossa (drums) and Matthew Ashman (guitar) would provide some of the most invigorating rhythms and flourishes ever heard from the white man, whilst the third member of the Ants to be “poached away”, bassist Leigh Gorman (who had only played one gig with the Ants and was not involved in any of their studio recordings), would add the most un-English sounding basslines which seemed to have more in common with Havana or Harare than with Hounslow. And what of Annabella Lwin? Discovered singing at her launderette Saturday job by an acquaintance of McLaren’s, she delivered what was, quite possibly, the greatest performance in the history of Rock by a 13-year-old (she’d turn 14 just in time for the album’s November release). Her yelps, gasps, Balinese chanting and general exuberance just sealed the whole Bow Wow Wow deal. In a word? Sensational…

The Jukebox Rebel
26–Sep–2010

Tracklist
A1 [02:40] 10.0.png Bow Wow Wow - Louis Quatorze (Matthew Ashman, David Barbarossa, Leigh Gorman, Malcolm McLaren) New Wave
A2 [02:06] 7.8.png Bow Wow Wow - Gold He Said (Matthew Ashman, David Barbarossa, Leigh Gorman, Malcolm McLaren) New Wave
A3 [03:12] 8.7.png Bow Wow Wow - Uomo Sex Al Apache (Matthew Ashman, David Barbarossa, Leigh Gorman, Malcolm McLaren) New Wave
A4 [02:25] 6.7.png Bow Wow Wow - I Want My Baby On Mars (Matthew Ashman, David Barbarossa, Leigh Gorman, Malcolm McLaren) New Wave
B1 [02:26] 9.6.png Bow Wow Wow - Sexy Eiffel Towers (Matthew Ashman, David Barbarossa, Leigh Gorman, Malcolm McLaren) New Wave
B2 [02:23] 7.1.png Bow Wow Wow - Giant Sized Baby Thing (Matthew Ashman, David Barbarossa, Leigh Gorman, Malcolm McLaren) New Wave
B3 [02:12] 7.4.png Bow Wow Wow - Fools Rush In (Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom) New Wave
B4 [02:43] 9.4.png Bow Wow Wow - Radio G-String (Matthew Ashman, David Barbarossa, Leigh Gorman, Malcolm McLaren) New Wave

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