“The Story So Far” by The Mo-Dettes - album review

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

TJR says

For their November, 1980, long-play debut, London's Mo-dettes were: Swiss-born Ramona Carlier (ex-Kleenex, vocals), American-born Kate Corris (ex-Slits, guitar), Jane Crockford (ex-Bank of Dresden, bass) and June Miles-Kingston (drums). They had recorded sessions for John Peel in January and August, and the DJ couldn't wait to get his hands on the album, excitedly playing 5 tracks in one night from his promo copy in late October; “Satisy”, “Fandango”, “Masochistic Opposite”, “Sparrow” and “Mi’Lord”, the latter being a wonderfully bonkers cover of Édith Piaf's 1959 song, sung naturally in French by Ramona, whose euro-english accent is a charming feature of the group's sound. It's one of two golden oldies to be completely Mo-dettes-ified, the other being “Paint It Black” (The Rolling Stones, 1966), which was the album's second single back in July. Their debut single from late '79, “White Mouse Disco”, also makes an appearance, complete with the memorable boy-teasing chorus: “Don't be stupid, don't be limp, No girl likes to love a wimp, Dance and make lots of fun, Come and be my number one”. Slinky psychobilly number “Kray Twins” is finger-clicking good and a live version of the track would see release as a single in mid-1981. Ultimately, I prefer my female post-punk to have the Slits edge, but there's no doubting the Mo-Dettes hold appeal for both mainstream and alternative camps.

The Jukebox Rebel
02–Feb–2011

Tracklist
A1 [02:33] 5.8.png The Mo-Dettes - Fandango (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
A2 [03:56] 6.3.png The Mo-Dettes - Satisfy (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
A3 [02:41] 5.5.png The Mo-Dettes - Dark Park Creeping (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
A4 [03:47] 6.7.png The Mo-Dettes - Kray Twins (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
A5 [02:19] 6.1.png The Mo-Dettes - Paint It Black (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) New Wave
A6 [03:06] 6.8.png The Mo-Dettes - White Mouse Disco (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
B1 [03:55] 5.2.png The Mo-Dettes - Bedtime Stories (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
B2 [03:12] 6.5.png The Mo-Dettes - Masochistic Opposite (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
B3 [03:02] 5.4.png The Mo-Dettes - Foolish Girl (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
B4 [02:32] 5.9.png The Mo-Dettes - Norman (He’s No Rebel) (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
B5 [04:15] 5.0.png The Mo-Dettes - Sparrow (Jane Crockford, June Miles-Kingston, Kate Korus, Ramona Carlier) New Wave
B6 [02:55] 6.2.png The Mo-Dettes - Mi’Lord (Mustacchi Joseph, Monnot Margueritte Angele) New Wave

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