London Punkharmonic Orchestra:
"Classical punk!"

Audio fragment of this record in the Audioquarium

  This follow-up to those "Classical rock" albums of the 70's brings you 18 punk classics played by a classical string ensemble.
  This music has something schyzophrenic - that is, if you know the originals - because you're hearing 2 things at the same time: the beautifull string melodies as they come from the cd, and the raw originals as they are played back in your head from memory.
  Something peculiar occured to me: this classical punk sounds a lot like Michael Nyman. But when you think about it, it's not strange at all: after all, punk music was de facto very repetitive, simplistic and minimal.

From the liner notes by Monty:
It's my way of showing a cynical word of those too old or too young to remember, just how beautiful those tunes really were. The bands couldn't play and they couldn't sing and yet in just a few moments they said everything anyone would ever want to say. The songs weren't crafted, they were expelled, flushed, gobbed. The melodies must have been accidental, but they were in there somewhere and that is what this album is all about.
  Apart from some artistic licence taken with some of the more idiosyncratic vocal styles, the songs and melody lines are structurally faithful to the originals.
  I chose to do this just with strings because I wanted to see how the tunes responded to a smooth luscious sound and I was surprised and quite moved to hear how haunting and evocative they turned ou to be. 'Love song' and 'Stranglehold' are particular favourites, the weeping lead violin rendering them almost unrecognisable with it's shimmering beauty. However, my personal choice would be 'No more heroes' because of the sheer power and musicality inherent in the song. Other highlights must be the menacing grace of 'Holiday in Camboia' and 'Babylon's Burning'. And 'Where's Captain Kirk?' is plain silly, just as it should be. The greatest pure song amongst the collection, however, must be 'Ever fallen in Love' which is pop in anyone's dictionary.
  I hope you enjoy this little piece of confectionery, all you ex-punks. You may not be able to pogo to it, but after all those hectic business lunches and golf open days would you really want to? No future indeed.
© MCI - reproduced for didactic/informative purpose only

Conclusion:


this really IS haunting and beautifull, but also funny and incredibly strange, in other words: great exotica stuff, highly recommended! (As you can see from the question marks in the track listing below, I couldn't remember all the original performers; any help is welcome!)

DETAILS:

London Punkharmonic Orchestra: "Classical punk!"
CD, Music Club MCCD 200, UK (P)1995, 67:36 minutes, about GBP10
Available from CDEurope or Esprit by e-mail

TRACK LIST:

  1. No more heroes (Stranglers)
  2. Babylon's burning
  3. Sheena is a punk rocker (Ramones)
  4. Down in the tube station at midnight (Jam)
  5. Holiday in Cambodia (Dead Kennedys)
  6. White riot (Clash)
  7. Gary Gilmore's eyes (Adverts)
  8. Ever fallen in love (With someone you shoudn't've) (Buzzcocks)
  9. Love song (Damned)
  10. Another girl, another planet (Only Ones)
  11. Where's Captain Kirk? (Spizz Energy)
  12. Alternative Ulster (Stiff Little Fingers)
  13. Germ free adolescents (X-Ray Spex)
  14. Teenage kicks (Undertones)
  15. Stranglehold (UK Subs)
  16. Hersham boys (Sham 69)
  17. Sound of the suburbs
  18. Pretty vacant (Sex Pistols)


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