You learn something new every day, so they say, and I definitely did. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined that goth royalty act Sisters Of Mercy were actually influenced by the Glam bands of the 1970s, but apparently, they were, and founding member Gary Marx wears that rosette proudly on his lapel here. It’s an unbridled joy to witness. Not for nothing does Marx himself say “It’s me dressing up and playing at being Mick Ronson. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had making a record, and I think it shows.”’ Oh it does, Gary. It really does!
The whole thing is a kind of hybrid of The Glitter Band (don’t let that put you off, I’m talking about the musicians, not their disgraced leader), Alvin Stardust, T. Rex, Slade and Suzi Quatro, and it is just so gratifying! As a long term fan of The Wonder Stuff myself, it’s also fabulous to hear Miles Hunt taking one half of the lead vocals on ‘Dressed Up Messed Up Kid‘, perhaps embodying the spirit of his Uncle Bill from his heyday in Wizzard, although this is more like a ‘country-glam’ tune, which is hugely appealing.
In fact there is a whole host of special guests on this record, each bringing their own special talents – Wayne Hussey, John Robb and others, the songs dazzling with the fervour of an artist just setting out on a musical journey, let alone someone who’s been around the scene for the past forty odd years!
So, ‘Cordite Drive‘ has a vibrant Bowie-ish ‘Suffragette City‘ feel about it, ‘Louder‘ arguably being the other track that most recalls the erstwhile Mr. David Jones, albeit in a later 1970s guise, while ‘Stone Cold Solid Gone‘ is as infuriatingly infectious as some of Alvin Stardust‘s biggest hits, and is all the more endearing for it.
The T. Rex influence is probably most noticeable on the single ‘Chain Store Mascara‘, whereas ‘Wicked Ways‘ and ‘Sugarcane‘ – the latter of which features a great vocal by Marx’s long-term friend Jane Murphy – are less representative of that glam-rock sound, but no less appealing for it.
There’s little else to say – Green Ginger Jive simply sounds like the soundtrack to one of the best nights out you could ever imagine. Love it.
