Pete Shelley, romantic punk

Select Language

English

Down Icon

Select Country

France

Down Icon

Pete Shelley, romantic punk

Pete Shelley, romantic punk
Pete Shelley, “Homosapien” (Domino) (DR)

Pete Shelley, who died at the age of 63 in 2018, remains a brilliant pioneer of English punk with his band Buzzcocks . Far from the aggression of the Sex Pistols, whose early concerts inspired him, his music is above all guided by his heightened sensitivity as a working-class son who loves literature. From punk, he retained only energy and passion. The Buzzcocks are above all extraordinary melodies to which his high-pitched voice gives an ironic dimension. This is evident in his first two solo albums, Homosapien (1981) and XL1 (1983), reissued today. Beyond the prodigious single, which gives its name to the album and was interpreted as a gay anthem, even if Shelley, notoriously bisexual, never confirmed this intention, Homosapien fascinates with its strange dance/synth pop style and the use of the machines of the time with a sometimes very kitsch sound, but which gives it its charm. The cover that Joe Goddard gives of Hot Cheap as a bonus is also a success. If the electronics remain very present in XL1, the guitars make their return in this album unfairly deemed less inspired than the previous one, and just as essential to grasp the singularity of this figure of British pop culture.

Libération

Libération

Similar News

All News
Animated ArrowAnimated ArrowAnimated Arrow