The Associates “The Affectionate Punch” and Lene Lovich “Sleeping Beauty”

The extensive wake left by punk and post-punk left many intensely interesting artists completely overlooked in America. The Associates were a Scottish duo obsessed with David Bowie (expressed mostly through Billy Mackenzie’s affected vocal style) and Roxy Music style glam. The fact that they formed in 1979 effectively squashed any dreams for mainstream success–the retro cycle wasn’t as hyper-fast as it is today, when the late 90s are “classic” already. Dig “The Affectionate Punch” (mp3), from the album of the same name.

Lene Lovich is a fantastic example of the arty female iconoclast of the late 70’s/early 80s. Her penchant for theatrical style places her alongside her more famous contemporaries–more outre than Debbie Harry, but much less challenging than Lydia Lunch and less outwardly political than The Au Pairs’ Lesley Woods. Her voice is a brilliant combination of Patti Smith’s inflection and Ari Up’s bizarrely applied elasticity. Her 1979 debut Stateless is a necessity for those interested in the previously mentioned. For starters, though, check out “Sleeping Beauty” (mp3).

Filed under: Lene Lovich  The Associates