While overlooked until his death in 1992, the late Arthur Russell’s profile will be higher than ever in 2010, with Tim Lawrence’s biography, dedicated events, a documentary and original collaborators reuniting for an album. For years this enigmatic figure’s extra-terrestrial New York disco romps or introverted avant-folk excursions enjoyed strictly underground cult status, until anyone from Antony Hegarty to Klaxons started praising him. This fabulous tribute revisits Russell classics in the free-wheeling spirit in which they were created, supernaturally plugging into his ever-questing and unfettered spirit to spawn stunning new dancefloor templates, plus a new collective called Killer Whale dedicated to this mission.
A cast of contemporary acolytes, including Faze Action and New Young Pony Club’s Andy Spence, take vital ingredients of songs such as Wax The Van, Tiger Stripes and In The Light Of A Miracle to hotwire their own stellar interpretations, while Joe Worricker recalls Russell’s ghostly vocals on Pocketknife’s blissful version of Get Around To It. Particularly outstanding are five sublime outings from hot production duo Yam Who?, joined by Russell collaborator Peter Gordon on their wigged-out Go Bang and Natasha Watts on Kiss Me Again. Russell’s friends Steven Hall and Joyce Kirby also join the celebration, stamping this mirrorball spray of genuine affection with the master’s seal of approval.
