grace jones with divine at her thirtieth birthday party, 1978, le farfalle nycThree months ago she turned 60, but you wouldn't say it when looking at her: the marvellous Grace Jones. From where I'm sitting, this Jamaican-born singer, 007 vixen, Warhol muse and former model hasn't changed a bit since this coked-up photo's been taken, although she's doubled in age by now. And as 'Hurricane', her tenth full-album, will hit stores come October, let's hope that's the beginning of a revival in her career - be it a pretty late one.
And the first bits off the new record that made it onto the net sound nothing short of excellent. Seems la Jones, always one to notice a good idea (see her great cover versions of, amongst others, 'Nightclubbing' and the aforementioned 'Warm Leatherette'), has been keeping her mind and ears open lately, because the creepy drones and trippy beats on first single 'Corporate Cannibal' work together like an amalgam of 'Hater', off the dubstep-ish 'The World Is Gone' album by the aforementioned Various, and Massive Attack's 'Black Milk' off the modern classic 'Mezzanine' (which is, to my surprise, already ten years old by now - guess I'm getting old). Combine those brooding influences with Jones' threatening timbre and some screeching guitars, and what you get is one evil motherfucker of a song. And of course, it doesn't hurt to have a great video by Nick Hooker to go with it.
Another leaked track's called 'This Is Life', and on this one you can more clearly retrace Jones' Jamaican roots, as it's a nice little dubby ditty; no surprises here since the almighty dub/reggae producers Sly and Robbie are in on the game. Other illustrious guests on 'Hurricane' include Brian Eno, Tricky, drumming legend Tony Allen and long-time Jones songwriting companion Bruce Woolley. Well: I, for one, can hardly wait!
And the first bits off the new record that made it onto the net sound nothing short of excellent. Seems la Jones, always one to notice a good idea (see her great cover versions of, amongst others, 'Nightclubbing' and the aforementioned 'Warm Leatherette'), has been keeping her mind and ears open lately, because the creepy drones and trippy beats on first single 'Corporate Cannibal' work together like an amalgam of 'Hater', off the dubstep-ish 'The World Is Gone' album by the aforementioned Various, and Massive Attack's 'Black Milk' off the modern classic 'Mezzanine' (which is, to my surprise, already ten years old by now - guess I'm getting old). Combine those brooding influences with Jones' threatening timbre and some screeching guitars, and what you get is one evil motherfucker of a song. And of course, it doesn't hurt to have a great video by Nick Hooker to go with it.
Another leaked track's called 'This Is Life', and on this one you can more clearly retrace Jones' Jamaican roots, as it's a nice little dubby ditty; no surprises here since the almighty dub/reggae producers Sly and Robbie are in on the game. Other illustrious guests on 'Hurricane' include Brian Eno, Tricky, drumming legend Tony Allen and long-time Jones songwriting companion Bruce Woolley. Well: I, for one, can hardly wait!
MP3: Grace Jones - Corporate Cannibal
MP3: Grace Jones - This Is Life
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