I actually like the Associates (allmusic)... I like them a lot. The Scots duo of Billy Mackenzie (vocals) and Alan Rankine (instruments) were critically adored but sadly their curious and compelling blend of white-boy soul balladeers a la Scott Walker, tense new-Romantic electro-pop and the overwrought anguish of late-70s Bowie - in style, content and vocal delivery - was never going to take them into the same leagues of popular success as your Human Leagues and your Ultravoxs.

None of that, however, excuses them this drippy, anaemic cover of Blondie's Heart of Glass - though to be fair, Alan Rankine pro'ly didn't have anything to do with it.

Associates - Heart of Glass (2.51 MB mp3: right-click and Save As to download)

If you can get it, the 7" or 12" single is worth owning for the wonderful cover image of a Manhattan skyline overpainted in iccky pastels - but don't ever play it. Twice.

Billy MacKenzie tragically committed suicide at the age of 40, in 1997.

NP: Associates - Boys Keep Swinging (much better)

Labels: Friday farce, music