We’re coming to the close of the 2012 Olympics, and I’m prepping several sets of nation-themed dance music to play at tomorrow night’s party The Midas Touch here in Brooklyn. As soon as I found out I’d be getting to spin some Aussie music, this song leapt to mind. Long a favorite of mine, I don’t think I’ve ever unleashed it on an unsuspecting dancefloor.
By far the standout track on a strange post-punk record entitled What Is This Thing Called ‘Disco,’? “The Crush” is the album’s catchiest and most accessible high point. The track is a lo-fi shamble of a high energy disco romp, hiccuping synth arpeggios taking turns with free jazz saxophone blasts. What really sets this tune apart from similar stuff from the era like the Mo-Dettes is the singer’s disaffected and very Aussie sounding vocal, half-sung and half-spoken, much in the style of early 80’s post-punk.
Though this LP is long out of print, you can find this track on Chapter Music’s killer compilation Can’t Stop It II, along with many other great Australian post-punk songs.
/// Brian Blackout