back in the dark days of the late 90s when synths and electro pop were banished to the outer regions of radio playlists, there was one band, black box recorder, bucking the trend for guitars and making the most sweet sounding macabre pop with twisted lyrics and sultry vocals. so it’s only right that now the world is stuffed with people rediscovering the joys of their old casio keyboards, the people responsible for some of the most addictively murderous pop are casting a watchful eye over the grisly christmas chart battle.
for this one off release, under the name, the black arts, the original gang of john ‘i write for the guardian now you know’ moore, luke haines and vocalist, sarah nixey, come out of their self imposed hiatus, dust down their attitude filled stocking, and rope in eddie argos from top of the pops bound art brut to have a damn good stab at hitting the top spot.
naturally, all the required elements are contained within the snow encrusted 3 minutes – glam guitars ripped from any old slade record, some rusty sleigh bells, and of course, that good old corny cliche, a children’s choir, with references to the seasons seedier elements. the result is a radio friendly (honest !) christmas pop song that on first listen will convince the office party people to do their annual dance of shame, and those who listen more carefully, to enjoy the dastardly trios evil wordplay, all while ripping away at the flesh of a stale and dry old bird in the name of enjoyment.
how on earth can this record possibly fail in its preordained destiny ?
let’s make the impossible happen and really really piss off that patronising sod cliff richard.
“merry christmas everyone!”
released in digital form december 3rd, and limited 7″ the following week by those people over at fantastic plastic