Although music lost one of its most uniquely idiosyncratic legends when Poly Styrene tragically succumbed to cancer in April, she had thankfully finished recording her Generation Indigo album before being diagnosed, thus providing the 21st century with one of its defining statements, in similar fashion to her uncannily clairvoyant X-Ray Spex missives of the punk era.
Following computer-age anthem "Virtual Boyfriend", which trailered the album as first single, comes the rapturous "Ghoulish"; sadly Poly's first posthumous single.
Generation Indigo showed Poly as lyrically incisive as ever, still reflecting and commenting on the modern world, from lifestyle and technology to human traits and relationships. The panoramic musical backdrops are suitably bold and brash, sometimes sensually insidious and always compellingly cutting edge.
"Ghoulish" is one of the outstanding results of the torrential creative relationship which sparked between Poly and producer Youth, here hot-wiring New York's 60s girl group sound with sparkling future-sheen and swooping sonic sheets to produce a new strain of spectacular, 21st century pop music.
The song beautifully represents Poly's compassionate spirit and lifelong talent for tackling unusual but glaring subject matter, often fuelled by her fixation with watching the TV news.
"Ghoulish" was inspired by Michael Jackson, seeing through his 'crimson lips 'n' charcoal eyes' to declare, 'I can see you're quite a nice guy'.
Speaking before the album's release, Poly explained how she had found Jacko's white face and makeup ghoulish, but "I could see that he was probably a nice guy…I never met him, but he seemed soft-spoken and gentle. It was all over the media and I thought I would write that song, but it could be about any goth guy."
The video is replete with Michael Jackson impersonators, some more comical than others, as Michael was the inspiration for the song.
The video, directed by Lauryn Siegel, also features actress Gabby Hoffman.
Poly Styrene "Ghoulish" official video:
In something of a coup, the single version comes with a killer remix from New York's renowned Hercules & Love Affair, aka Andy Butler, who drapes Poly's vocals over an exquisite Moroder-meets-acid house super-groove, with cliff-hanger drop and voluptuous peaks.
The fact that one of dance music's most revered names can obviously revel in turning what started as one of Poly's observations into a post-apocalyptic disco anthem speaks further volumes about the lady who started as the original punk misfit and now rests alongside the all-time greats.
"Ghoulish" is set for release August 8, 2011 on Future Noise Music.
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