There’s something poetic about the chord THE BOOKSHOP BAND – one of the smallest Scottish ensembles, a duo performing mainly in the spaces their name refers to and at literary events – struck with Pete Townshend whose own outfit, THE WHO, are one of the largest offerings in the world. While sone would think Beth Porter, Ben Please and their new friend’s "Emerge, Return" was a unique thing – and, of course, it was! – and money can buy any collaboration, that uniqueness is to be undermined on February 24th with the release of “Oz Sucks”: a three-track mini-album which celebrates the titular magazine.
An underground publication, “Oz” proved to be highly influential – not for nothing John Lennon supported it by issuing the “Do The Oz” song – so there’s a great logic in THE BOOKSHOP BAND distributing their fresh work as a 24-page free magazine the original “Oz” designer, Richard Adams, worked on, with lyrics, archival images and an essay by the duo who share their research of the matter with potential listeners. Originally commissioned by the V&A Museum to accompany an exhibition on censorship, the three pieces on display have been recorded and produced by Pete.
Oz Sucks
More so, Townshend plays on all the numbers – on Hammond, pedal organ, synths, harmonica and percussion – and even sings on “What We Can’t Say” that opens the disc. Also worth mentioning is John Wood, who mixed it – the same Wood who worked with Sandy Denny and Nick Drake. A lot of legacy there, then. The EP will be available on Bandcamp, in a digital and physical form – including bundles to hand out in the street – with streaming to follow in March. As for the songs per se, they run like this:
1. What We Can’t Say
2. There Is Nothing To Incite Us Now (Oz Sucks)
3. Judge Can You Hear Us
