Dick Valentine prescribes an over-the-counter remedy for societal malaise on satirical "Recreational Cough Syrup Girls"
Lurking in the shadows of his prolific primary project, Electric Six frontman Dick Valentine possess and equally abundant discography of his own, churning out a steady stream of avantgarde albums packed to the bursting with offbeat concepts that make Electric Six seem comfortably mainstream in comparison. 2013’s This Is Hell! was no exception, an under-the-radar powerhouse that showcased Valentine’s razor wit and uncanny knack for weirdly irresistible hooks, completely steeped in his uniquely eccentric perspective. Revisiting last year’s LP with a slick all-new video for the stand out track “Recreational Cough Syrup Girls,” Valentine turns the spotlight back on a release that’s certainly deserving of another trip through his twisted looking glass.
“Recreational Cough Syrup Girls” doesn’t stray too far from the foundational elements that have evolved to define Electric Six’s unique disco-metal sound over the past 20 years, but with Valentine completely steering the ship the familiar formula crackles with pure, unfiltered artistic ego. Ultra fuzzed riffs punctuated with hyperactive synths are propelled by a driving rhythm perfectly suited for sweaty dancefloor shenanigans. Valentine delivers his lines with gleeful sleazeball authenticity, augmented by a background chorus of freaked-out falsettos like delirious demons united in unholy cacophony from the narrow back alley separating the church of rock n roll from the red light district. It’s potent and fun with an element of danger hinting at something sinister lurking just beneath the surface, a slumbering leviathan that if awoken would easily capsize this boozy party cruise.
Valentine’s cryptic and subversive songwriting style is in full effect, bounding with unpredictable lyrical acrobatics that chain together esoteric ideas and straight-jacket philosophy into a bouillabaisse of warped social commentary channeled from the outer fringes of unrestrained creativity. A long-time critic of hypocrisy from both sides of the aisle, Valentine expertly redefines the politics of dancing with thought-provoking hilarity and poignant observations like a polyester Jon Stewart released from the burdens of journalistic credibility. “I know I’m not the best one here to make a judgment call, I’m an informant that’s all” Valentine declares with a devilish wink, foregoing the pulpit while twisting the proverbial knife on his well-deserving targets and encouraging well-informed free thought in equal measure to hedonistic ass-shaking. Acknowledging the precarious state of global affairs enhances the need for unhinged revelry, positioning “Recreational Cough Syrup Girls” an over-the-counter remedy for societal malaise shotgunned with declarative enthusiasm: “these are shitty times, so get me to those good times now!”
Dick Valentine found an ideal partner in Nik Green, who directs a madcap visual interpretation of “Recreational Cough Syrup Girls” that chronicles the delirious downward spiral of a trio women from prim and proper, to violent syrup-fiends, to lust filled hellions drunk on the Kool-Aid of 21st century toxicity. Green builds upon the track’s sarcastic dissatisfaction with the status quo to construct a brilliant piece of satire that weaponizes the fearmongering talking points of the far-right, turning that ballistic nonsense back on puerile pundits with the unforgiving precision of heatseeking missiles. Green eviscerates anti-vax, gender-antagonist, and pro-police state positions as the Charlie’s Antifa Angels overdose on the very thing meant to keep them submissive, suddenly aware of the restrictive trappings of societal conventions to emerge enraged on a one way trip to individualistic self expression that defies the conservative definition of the feminine with reckless abandon. Like the track itself, Green’s video tackles heavy themes with tongue firmly planted in cheek, understanding that the power to effectively lampoon requires wit, intelligence, and skill - qualities that are well represented across Dick Valentine’s impressive body of work.
“Recreational Cough Syrup Girls” would be a fine addition to the Electric Six canon, but it would be jockeying for attention alongside some of the band’s undeniable heavyweights to ultimately get lost in the shuffle. As a solo track it becomes a piece of intriguing apocrypha, an gateway drug opening the mind to Dick Valentine’s strange, thought-provoking, and unquestionably energetic creative reality.
Stream This Is Hell! on Spotify and follow Dick Valentine on Instagram.
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