day 18 – a song that you wish you heard on the radio
Since we lost Ari-Up today, I suspect we’ll be hearing it on the radio a little more. But not enough. Never enough.
Pressing deadline means I haven’t enough time to write enough to really explain the joy and wonder of the Slits. I’ll pass you over to Everett True, who’s compiled a whole load of his writing on them. I’ll also, for those in the UK, pass you over to Spotify, which has the special edition with extra tracks and shit version of Cut which remains strange, wired, free and plain immortal. The Slits were music re-imagined from the ground up out of whatever they thought it could be, and huge chunks of what I love couldn’t have existed without it. Not least, somewhat tautologically, itself.
Listening to the opening of Instant Hit unwinding from itself and just noticed a tiny little noise I’d never spotted before. I’ve been listening to Cut for years, and it’s still surprising me. I wish it was on the Radio more often, because the surprise of hearing it there wouldn’t fade.
RIP Ari Up. She’ll be missed.
