•
Rating: A pulsing bass at the forefront, precise and crisp rhythmic section, with a black extraction, two rough yet gentle guitars, and above it all, the splendid raspy voice of Leslie Woods. This is what the Au Pairs were, bleach funk in Birmingham, a contemporary band, in style and sensibility, of Gang of Four, Delta V, and Ludus, but above all, a band thrown into oblivion without a reason. Broadly speaking, if the music of this "Playing with a Different Sex" is very close to that of other English bands, it must be said that none can achieve the grace and lightness of this album, which seems completely purged of noise and any superstructure, yet it runs very fast, fresh, and truly enjoyable.
In this album, the tracks seem to fit perfectly, the two men in the band (Peter Hammond on drums and Paul Foad on guitar and an apt shrill and somewhat whining counterpoint) and the two women (the talented Jayne Munro on bass and Leslie Woods on guitar and vocals), the rhythm and the medium maintain a precarious but tenacious bond, the committed lyrics, and the alluring dance variations. The political dimension, as with Gang of Four, is an essential part of the band's success, but the lyrics are more pervaded by irony, or more often by sarcasm, which makes you smile, and think, and all in all, they don't even seem too dated. It starts with "We're So Cool," a deluge of bleach funk, fast and spicy. It continues with "Love Song," a brilliant slow track, yet always rhythmic on the empty clichés of romance women expect from men ("A touch of glance/a slow dance/it's so-classified romance/purpose, lust and charme/dance to an old refrain/I love you /I love you/I love you"), followed by the very light and refined "The Set Up" before exploding with "Repetition," one of the grooviest tracks on the album. A track that stands out is the martial "Armagh," a song about Northern Irish women's prisons, which starts with a very hard indictment ("we don't torture, we're civilizated, we avoid any conversation... we don't torture... we don't torture?") and "It's Obvious," a beautiful dance song, sexy in just the right way and at times irresistible ("we're equal... but different").
This record would not be the same without not only the haughty voice of Leslie Woods but also without her essence as an artist, as a militant feminist and lesbian woman; Leslie Woods, with her murky and ambiguous charm, stands on this record like a trail of perfume left by a beautiful woman.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 We're So Cool (03:28)
I don't mind if you want to sleep on your own
I don't mind if you want to bring somebody home
to spend the night
I don't mind your casual affairs
your one-night stands because I know I'm the main man in your life
And you know I don't mind if you leave me behind
When you go away for a couple of days
but you know that I could come too
and I wouldn't intrude, wouldn't make any fuss
'cos things are so cool between us
Your affection is ultimately mine
remember from the start
I won't take up all of your time
I am in your heart
Your body
But you must admit
I'm prepared to share
at off-peak times
when you think about it
because we know
that others have
and do share mine
that you're mine
02 Love Song (02:51)
A touch a glance it's a slow dance - it's a classified romance
Purpose, lust and charm - dance to an old refrain
(I love you)
Mutual attachment - semi detachment
- rinse out the dream - in the washing machine
Take out the ring - two fates sealed - negotiated a business deal -
Is this true romance? Champagne bubbles
Going flat - gone flat
Will you dine with me tonight
Will you dance and hold me tight
Send me an orchid on Valentine's day
What more need you to say -
Will you be my wife - be mine
honour and obey - be mine
drink some more white wine - be mine
think it over one day - be mine
I love you - (touch glance, it's a romance)
03 Set-Up (03:21)
Playing your game / your mother substitute
She is she / That you never screwed
Playing your game / Her life revolves round and round you
A total investment / Can't afford to love
You're the prize for her sacrifice - A kiss in the morning
A kiss late at night
She's closing her eyes
To those possible lies
Keeping the doubts
Locked tight up inside
Playing your game / She taking care of you
Watching out for your head / When you're sick
She puts you to bed / She props you up
nurses you through / she's here to look after you
Playing your game / with the rules that you've set
We're on either side / Am I such a threat
Playing your game / Taking care of your needs
She is your security / I may remark on your insensitivity
But you know she wouldn't listen to me
05 Headache for Michelle (06:40)
Got a bad taste in my mouth / got a heavy heart - won't go away
Can't remember much about last night / but I'm trying to regain
a little self-control today
I got out of my head last night
They are coming amongst and in between us
Tapping our phones - you can be sure they've seen us
Are you working for or with the state
They're selling you smack at a slightly cheaper rate
'Cos you're not a threat when you're out of your head
and I'm gonna get out of my head
and it's better in bed - when you're out of your head
and Malcolm is dead - he got out of his head
They are closing down - communications
They're taking control - of our situations
The forces of control are gathering around our heads
06 Come Again (03:55)
You're one of those / who changed the rules
You brought in new rules / which you obey
& coping, coping, coping - or nearly anyway
But is it real? Are you feeling it?
You behave like a model / For others to follow -
Equal shares, equal shares
It's frustrating / aggravating / so annoying / pretend you're enjoying
it!
It's your turn now / But do you want to
I don't know if you want to
It's inhibiting / restricting / so confusing / now I'm losing count
can't concentrate, it's another way to take
Mustn't think about it / Free and at ease
You're not selfish / You're trying hard to please me - please please me
Is your finger aching / I can feel you hesitating
Is your finger aching!?!
Yes, thank you / I got one
Yes, it was nice / Yes, we should go to sleep now
Yes, yes it was fine
we must, we must do it again sometime
we must - yes, but I'm tired
cum again, wot? - I need to etc etc
Shit, I forgot to put my cap in.
07 Armagh (03:38)
We don't torture, we're a civilized nation
We're avoiding any confontation
We don't torture, we don't torture
American hostages
in Iran
Heard daily on the news
forget about Vietnam
You can ignore the 32
There are 32 women in Armagh jail
political prisoners here at home
the British state's got nothing to lose
It's a subject better left alone -
We don't torture
we're a civilized nation
We're avoiding
any confontation
We don't torture
Alleged crimes withheld information
She gets no sanitation
dries her shit on her cell wall
feeling cold and sick
She gets a couple of valium
Now she's relaxed for the next interrogation
naked spreadeagled on her back
it's a better position for internal examination
it's a better position for giving information
An armed guard squad she gets a beating
bleeding and wounded she's stopped eating
has a baby gets nothing for pain they came and took
her baby away
08 Unfinished Business (03:30)
I'm your unfinished business
I turn up at times conveniently around
I don't make demands - it's on your terms
but they're sound
Playing your game / verging on the humane / I get a little romance
When I get the chance to
I'm the spasmodic amusement
No expense - I'm no obligation
I'm your erotic profit
A bonus from the rock & roll situation
'Cos I'm playing your game / Verging on the humane
I get a little romance / when I get a chance to
Yes you ought to
then you ought to
yes you ought to
think about me!
I'm your unfinished business
Lazy rendezvous for two
I'll put in an appearance for you
when the time is right for you
'cos I'm playing your game / verging on the humane
I get a little romance / when I get the chance to
09 Dear John (02:58)
Dear John, cherchez la femme?
Dear John, round the bend?
Dear John, still looking for me?
Dear John, still like what you see?
Dear John, find a sex-machine
It will help with your fantasy
But there is only room for one
And here she comes, here she comes
Dear John, find a sex-machine
It will help with your fantasy
But there is only room for one
And here she comes, here she comes
The car, is it kingfisher blue?
The house, do I welcome you?
Do I recline like the seats in your head?
Sex-tech objects locked in your head?
The car, is it kingfisher blue?
The house, do I welcome you?
Do I recline like the seats in your head?
Sex-tech objects locked in your head?
The car, is it kingfisher blue?
The house, do I welcome you?
Do I recline like the seats in your head?
Sex-tech objects locked in your head?
This is a letter
To make you feel better
This is a letter
To make you feel better
This is a letter
To make you feel better
This is a letter
To make you feel better
Dear John, I'm waiting for you
In the restaurant, I've ordered for two
It's spread upon and around the tables
Ex-bed, horny fables
Dear John, find a sex-machine
It will help with your fantasy
But there'e only room for one
And here she comes, here she comes
10 It's Obvious (06:18)
Nowadays it’s nice
It’s paradise
Equal time
Equal spending
Yes it’s nice
It’s paradise
Nowadays you cook eggs
Equal breakfast
And again and
Bet it’s nice
You’re equal but different
It’s obvious
Spending time nowadays
By my side
That’s oh so nice
And again with you
It’s equal nice
It’s paradise
Nowadays you wash sheets
Send a buck
Scrub my back for me
That’s paradise
You’re equal but different
It’s obvious
Spending time nowadays
By my side
That’s oh so nice
And again with you
It’s equal nice
It’s paradise
Nowadays you wash sheets
Send a buck
Scrub my back for me
That’s paradise
You’re equal
But different
You’re equal but different
It’s obvious
So obvious
Loading comments slowly
