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Red Guitars - Good Technology A feat this song manages unbelievably well.
40 years ago Red Guitars, dubbed the ‘best band in Hull' by The Housemartins (who modestly placed themselves at number 4), released this acerbic anthemic attack on the way that the harnessing of new technology for limitless unregulated profit was leading the world to the eve of destruction. Chiming, at times discordant and atonal, always jolting and unexpected guitar motifs accompany an ominous crescendo of bass and drum beats; lyrics list, in a litany of perturbing juxtapositions, the way potential is thwarted and the planet poisoned by the untrammelled pursuit of gain for the few. Remarkably, all this is bound together by a massively memorable pop hook, one which has remained with me for 4 decades.
And yes, 40 years on and given a slight polish, scarily this song is actually more powerful, more poignant, more relevant and more vital than it was back then. Arresting, ear bending and original, I am convinced that if it was released today it would be seized upon by hip indie influencers as one of the next big things. The new video is especially jaw dropping, cleverly splicing images of the band performing now and then with disturbing warnings of where climate chaos, war and racism will lead us if we don’t take urgent united action to stop it.
“This is so, so good on all levels”, as our digital media content correspondent* Phil Rose Esq comments. I don’t know how many other 40 year old songs could remain so biting, so ear grabbing, so fresh, so essential. I’m not expecting R*E*P*E*A*T to make 40 years,
but as we approach our 30th anniversary, I just hope we can retain
some of the relevance of Red Guitars and Good Technology. ----- Good Technology has been re-released on 12” vinyl, possibly a few copies left here. Red Guitars are touring in 2023, info and ticket link here. Red Guitars website here * Believe we have anyone with that job title and you'll believe anything...
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