Poly Styrene - Generation Indigo

Between ‘76 and ’79, X-Ray Spex were a fresh voice in the British punk scene, partly due to the addition of a saxophone to the traditional punk blueprint but mostly as a result of Poly Styrene’s often discordant, always fascinating vocals. While the band only released one full-length album, their influence was sizable, not least on a generation of aspiring female musicians who saw, in singer Poly Styrene, a young woman refusing to conform to expectations and challenging the existing state of gender relations. Artists from Kathleen Hanna and Kim Gordon to Karen O and Beth Ditto have acknowledged her influence and the impact of songs such as the call to arms ‘Oh Bondage, Up Yours’.

In the years since X-Ray Spex disbanded, Poly (real name Marian Joan Elliott-Said) has, the odd project aside, kept a relatively low profile, living as a Hare Krishna devotee for a while and flirting with New Age music. It came as something of a shock then, to hear that she had been working and recording with producer Martin Glover (AKA Youth from Killing Joke) on new material. What isn’t particularly shocking is the fact that the resulting material shows Poly to be not particularly impressed with what she sees when she looks out of the window. From climate change to fashion victims, you get the impression that she’s been waiting for this opportunity to get a few things off her chest.

While there is a refreshing mix of styles on show here, from reggae and dub to electro-pop, it’s when things get closer to her X-Ray Spex sound, such as the punkish bursts of ‘Thrash City’ and ‘L.U.V.’, that the album hits its peaks. There are good moments here, and the aforementioned songs and ‘White Gold’ in particular stand out, but these moments are too few and far between to sustain any real interest. Credit is certainly due for the willingness and desire to experiment with different genres but there are too many times here where these attempts just fall flat, such as the sub Kate Nash opener ‘I Luv Ur Sneakers’.

Although the songs here may not always hit their targets, it’s certainly good to have such a vital voice back. Here’s hoping that the next album delivers the songs to match her presence.