DFA did everyone a favor by reissuing this gem from the far-overlooked Peter Gordon. He worked with people as renowned as Laurie Anderson and Rhys Chatham. Parts of the late 70s/early 80s burst through each piece, especially the saxophone playing which reminds me of Pere Ubu for some reason.
The first track is a much easier one to wrap your mind around. Even though it is a medley of various bits and pieces (going from lounge to funk to dance) it works as a whole. A few things have been touched up, adding a synthesizer is pretty much expected for any DFA release. Listening to this, and the orchestral underpinnings of what is basically a dance track, I’m pretty glad that DFA gives credit where credit is due for all those bands that have influenced them.
“That Hat” is much stranger. Never before released which is a same. This one has a much harsher vibe to it, kind of like a “No Wave” jam session going on. Of course having Arto Lindsay contributing to the track tends to do that. Out of almost nowhere, from all these random shouts and skronk, comes a reassuring voice about that hat. Worth exploring.