Magazine
(Virgin/Caroline World Service)
It's strange to hear Howard Devoto censor one of his signature lyrics. The BBC wouldn't allow "I will drug you and fuck you on the Permafrost," so he changed the line to something indecipherable ("I will drug you in a total squall"?) for the 1979 John Peel version of "Permafrost." Chances are, anyone listening back then knew the original line and were just as puzzled with how he changed it.
Devoto always was a clever one. Magazine always had more brains and brawn than either punk rock or new wave would allow, and this collection of '78-'80 radio sessions complements their early output. Dave Formula's synths may sound a little gassy, but most of the time, he creates a chilling sheet of sound. "The Light Pours Out of Me" and their unique facelift of Captain Beefheart's "I Love You You Big Dummy" emphasize Magazine's rock side, which didn't always come across in the studio. Further, a version of "Boredom," which Devoto played earlier in the Buzzcocks, shows he had a sense of humor, playing one verse like a lounge act before kicking into high gear.
Standout Tracks: "Give Me Everything," "Model Worker" MIKE SHANLEY
