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27#11, "Oh How To Do Now"

It might seem like beating a dead horse to review something put out by Brainwashed, but I wouldn’t have bothered if this record wasn’t so addictive.

 

Brainwashed

Graham Lewis revives his previous electronic group He Said, naming the new incarnation 27#11. Joined by Thomas Öberg and Markus Turnkey, the songs on this single are some of the catchiest, poppiest, and most danceable tunes Lewis has ever released. The first track is a cover of the Monks' "Oh, How to Do Now," which also appears on the Monks tribute CD Silver Monk Time as well as in the Monks documentary The Trans-Atlantic Feedback. They turn the fuzzy original into an energetic dance song, a brisk workout that would leave most dancers gasping for breath. On the flipside is "Show Me How," a similarly paced excursion into darker territory. With superb dynamics and pauses in all the right places, there's never a chance for my attention to wander. These songs certainly don't overstay their welcome, and their brevity only heightens their appeal. Make no mistake, this doesn't sound anything like Wire. Rather, it's a bold electronic venture that whets my appetite for a full-length hopefully later this year.