PILLS
MUSIC SOLDIA
ALBUM WAX TRAX! RELEASE:
SPRING, 2000 REVIEW: JUNE 8, 2000
French dance project Pills feels like something of a relief. Contrary to his countrymen Cassius and their likes, Pills main man Anthony Sandor isn't afraid of letting a healthy dose of dirt, grit and sleaze slip into his machinery. Therefore "Musicsoldia" ends up being more in line with 80's dub funk band Tackhead than with any contemporaries. With guests like the legendary Lee Perry - who's contributing vocals to the reggae pastiche "Music Soldia (French Connection Mix)" - and Parliament/Funkadelic vocalist Mud Bone Cooper going bananas in the lengthy, hypnotic "I Preach to Party", Pills create dance music that bursts with energy and has a liberatingly incorrect attitude.
They should also have all credit for paying the dues by covering The KLF:s classic single "What Time Is Love". Pills' version naturally lacks the original's bombastic splendour, but it's a much-needed reminder of one of the maddest, most influential and anarchistic bands of the last decade. Much dance music would feel a whole lot more relevant if it bore them in mind.
