An alternative Christmas from <PIG> on charity covers EP
Christmas is nearly here and by now you’ll have heard all those classic Christmas tunes at least a million times...and that’s just today. In a change to the usual festive programme PIG aka Raymond Watts has released a new EP of Christmas covers by Wham, Elvis and John Lennon. If you like Industrial sounds, or just something a little different, this is pretty cool. The EP is available to stream/download via Bandcamp but please leave a donation as all profits go to International Rescue Committee https://www.rescue.org A link to the release and a video for Last Christmas follows:
Fresh from their thunderous 'HELL TO PAY... IN THE USA' tour as well as support on Killing Joke's latest North American swing, <PIG> returned to their Ranch Apocalypse studio in a particularly festive mood. The success of the collaboration with SASHA GREY on their dark-disco interpretation of "THAT'S THE WAY (I LIKE IT)" paved the way for BLACK MASS via Armalyte Industries, a collection of three festive standards given new life under the iridescent glow of dying fairy lights.
<PIG> mastermind RAYMOND WATTS and regular collaborator EDEN (who takes the production reins on this particular sleigh ride), have forced these holiday staples through a playful porcine prism, leaving them forever scarred yet remaining nothing less than wholly reverential to the source material. WHAM!, Presley, Lennon ... an unholy trinity of festive filth, all having been blessed by The Lard.
“I wanted to pay homage to the great Christmas songs, have fun with them but also take a stand against the ever rising tide of toxic bigotry in this increasingly brutal world while remembering there is a better part of ourselves. ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ in particular represents this whatever your beliefs may or may not be. ‘Last Christmas’ while being a great song from the irreplaceable George Michael (who left us two years ago this Christmas) also represents the fleeting nature of ‘the season of goodwill’. ‘Blue Christmas’ resonates with anyone who is separated from a loved one at this time of year, whatever the reason, war zone or weather (and who doesn’t want a go at being the King?) To that end these songs stand as an honour guard from the Lord of Lard.”
You might know mastermind Raymond Watts from his own <PIG> project which recently released a much-ballyhoo'ed cover of KC & the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way (I Like It)" with adult actress/author/personality Sasha Gray... or his many albums before that... or perhaps in his stint in KMFDM... or you might have seen him in your rivethead days on tour with Killing Joke, KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, or Einstürzende Neubauten. Or perhaps you were introduced to him via late fashion designer Alexander McQueen who hired him to create the soundscape for his fashion shows.