Jane Horrocks’ version of Joy Division’s Isolation to be followed by Hawkwind + Cabaret Voltaire covers
//Photo: Dylan Vivian//
I’m particularly keen on Jane Horrocks’ recently released version of the Joy Division song Isolation; Horrocks’ vocal talents are widely recognised but I didn’t appreciate her feel for rock and post-punk until I saw her perform a storming Heart Of Glass at a party a couple of years back.
Rat Scabies was drumming that night and is on this Joy Division cover, which also features latterday PiL bassist Scott Firth and producer “Kipper”.
Now Horrocks plans to record versions of Cabaret Voltaire’s electro masterpiece Nag Nag Nag and Hawkwind’s Hassan I-Sahba from 1976’s Quark Strangeness & Charm.
The song title was the name of an 11th century Arab missionary, but when the marvellous Hawkwind frontman Robert Calvert performed this track – which kicks off with the chanted “Hashish! Hashin! Hashish! Hashin!” – he assumed the persona of a WWI fighter pilot called Aubrey Dawney, flying goggles, jodhpurs and all. The late Mick Farren described this character as “a mix between Lawrence Of Arabia and Biggles”.
Can’t wait to see Horrocks perform it – and the rest of her astutely chosen covers – live.
Download Isolation here.
And here is Kipper’s website