This is primarily a blog about cinema, film and tv, so if we’re going to send you down a musical rabbit-hole, it better be in service of something monumental. It’s 2021, and the return of the KLF to our depleted world is an unheralded cultural event of epoch-splitting proportions. I’ll leave it to others to document the rise and disappearance of one of the UK’s most striking, avant-garde dance-music sensations, but viewed from the pandemic trenches, this is truly something worth raising your pulse for.
Founding-members Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty’s band were enigmatic purveyors of the most propulsive of dance music; single tracks like 3am Eternal and What Time Is Love topped the charts, and filled floors in nightclubs. But there was no album to be promoted, unless you count the luxurious The White Room, an ambient soundscape which contained only the vaguest vestiges of the same sounds remixed. The KLF reportedly burned the money they made, and their idea of utilising awards recognition was to fire a dead sheep at the BRIT awards venue. Their music and their videos were deliberately made unavailable, they took their ball and their vibe with them, and now, three decades later, they’re back.
Of course, YouTube and Spotify weren’t even imagined at the time, but if 2021’s lack of organised parties and death of festivities are getting you down, multiple doses of the KLF’s hard-rocking f**k-off sound should raise your immunity to the current death and destruction around us. With hugely expensive, silent movie inspired videos, there’s plenty to enjoy here visually; their final coup de grace was a duet with the great Tammy Wynette on Justified and Ancient, showcased below, although it’s also great to hear their riff on the Dr Who Theme, accompanied by some non-BBC affiliated Daleks and a cool customised 5-0 car.
The KLF broke the mould of music, and left a hole through which absolutely no-one followed by driving their own coach and horses through. Others lusted after fame and money, but the KLF courted notoriety, and immortality, and their absence has been noted by fans for years. With no clubs, raves or even sitting in cafes possible in the foreseeable future, it’s time to kick out the jams, make mine a 99, and starting fishing in the rivers of life. 2021 is better than 2020 already, and we’re only one day in…bring the beat back!
Never knew anything about KLF except they burned money. But don’t all bands do that? And they set a trend for acronyms for band names. OMD etc. Were they responsible for OMG and LOL?
Very funny. This review is clearly for modern hipsters and cool-seekers like myself…..Kopyright Liberation Front is what I got when I googled it.
Oh, the memories! I’ve often wondered if The KLF were big fans of The Deerhunter with their famous line, “THIS is what the KLF is about”? 🙄
THIS IS THIS! They pulled lines from all over, but there was something cinematic about their sound…
Yes! I’m a KLF been, here. I enjoyed the plethora of abundant energy skiing from these guys, especially on 3AM. I always wondered where the term came from with the Eminem song and Three Doors Down. Or did it come from KLF? 🧐
Newb, not been. My phone hates me.
I hear you and have the same take of woe
Oh, I think if we delve into the mists of history we’ll find that the KLF got there first! Good to hear that they still impress!
I don’t even know what KLF stands for.
*does a quick internet search*
Guess nobody else does either. Oh well, I like to think you’re listening to such modish stuff in that quaint Scottish village you live in, which only appears once every 100 years . . .
We love our Belgian boom rave music. What do you listen to?
We have no music here. Only poetry readings.
😱😱😱
wut?
I watched the Dr Who video. considering I couldn’t make out a single distinct word besides “Dr Who” I consider it a failure. And the dalek with the little feet? just shameful…
Its not your classic Skaro Dalek, to be sure. I liked the multi-coloured ones, or just the classic black and grey. Dance music isn’t really about the words….
Everything is about “The Words”. Anything else just a heresy put out by communists. Comrade, you aren’t a communist, are you?
* stares fiercely at you *
I’ve spent time with Lenin, if that’s what you’re implying…not a crime, is it? For me to be a guest of the Kremlin? Are you still interested in these voting machine wiring plans?
It IS a crime. Against the United People of America, where KorectThot is paramount. And since we claim Sovereignty, errr, I mean, First Place Among Equals, then everyone has to do what we say. Or else.
(or else we won’t drink your coffee and negatively affect your gdp. What a threat, eh?)
And yes, I’m still interested. There’s always the next “election” to think about 😉
Great, I can get you a super deal on hackable voting machines, pick your president from the comfort of your own home. What have you got to lose? Don’t let my close relationship with Moscow put you off, it’s all above board. Can I put you down for a dozen?
From the comfort of my own home? A dozen? Try a couple thousand dozen! In fact, give me all you have and place an order for 300 million more. I’ll just replace every person in America with one. Make the voting process much easier!
You don’t want more votes than people, made that mistake before. How about just a big red button for your personally, you press it, and whoever is president drops through a trap door. That sound workable?
As long as you throw in the optional alligator pit for free.
Done. Just need to organise the payment? Your own account?
Psychic Grandma is paying for the whole thing. Her Christmas present to me. She feels pretty bad that I’m not Tyrant of the World yet and wanted to give me a leg up…
Great, well, the voting machines are yours! Remember to turn them the other way around before you use them!
Thanks for the advice. But this isn’t my first time rigging an election. Just the first time with these machines. And the big red alligator pit button. It looks wicked fancy. Can’t wait to use it…
Shh…we don’t want to leave any evidence behind us…
Don’t worry. Once I’m Tyrant, I’ll retroactively forgive us. All the best tyrants do it….
Ok, can you pardon me for accidentally robbing a petrol station this morning? Only a few fatalities, no big deal…
No worries. Rob 2 tomorrow. It’s easier to pardon stuff like that in bulk. Less paperwork and signing.
Pretty sure Scotland doesn’t have any coffee plantations, they have a lot of dairy farms though so you could not eat their cheese instead.
Oh man, no cheese? Now that is taking things entirely too far…
Now you’ve set him off, fraggle! Back to fraggle rock for your poetry reading!
Wut?
Wut?
Don’t encourage him to not eat my cheese!
Also~ “With no clubs, raves or even sitting in cafes possible in the foreseeable future, ” have you seen the news today??!! 🤣
What! Has something happened?
Raves all over the shop, lots of arrests and fines, naughty young people trashing a Grade 2 scheduled church, all sorts of New Year shenanagens, more likely a few going to jail and not Mu Mu land.
Ok, I get it now. Not encouraging raves, just ironing board dancing…
They’re Justified, and they’re Ancient,
And they drive an ice cream van.
Think this might be your best post of 2021!
Ay thank yew!
Welcome.
They announced their return by flyposting below a railway bridge in Shoreditch, just next to where I work.
All bound for Mu Mu Land
Glad to hear this! Fly posting is the new social media…