REVIEW: Patti Palladin, Rituals (Peek-a-Boo)

- Jeremy Ashcroft

Way back in about 1977/78, I remember buying the single of Brian Eno's King's Lead Hat and the very knowledgeable guy at the counter saying "I bet you really bought that for the b-side". He was quite correct - the b-side was a collaboration between Eno and a group called Snatch. It was called RAF and is still a pretty unique combination of electronics, funk and sheer street feel. Snatch were Judy Nylon and Patti Palladin - they only had a handful of releases, but I think they stand as one of the most interesting bands of the late-70s.

Since then, the twosome have split. Judy (an ex-collaborator with John Cale) released a great album called Pal Judy, but seems to have disappeared from the scene. Patti, after producing and singing with Johnny Thunders on many of his albums, had also been missing for far too long... though luckily she's back. She returned, fittingly, on a recent Thunders tribute album, I Only Wrote This Song For You, and has now released an all too short, but perfectly sweet, solo album, Rituals.

Actually, "sweet" isn't quite the word you'd associate with Patti... she's from Noo Yawk and she's got about the best sneer in the business. Attitude on a plate. That said, she also has a classic 60s singing voice - she once made an album of 50s and 60s pop covers with Johnny Thunders, Copy Cats - her voice on the Shangri Las' He Cried could really make a grown man cry, it's beautiful.

Just one listen to Rituals should impress anyone with her versatility. Take the final three tracks, for example. "Turnin' The Other Cheek" is quite a straightforward song, but Patti's vocals are so rich. "Runnin' With The Pack" is really brooding and atmospheric - for such a petite lady, Patti has a really deep voice. Sexy? Definitely. The last track is "Who Needs It?" and it's the late-70s again. Punk is not dead. Debbie Harry was always great at snarling, but Patti goes one better.

Who Needs It? Anyone who appreciates a classic voice and real attitude, that's who.