Robert Johnson of Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks tells the stories behind the tracks on the album “Pussy Was Wired for Sound”.
Ask for “Pussy Was Wired for Sound” by Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks in your record store or buy it from us.
Duke’s Spasms
Gordon Presley (co-composer and producer) and I share an interest in John Carpenter in general and “Escape from New York” in particular. The best action film of all time and the best film score that isn’t Italian. Isaac Hayes gives an unforgettable performance in the film – as Duke.
Almodóvar’s Delusions
People generally think I bury myself in old Super 8 films and, like Lux Interior and Ivy Rorschach, collect kitsch and horror. Nothing could be further from the truth. I like Spain, especially Valencia. I adore Penélope Cruz and I love Pedro Almodóvar’s films. I can’t pick a specific film – I’ll take them all. Johan Wallnäs on organ and vocal effects perfectly captures women on the verge of a nervous breakdown. ¡Buenas! 👊💥
Mushburger
Gordon Presley and I play a right old mess. We barely know ourselves who’s playing what. It’s probably a ‘father-and-son thing’, I suppose, because now that Gordon’s started writing songs, they sound very much like my songs. He’s welcome to protest if he wants to. The title alludes to hopeless waves in a surfing context, and if there’s one thing we’re bad at, it’s being surfers. Worse than the Beach Boys, actually.
Voivoid Tensions In Hell
A tribute to one of the best-dressed men in music history, Richard Hell. As if that weren’t enough, he was in the right place at the right time in the 1970s rock scene down on the Bowery in New York. Television, Heartbreakers and The Voidoids make for a pretty impressive CV – but I remember him best for his tattered T-shirts and generally sleep-deprived look.
Fantastic guitar work by Jonathan Doe, which I reckon Richard’s guitarist Robert Quine (R.I.P.) would have appreciated.
Genocide In Space
Why a song about mass murder in space? Well, because one of Link Wray’s best songs is called “Genocide”. As I never want anything to sound 100 per cent retro, the “space card” is always a good way to get round the problem. Achieving both reverb and a hermetically sealed sound also fascinates me. Love it.
Fuzztone CEO
Who wouldn’t want to be the FUZZTONE CEO? Here it’s Jonathan Doe who lets rip with a mind-blowing solo several solar systems beyond Tune In, Drop Out blah blah blah… Love it!
Menopause Surf
Well, that’s what I’m called in Swedish. The Menopause Surfer. It was the cultural figure Marcus Törncrantz who coined it, and as everyone knows, you don’t just choose a nickname – you write a song about it instead. 😉
Link Wray Is Back For Good
Even as I was writing the song, I could picture a naked Link Wray – very much like T-2 – being dropped from the sky, only to then steal the clothes off bikers at a pool hall. It practically wrote itself. Great vocal effects too from Johan Wallnäs in the background.
Die Mauer Surf
Gordon Presley wrote this one himself and wanted me to contribute a backwards solo. When the song was finished, we both thought it sounded very much like Punchdrunks who’d got lost in Berlin. Great stuff, Gordy!
Dean Stockwell
Best film scene? Gosh, that’s impossible, but when Dean Stockwell sings in “Blue Velvet”, it’s definitely up there. From a child actor in films starring Errol Flynn to a supporting actor giant in a huge number of favourite films. I don’t know why I think of Dean when I hear those muffled synths. Håkan Lidbo has also added details to the soundscape that are far beyond my level of understanding. ❤️
Bullets Argue Well
Ennio Morricone. How does one pay tribute to him? The greatest, in my eyes. Impossible to answer. I’ll make a valiant attempt anyway with a Western theme. My daughter Olivia and producer Tobbe Einestad’s daughter Svea contribute backing vocals. Backing vocals were, after all, one of Ennio’s many hallmarks. Jonathan Doe plays what must be the first wah-wah guitar in the band’s history. Swell. 👍
Viva la Biafra Bay Ray
Two gentlemen with a past in the legendary Dead Kennedys. Unfortunately, they’ve been on a collision course with each other for ages. This is a musical peace pipe – or a joint, depending on where they happen to be. Punk, Punchdrunk style.
Theme from Pasolini’s Mind
I’m one of those who would have loved to see a sequel to *Being John Malchowich*, but starring Pier Paolo Pasolini. This Italian jack-of-all-trades died a brutal death under mysterious circumstances in the 1970s, but managed to create a few masterpieces before that. At least, that’s what I imagine the sounds in his head to be like.
Where can I find the album“Pussy Was Wired for Sound”?
Ask for “Pussy Was Wired for Sound” by Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks in your record store or buy it from us.