Comments on: Slap and Tickle from the Squeeze tribute project!

By: packetofthree

packetofthree — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:49:21 +0000

Thanks so much Andee for giving us an insight into your inspiration – we love your version of Slap & Tickle and think you deserve all the plaudits for reinventing and reinvigorating it. It’s really great that you stopped by to leave your comment – thanks so much and good luck in everything you do.

By: andee

andee — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:15:15 +0000

Hey all, this is Andee from Black Sugar Transmission. Thanks for the props on “Slap & Tickle”! David asked me to weigh in here with some thoughts on my cover of the Squeeze classic.

Basically I have been in the Burning Sky Records loop since I got involved with their first project, Sensory Lullabies, the Jellyfish tribute album three years ago. And when I got an email from Burning Sky guy Alan Heaton announcing plans to do a Squeeze tribute, I immediately jumped on “Slap & Tickle”.

I’ve been listening to that track since the early 90s and always loved it for the same reason that I love other Squeeze songs: it’s very catchy and memorable yet is filled with clever lyrics and superb musical detail.

But my relationship with this particular song changed entirely one night when I heard a DJ play it over a loud PA system at a club. Suddenly it dawned on my what a sexy dance song “Slap & Tickle” is! I started playing it in my own DJ sets after that. Those pumping eighth-notes in the chorus get me every time…

And so it was a no-brainer, covering this track as Black Sugar Transmission, since BST leans toward electronic and dance stylings. Once Alan gave me the green light to record it, I banged “Slap & Tickle” out in about three days. I kept the basic key/melodies/tempo of the original version intact, but amped up the electronic elements and replaced the 16-th note synth parts with guitar.

I also tried to make each verse sonically unique, and broke up the vocal phrasings, too, so as to not slavishly copy Difford & Tilbrook’s singing.

The outro/guitar solo section is pure BST — dark, sticky, hard and dancey. I added it at the last minute to put more of my own definitive stamp on the track.

And that’s that. Thank you for listening to the song. To hear more Black Sugar Transmission, do visit http://www.myspace.com/blacksugartransmission and seek us out on itunes and CD Baby!

You have to throw the stone to get the pool to ripple…

By: packetofthree

packetofthree — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:33:13 +0000

The Squeeze footage in the Black Sugar Transmission video comes from The Old Grey Whistle Test Vol. 2 DVD which has classic live performances from artists such as: The Style Council, The Who, Roxy Music, Joan Armatrading, Hall & Oates, Squeeze, Siouxie And The Banshees and the Undertones.

By: Snipturn

Snipturn — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:29:43 +0000

Excellent stuff. They have done a great job and look forward to the album.
Snipturn

By: babylonandon

babylonandon — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:53:42 +0000

Oh wow! Very exciting news about the additonal covers coming in, Alan! And I will go check out that video… (Linked in David’s comment below)

By: packetofthree

packetofthree — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:57:34 +0000

The video of Black Sugar Transmission’s cover version of Slap & Tickle is now viewable on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCgJTF4ZlTg

By: packetofthree

packetofthree — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:40:55 +0000

There seems to be a rash of bands doing Squeeze covers recently. The Hot Rats (the brilliantly inventive band with Supergrass' very own Gaz & Dan, teamed with legendary producer bloke Nigel Godrich) have recorded 'Up The Junction' for their Turn Ons CD. What else is out there?

By: Burning Sky Records

Burning Sky Records — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:16:25 +0000

Thanks for the kind words about Black Sugar Transmission’s cover of “Slap & Tickle,” Corina! I have to agree with you that it is a “sexy” cover of the song – I think it’s rather brilliant, myself. Andee of New York City’s Black Sugar Transmission is a fantastic artist and a pleasure to work with.

I can tell you that Andee is currently putting the finishing touches on a video to accompany the track that we hope to be posting on our MySpace page very soon – it is a fabulous homage to Squeeze and very cool, indeed.

I can also tell you that we’ve started to receive some more amazing covers, as well, including covers of “Messed Around,” “Take Me I’m Yours” and “Touching Me, Touching You” that have surpassed even my greatest expectations – stay tuned!

Cheers, and thanks again!
Alan
Burning Sky Records