Attack Music

Album: Hidden (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • On Hidden, British art rock band These New Puritans used six-foot Japanese taiko drums to create its deep percussion sounds. However, the thundering percussion-led noise was too much for one headmaster, who banned his school choir from contributing to this song as he judged the music to be "too dark." Frontman Jack Barnett explained to NME January 16, 2010: "I think he objected to the implication of violence - the title 'Attack Music.' But they were a fairly professional choir who get asked to do a lot of work. The second lot were from a state school in Hackney. They were more enthusiastic about the whole idea."
  • The sound of knives being sharpened can be heard on this track. On Hidden Barnett experimented with a diverse array of recording tricks including the use of "Foley techniques." He explained to NME: "It's the method they use in film to develop sound effects. Like, for instance, cracking a cauliflower at the stem simulates the sound of human bone breaking."
  • Hidden was voted 2010 Album of the Year by the NME.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Strange Magnetics

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.