'MORRISSEY / THE SMITHS'

UTR034 | 7" | 2 tracks, 7 mins | November 2009

It doesn't get much more obvious than this, does it? Two like-minded experimental pop groups - who share a great deal of personal history and an unhealthy, often frustrating obsession with the works of one Steven Patrick Morrissey - come together to cover a couple of songs. Why hasn't this happened already? Is there an emoticon for "duh"? Because, well, duh!

But sometimes first thought really is best thought. Take, for example, this particularly choice split, right? Celebrating the first half century of our beloved Bigmouth, acclaimed Moz acolytes XIU XIU completely eviscerate one of Morrissey's most effective paeans to righteous self-loathing - the punishing, Gameboy-composed assault of solo weeper "I Am Hated For Loving".

Likewise, you've got Portland, Oregon's premiere pantywaists PARENTHETICAL GIRLS appearing here perhaps at their ballsiest — embracing the muted violence of early, under-represented Smiths masterpiece "Handsome Devil".

If only all things could be this simple.