JG Thirlwell: "Warm Leatherette"

As the abnormally unprolific the Normal, Mute Records founder Daniel Miller released one of the greatest 7” singles ever: 1978’s “TVOD”/“Warm Leatherette.” With its sparse, Korg 700 underbelly and half-sung lyrics care of the only automotive paraphilia classic I know of (that is, JG Ballard’s Crash), this B-side’s already been covered by a heavenly host of maladroit cherubs and malcontent seraphs: Grace Jones, Chicks on Speed, Trent Reznor, Die Tödliche Doris, and, uh, Duran Duran.

So, ok, I wasn’t expecting the Melbourne-born JG to add much to the Shaghai-born, Cambridge-read JG’s tale of car crash coitus. But just as David Cronenberg’s film put a face to Ballard’s names, so does Thirlwell’s rendition—the darkest one to date—succeed in furthering Miller’s sinister agenda. And, strangely, Thirlwell is almost able to make that final macabre invitation, “Quick let’s make love before you die / On warm leatherette,” copacetic. Almost.