The Great Dictators' sinfully dark and sardonic "Play Dead Together" is sick and brilliant

"photo by Sebastian Buur"

On The Great Dictators' sinfully dark and sardonic Play Dead Together, songwriter / lead singer Dragut Lugalzagosi sings lines like, "read to me from the book of hate, I wanna' be leader of the state"  and  "...but I'd love it if you came over... we could play dead together... don't give in now... it's only blood from your eyes and ears... don't give up now.... here's a toast to all your fears" but somehow makes it feel like a decadent love song. There are "shaaw lah lahs" amid the dourness, a slow barbiturate drip beat from an old distorted drum machine, heavy bass, broken synth lines, vacant guitars and a craftily blended in recording of a flat tire (rolling on a car). Yes, seriously... and on top of it all Dragut's droll vocal aesthetic that to me has always been a spiked hallucinogenic drink of Stephen Malkmus (mostly) with touches of Rivers Cuomo and Lou Reed.

Fucking crazy and fucking brilliant.

The Great Dictators hail from Denmark. Play Dead Together is off their upcoming album "One Eye Opener" dropping April 17th via Celebration Records.

-Robb Donker Curtius 



THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

Copenhagen-based The Great Dictators has returned with a concentrated dose of melodic indie rock.

’Play Dead Together’ is the brand new slacker pop single by Danish indie rock trio The Great Dictators. The song is both punchy and laid back at the same time. Layers of atmospheric synthesizers hide behind a heavy bass and an old distorted drum machine. The band also recorded the sound of a flat tire to underline the offbeat and dreamy vibe.

A few inspirations for the single include The Psychedelic Furs, Yo La Tengo and the ambient albums of Brian Eno. Songwriter Dragut Lugalzagosi on ‘Play Dead Together’:

“This is our tiny epic slacker hymn. A song about feeling confused with the world. Sometimes you just feel like playing dead together with someone you’re safe with.”

Last year The Great Dictators collaborated with Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu) for the single ‘By The Throat’ and now they’re back with ’Play Dead Together’ - also a single off their upcoming album ‘One Eye Opener’ (release April 17th via Celebration Records).