The Comedy of Errors: Drain - Instant Hippie (13 June 1992)

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This is one of those tracks which probably holds more relevance to me now than it would have in 1992.  Although, having said that the relevance is more likely down to what it represents than any inherent quality in the performance or composition.  On those terms, Instant Hippie is pretty samey when listened to multiple times. All of the interest is to be found in the samples which espouse any number of cliches connected to hippiedom, all of which play out over a rock jam by Drain, who were a side project put together by members of Butthole Surfers and Cherubs.  And then the final sample plays out at the end of the track at 3:13 in which revolution and upheaval is promised before giving way to a begging request.  And as I sit here, seven weeks or so after a dreadful (as far as I was concerned) General Election result, 2 days away from Brexit day and with income tax still to be worked out and paid, I almost feel dispirited enough to wish myself away to a commune somewhere and give up caring about change in exchange for any of the more emotional or sensual treats promised throughout this track from Drain’s debut LP Pick Up Heaven.  Except that once the EU stop becoming targets of hate/blame, the demonisation cycle will trundle on to those whose demonisation has been put on hold over the last three years: benefit claimants, Travellers etc.  Why bother to care or hope for better? Just drift away, exist, consume and play this as your anthem.  What more do you need in your life? What more could you want to be?**

**This will all look callow and defeatist by the spring, I agree, but for the moment, The Dustbin of History makes a far more compelling and layered argument for dropping out after recent events than I can here.

Video courtesy of bobforehead