The one on which John Cale doesn't appear, for once, and Nico's covers of both Waiting for My Man and Heroes are the two least notable songs on the record... Her sixth record, Drama of Exile was originally released in 1981 and then, because of some record label conflict, was re-recorded and sequenced for re-release in 1983.
This latest reissue, via Modern Harmonic, reflects the original version in all it's sleazy coke-disco glory, a long way removed from Nico's prior solo outings, which had leaned ever-closer to the avant garde. Was this a shot a commerciality? If so, it misses disco by about seven years, and it's far too sinister and paranoid to fit the new pop lexicon of New Wave. Nonetheless, it features three of my favourite Nico turns - the white line death funk of Genghis Khan, the Low-era Bowie cold war rock of Purple Lips, and the ascend to heaven/fall into the abyss of hell march of Sixty Forty. In fact, maybe three of my favourite songs ever. Why it's not more widely celebrated is probably obvious to anyone aware of Nico's self-destruction. Or maybe the record label fumbled it? At this stage, who cares. Truly and eternally the sound of cocaine decisions and, somehow, all the better for it. One of the great after hours records. If you close the door, the night could last forever...
