Pete Burns: Never Marry An Icon

Pete burns rose to fame in the 80's as frontman of the band 'Dead Or Alive,' a proponent of the New Wave movement who found great success in their 1984 single 'You Spin Me Around (Like A Record).' Since departing the band, Pete Burns has promised upcoming solo material, the first offering being his debut solo single 'Never Marry An Icon.'

Pete Burns: Never Marry An Icon

For anyone aware of the Pete's unique fashion sense and general opposition to conformity, noticeable even from the album artwork shown above, the musical style will be of no surprise. Throughout, vocals are processed to sound purposefully electronic, accompanied by electronic drums and synthesisers. Lyrics such as "I like to change my face on a regular basis" and the less modest "Who d'ya think you are taking on a superstar?" are typical of the artist's writing, which frequently includes autobiographical mentions and themes of self-professed celebrity.

The song is well crafted with a typical verse-chorus structure but embellishments such as an extended synthesiser solo and other additions not always seen in contemporary music add interest for the listener. The production is sound, remaining clear despite the extensive layering of tracks. With that said, there is a quiet hum present throughout, most audible at the start and conclusion which could be argued to be serving no musical purpose which raises doubt on if this is intentional or a mixing error.

Marking the first original material in several years, this catchy track is a welcome return to the industry for Pete Burns. While confusion remains over whether subsequent releases will take place following the anger expressed by the artist's label due to the unauthorised uploading of the track to various online free-play sites (Youtube et al.), this reviewer certainly hopes that more material is on its way soon.

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