Description
Live Skull – Pusherman – Vinyl Record
Homestead Records 1986
Brand NEW, never played and sealed in the factory plastic.
Released in 1986 as part of the Pusherman EP, Live Skull’s track “Pusherman” is a haunting, noise-driven reimagining of Curtis Mayfield’s iconic song of the same name from the Super Fly soundtrack. Known for their abrasive, avant-garde approach to post-punk and noise rock, Live Skull transforms the soul-funk classic into a dark, menacing soundscape that reflects their raw, underground aesthetic. With jagged guitar riffs, brooding basslines, and dissonant vocals, Pusherman epitomizes the band’s ability to blend chaos with atmosphere, creating a track that’s as unsettling as it is compelling.
Emerging from New York City’s no wave scene in the 1980s, Live Skull—often compared to bands like Sonic Youth and Swans—were pioneers of noise rock, pushing the boundaries of post-punk with their use of dissonance, feedback, and unconventional song structures. Pusherman exemplifies their bold, aggressive approach, taking an already politically charged song and amplifying its tension and anxiety.
Live Skull’s rendition of “Pusherman” bears little resemblance to the smooth, funky original by Curtis Mayfield. Instead, the band strips the song down to its bare essentials, replacing Mayfield’s sleek groove with harsh, angular guitars and a tense, ominous atmosphere. The result is a cover that reflects the gritty, dangerous world of urban life from a completely different sonic perspective.
The most striking feature of Live Skull’s sound is the use of noisy, distorted guitars. On “Pusherman,” the guitars are jagged and abrasive, creating an overwhelming wall of sound that mirrors the chaotic, uncertain atmosphere of the subject matter. The feedback and dissonance that define the track are a hallmark of the band’s noise rock aesthetic. The bassline in Live Skull’s version of “Pusherman” is slow and menacing, giving the track a sense of weight and dread. It contrasts sharply with the funky, rhythmic bass of Mayfield’s original, providing a darker, more oppressive mood.
Vocally, Live Skull’s version of “Pusherman” is stark and confrontational. The vocals, often buried in the mix, are haunting and monotone, emphasizing the bleakness of the track. Rather than the smooth, soulful delivery of Mayfield, Live Skull’s vocals feel detached and cold, enhancing the song’s sense of alienation.
The production on Pusherman is deliberately rough, adding to the track’s unsettling nature. The murky, lo-fi quality of the recording amplifies the band’s signature use of noise and feedback, creating a dense, claustrophobic soundscape that envelops the listener.
Like Curtis Mayfield’s original, Live Skull’s “Pusherman” deals with themes of drug dealing and the destructive impact of addiction on urban communities. However, where Mayfield’s version critiques the glamorization of drug culture through a sleek, seductive sound, Live Skull’s interpretation strips away any sense of allure, presenting a stark and unflinching portrayal of addiction and urban decay.
Live Skull’s music often reflects the harsh realities of life in urban environments, and “Pusherman” is no exception. The track captures the feeling of living on the fringes of society, with its dissonant soundscape evoking images of decaying cities and marginalized lives. The sense of alienation and hopelessness is palpable throughout the song, mirroring the darker aspects of Mayfield’s original themes.
The song also touches on the power dynamics inherent in the drug trade, with the “pusherman” serving as both a provider and a destroyer. Live Skull’s intense, abrasive sound reflects the brutal reality of addiction, stripping away any romanticism or glamour and instead focusing on the destructive power of the pusherman’s control over his customers. Live Skull’s minimalist, detached vocal delivery emphasizes the alienation that comes with addiction and poverty. The bleak tone of the track suggests a sense of despair and helplessness, capturing the emotional and psychological toll of living in a world ruled by exploitation and survival.
Live Skull’s version of “Pusherman” stands out for its radical departure from the original. Rather than simply covering the song in the traditional sense, the band reimagines it through their unique noise-rock lens, turning Mayfield’s sleek funk into something dark, harsh, and abrasive. This transformation gives the song new meaning and relevance in a different musical context.
The song features all of the key elements that define Live Skull’s sound—dissonant guitars, feedback, heavy bass, and unsettling vocals. These elements combine to create an atmosphere that is both aggressive and atmospheric, capturing the chaos and tension of urban life.
Live Skull never achieved the mainstream success of some of their contemporaries in the 1980s post-punk and no wave scenes, but they garnered a dedicated following among fans of experimental and underground music. Their cover of “Pusherman” is considered one of their standout tracks, highlighting their ability to take established songs and transform them into something entirely new and challenging.
Critics and fans have praised Live Skull for their bold reinterpretation of Mayfield’s classic, with many noting the band’s ability to amplify the darkness and tension inherent in the song’s themes. While not as widely known as other bands from the no wave movement, Live Skull’s influence can be felt in the work of later noise rock and post-punk bands, with their fearless approach to sound and texture serving as a blueprint for more experimental music in the years to come.
Live Skull’s “Pusherman” is a striking example of how a band can take a well-known song and completely transform it through their own unique artistic vision. By stripping Curtis Mayfield’s original down to its core themes of power, addiction, and urban decay, and reimagining it through the abrasive lens of noise rock, Live Skull created a version of “Pusherman” that is as unsettling as it is compelling.
For fans of post-punk, noise rock, or those interested in experimental reworkings of classic songs, Live Skull’s Pusherman EP is a must-listen. It captures the raw energy and uncompromising creativity of a band that pushed the boundaries of what rock music could be, turning familiar sounds into something dark, intense, and entirely their own.
https://www.roundflat.com/shop/vinyl-records/live-skull-pusherman-1986-homestead-record-lp/https://i0.wp.com/www.roundflat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/liveskull-swingtime.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1https://i0.wp.com/www.roundflat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/liveskull-swingtime.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1Live Skull - Pusherman - Vinyl Record Homestead Records 1986 Brand NEW, never played and sealed in the factory plastic. Released in 1986 as part of the Pusherman EP, Live Skull’s track 'Pusherman' is a haunting, noise-driven reimagining of Curtis Mayfield’s iconic song of the same name from the Super Fly soundtrack....roundflat webmaster@roundflat.comAdministratorRound Flat Records
