Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds
Philosophy and Underwear LP/CD (2005/2006)

New York Night Train 003 / Trans Solar 029

After twenty-five years in the music business, Kid has finally decided to release his first LP as a singer, songwriter, and bandleader. Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds, who have informally existed on and off in different incarnations since 2001, included New York heroes Jack Martin, Jerome O’Brien, Josh Belknap, and Jorge Velez at the time of this recording. Sean Maffucci (of Icewater Scandal, and current Pink Monkey Bird, the man behind the board for Gang Gang Dance and others at The Social Registry's Junkyard Studios.), placed the mics, played some instruments, and turned the knobs. Kid and Jack cut a guitar team to be reckoned with (Jack being no slouch himself – you may know him Honeymoon Killers, Little Porkchop, Knoxville Girls, Cause for Applause, Dimestore Dance Ensemble, etc.). Belknap and O'Brien lay it down a groove that is both solid and sleazy at the same time. And Velez's warehouse of sound effects are varied and dynamic. In terms of guests, Captain Comatose, techno musicians Khan and Snax, do the backing vocals on "The History of French Cuisine" and legendary punk diva Little Annie (Crass, Coil, Wolfgang Press, etc.) duets with Kid on "The Weather The War." Finally, the cover features the sexy chest of David Lloyd of The Boggs and Cause for Applause.

Philosophy and Underwear is a unique fusion of elements - garagy punk, glam, dirty soul, experimental noise, dark balladry, and even abrasive mechanical electro – all filtered through The Pink Monkey Bird’s unique post-no wave aesthetic. This grab-bag of songs from Kid’s past and present show the guitarist emerging as a mature singer and songwriter. Concentrating mostly on the themes that deal with good lovin' gone bad, cheap thrills, perversions, and how to make sense of it all, his city of night tackles both the heart of a Saturday night and Sunday morning – and I do mean this as a John Rechy, Tom Waits, and Velvet Underground allusion. Kid's grotesques: drag queens, leather men, and hustlers - turn tricks in 1950s Times Square, explore bondage in contemporary rent-controlled Tompkins Square apartments, and even engage in sexual cannibalism.

TRACK LISTING:
01. The History of French Cuisine (with Captain Comatose - Khan and Snax)
02. Black Bag
03. Johnny
04. Richard Three
05. La Historia De Un Amour
06. Why Hurt Flesh
07. Even Though Your Leather is Cliche....
08. The Weather The War (duet with Little Annie)
09. House of Cards
10. The Last Word
11. And The Evening Sun Turned Crimson
12. Black Bag - epilogue

Read Chris Campion's review in the London Daily Telegraph!

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