The KLF - Justified & Ancient

Welcome along to Sunday midday’s KLF post. I originally posted this lil gem of a single a while back, but I thought I’d revive it, dust it off and go again. This is the KLF (Justified Ancients of Mu Mu) at their peak (imho) and they could make some good tunes though, of which "Justified and Ancient" is maybe the best. Having existed in various forms for most of the duo's time together (and being something of a totemic track, with The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu one of their various pseudonyms), it's the 1991 single version you'll want to listen to; it's upbeat, with touches of gospel and vaguely world musical sounds, a good beat, a Hendrix lick on the chorus, and Tammy Wynette's vocals (and the accompanying "Stand By Your Man" nod) making it a great pop song. The average lifespan of a lot of pop music being what it is, it has also aged well; only Ricardo da Force really dates this thing (although even his rap works, it's just his 'hype man' stuff on the choruses which makes the song feel its 30 plus years). On reflection though, it has to be one of the maddest tracks ever released. Who exactly would have thought that Country Music legend Tammy Wynette could be tempted to front an insane dance act and sing lyrics about driving an ice cream van? Did she do it for money or the kudos of fronting the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu? You decide. Either way, it's a thumping great slab of mad techno frivolity and I still love it. 'Tammy, stand by the JAMM’s).' Oh behave.

Ripped this time to FLAC bitches