Radio 4: The New Song And Dance

Radio 4 features former members of a few other bands you've never heard of, but that's not terribly important. The most notable aspect of the group isn't its lineage but its musical heritage. With a talent for mimicry that's often uncanny, Radio 4 expertly and accurately apes early Gang Of Four with an enthusiasm and drive that even the original couldn't keep up for more than a couple of timeless albums. Gang Of Four was, of course, the vital Leeds art-punk unit that fused agitated punk with herky-jerk funk, inspiring countless imitators but few equals (though Fugazi comes close). Yet that brilliant band was doomed from the start: Its neo-Socialist politics and cynical take on popular culture served as immobilizing nails the band drove into its own feet. Radio 4 isn't as caught up in the ideological details as its predecessor, but "Buy And Sell," "Election Day," and "Walls Falling" sure do put up a fuss. In fact, The New Song And Dance isn't all that different from the old song and dance, though Radio 4's version concedes that riffs and melody make the world go 'round: Even though the sneer remains intact, the music seems poised to take over the world. Ultimately, Radio 4's audacity pays off mainly as proxy, and since it's hard to imagine that the band has the chutzpah to try this trick again, just be glad and enjoy it while it lasts.