LCD Soundsystem Cover Heaven 17’s “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang”
The song is a take-down of right-wing governments
Photos by Tristane I. Mesquita, Ruvan Wijesooriya
LCD Soundsystem have released a cover of Heaven 17’s ”(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang,” recorded live at Electric Lady Studios. It’s the first advance track from LCD’s Electric Lady Sessions, due out later this year via Columbia Records/DFA.
The original “Fascist Groove Thang” was released in 1981 by British new-wave band Heaven 17, and it addressed the rise of right-wing governments in that decade. It focused in on Reagan—in fact, the song was banned by the BBC out of fear of libel charges—but other far-right politicians were included in that gaze, if not by name specifically. It was a desperate song for what appeared to be desperate times. If only they knew.
LCD doesn’t change much here, because they don’t need to. Just check the lyrics: “Evil men with racist views / Spreading all across the land,” or “History will repeat itself / Crisis point we’re near the hour.” It was recorded almost 40 years ago by a band from across the ocean, but somehow it’s still relevant, because of course it is. It’s not that Heaven 17 were all that prescient—it’s more that we as a country so easily forget our past.