Red Guitars, an independent guitar band from Hull from 1982 through to 1987, released an indie chart topper in 1983, the slow burning thump and ringing guitars of Good Technology. Led by singer Jerry Kidd's distinctive voice, the single nailed life in the modern world- Thatcher's Britain, their anti- corporate stance and the promise that new technology would improve everyone's lives, with the double edged emptiness of that promise.
'We've got photographs of men on the moon
We've got water that is good for us
We've got coffee that's instantaneous
We've got buildings that are very tall
We've got cigarettes that are low in tar
We've got policemen who can tell us who we are
We can reproduce a work of art
We've got missiles can tear the world apart
Good, good, good, good, good, good technology'
If these things were true in 1983 they're arguably even more true now in 2023. To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of this single Red Guitars are releasing a nine minute extended version on red vinyl. The new video for Good Technology merges the group then and now, updating them and the song for the 21st century.
The video finishes with a fade to black and a quote from 17th century activist and reformer Gerrard Winstanley, again as true now as it was in 1647.
'Was the earth made to preserve a few covetous, proud men to live at ease, and for them to bag and barn up the treasures of the Earth from others, that these may beg or starve in a fruitful land; or was it made to preserve all her children?'
This is Gerrard Winstanley's second appearance at these pages, one more than Red Guitars who haven't appeared before which is odd- I was certain I'd posted Good Technology previously but apparently not.
This song was a B-side to a re- release of Good Technology from 1984.
2 comments:
Great song. I think they're touring soon too.
One of my favorite songs from this era. I always loved them and was surprised about the extended mix. Thanks for this gem, Adam
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