Oblique Saturdays

A series for Saturdays in 2026 inspired by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt's set of cards, Obliques Strategies (Over One Hundred Worthwhile Dilemmas). Eno and Schmidt created them to be used to unblock creative impasses and approach problems from unexpected angles. Each week I will turn over an Oblique Strategy card and post a song or songs inspired by the suggestion. 

Last week's card read Go slowly all the way round the outside and it sent me immediately to Malcolm McLaren and The World's Famous Supreme Team and Buffalo Gals, going round the outside and then to Slow by My Bloody Valentine. 

In the comments box Walter agreed about McLaren and added Go Slowly by Radiohead, Ernie chipped in with some thunderous King Tubby dub and Dan suggested Studio's West Coast album and the circle on its front cover- and I really like the idea of the Obliques Strategy cards suggesting visuals as well as music. 

Today's Oblique Strategy card is this...

Into the impossible

And it made an instant connection in my mind to this 1991 single by The Impossibles...

The Drum (12" Mix)

The Impossibles were from Edinburgh, a core duo of Mags and Lucy (whose debut single was produced by Kevin Shields, in a nice link to last Saturday's post). Their third single was The Drum, a cover of a Slapp Happy song from 1974. The 12" Mix was by Andrew Weatherall who took an already indie- dance facing take on the song and shook it up, seven minutes of everything and the kitchen sink, widescreen, indie dance psychedelia- jangly guitars, loping rhythms, chanted vocals, '1- 2- 3- 4!' and 'I've fallen... and I can't get up', breakdowns, looped guitar riffs, synths, whispers, la la la la la la la vox, and a drum loop that can easily segue into Andrew's groundbreaking remix of My Bloody Valentine's Soon (same year, similar vibe). 

Feel free to drop your Oblique Saturday responses into the comment box.