Mules, as we all know, are a horse/donkey crossbreed. It seems London’s The Mules take the same hybridised approach to creation as their namesakes in the animal kingdom, with ‘We’re Good People’ sounding like the work of some eccentric musical scientists.
The song indulges in a similar style of social commentary to the likes of Good Shoes, with lines like the pointed opening ones: “These are very odd times / But time at ease with myself / Appropriately emotional / Controlled yet highly sexual”, and The Mules seem equally as influenced by post punk as some of their contemporaries. But instead of the (albeit well-executed) one dimensional spiky guitar approach that the Mordenites choose to employ, The Mules go for something considerably more interesting and ambitious. The sparse verse chords give a nod to both ska and the aforementioned post punk, but the addition of ‘Ghost Town’ style spooky noises, the excellent backbeat and an orchestral breakdown that comes from nowhere give it a gypsy-folk tinged life of its own.
Like a more clinical Larrikin Love, this is an intelligent and arty approach to music making that is perhaps not surprising from a group formed at Oxford University. Lyrically it is witty and insightful, although in a rather knowing way: “I’ll turn on the TV / Travel shows delight me”. Songwriter/drummer/vocalist Ed Seed’s delivery is in many ways reminiscent of David Byrne and only reaffirms Talking Heads similarities that are present in both the overall feel of the song and what it has to say about consumerist culture.
The single is backed by the vaudeville-cum-gypsy-folk-punk orchestral rock out that is ‘Problems With Exits’, another indication of The Mules’ fun and original approach. There are also two decent remixes from CSS and Lights, the former providing CSS’s trademark bongo/synth samba flavour and doing what every good remix should do – highlight the quality of the original song. And ‘We’re Good People’ does indeed have considerable quality – certainly more pedigree filly than ass.
First published on rockfeedback.com. See it here.
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