- Is Bot'ox's latest single an ode to Derek Zoolander? The title a reference to the male model's legendary killer pose, the lyrics ("you always make sure you come first") an invocation of the man's unfettered narcissism? At the very least, "Blue Steel" would seem to suit a limber-legged runway strut by the fashion legend, a sharp slice of electro-pop that swathes its glamorous airs in ice and machines. The groove and vocals are a bit woozy, as if the whole track's been pitched-down a whole step, making it feel drunk, following the lovelorn singer as she pours her heart out on the long walk home. It's a catchy, alienated lament with bursts of bright pads and 808 churn that could count acts like Ladytron as close kin. A brilliantly goofy music video echoes the tune's sense of playful detachment, consisting solely of slow-mo footage of a car colliding with random objects, a surreal and deadpan parody of crash-test science.
B-side "Bearded Lady Motorcycle Show" abandons electro-pop sugar for fried Franco psych rock, all guitar blister and bricklayer beats that eventually get dolloped with swelling electronic chords. Maybe it's mark of the recent French interest in psychedelia—see Dirty's latest comp, as well as neo-kraut heads like Turzi and rock-tinged club tunes like "Grease" by It's a Fine Line. "Bearded Lady" gets rowdy as hell but keeps its tie on—leave it to the Parisians to stay looking great even when they're losing their shit. No wonder they love Derek Z.
Tracklist A Blue Steel feat. Anna Jean
B Bearded Lady Motorcycle Show