Cabinet of Millionaire's Theresa
Unlike the Prime Minister, Cabinet of Millionaires’ Theresa is reliably good, with a catchy tune and a powerful message, writes Graham Lockwood
Yorkshire’s Cabinet of Millionaires is as much a blog as it is a musical force, often covering demonstrations, promoting activism and organising concerts for causes including Love Music Hate Racism.
Their releases are always seriously on point too. Fiercely anti-austerity, last year’s “Serve Me” married gospel vocals, loony tune – almost sarcastic nationalistic melodies – and groovy beats, pleading with politicians to “answer my question” at PMQs and not “use that mocking tone”. Ain’t that the truth.
The follow up “Theresa” is hot stuff with an almost electro rock feel. An epic must-see video has been shot in Manchester with actor Clay Whitter brilliantly playing a homeless busker trying to earn a crust with a useless Theresa May puppet before throwing it in the bin. This helped establish the new single, earning plaudits from taste makers including Tom Robinson (BBC Radio 6). Tom’s “Fresh on The Net” blog reads:
“Theresa is certainly no love song to the prime minister – but undoubtedly a formidable piece of protest dance-rock… With a passionate vocal performance, rich fuzzy synths and pounding drums, Cabinet of Millionaires have produced a banging protest song that’s sure to get everyone moshing at their next gig”
The buzz has led to a second volume scheduled for release on 29 March 2019. The Zion Train remix is a particularly interesting catch. Zion Train are dub masters and this remix is a brutal sinister dub from the John Peel faves celebrating their 30th anniversary with a world tour. Serious bass. Singer Pat Fulgoni and ZT have a history of both collaborating musically and campaigning together in the 90s, gigging to raise funds for the Campaign for Free Education and featuring on Pat’s No Compromize anti-tuition fees compilation CD.
The message is clear and powerful: “Theresa, Theresa Maybe, Theresa, I hear you pray so tell me why you’re squeezing on the poor, selling arms for illegal wars, give your austerity a rest, come on now save our NHS, talking about the homeless, things are looking desperate” set to a variety of musical flavours.
Flagging up Grenfell, Windrush, the Syrian refugee crisis, the NHS, this song is seriously hard hitting, one reviewer liking it to Curtis Mayfield. Singer Pat Fulgoni who’s discography boasts collaborations with huge drum n bass stars to old school jazz and blues, rock n soul, is clearly a singer of deep soul and pedigree.
Steve Whitfield’s remix is a catchy Donna Summer meets Underworld techno affair and high energy stuff from a producer who has worked with the Cure. Rising future breaks stars Indus Traps go for the unsettling experimental vibe with their warped Dirty Freud remix, while junglist veteran Danny Styles delivers a smooth urban feel with an almost joyful soulful roller.
Worthy of your support! Long may CoM continue. Any profits go to food banks.
Part 1 is available now on iTunes, bandcamp and most digital platforms. Part 2 drops on the 29th of March 2019.
