Trushmix 110: Rat Salad

Trushmix 110. We welcome Rat Salad back!
The story of his new life below.

Enjoy!


It’s been quite a while since we heard from the Rat Salad camp now. We almost started to worry, since it doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to figure out where Rat and José ended up after all the parties they threw awhile back. But the rats survive it all don’t they? And as coincidence wanted it we found Rat himself in the unlikeliest of places, alive and fresh out of rehab.
Not long ago a close family member of our friend Qubert Hackel, music journalist-main man and one of Rat Salads biggest fans, got married to a close family member of a famous and very wealthy sociolite that prefers to remain anonymous. The latter, one of the most well-connected and rich MF’s in showbiz threw the party, so we simply had to attend.

The party was lavish and glamorous with all the top players in Hollywood and the music was real cool. From a Bulgarian dance orchestra to Fab Morvan and Kenny Loggins and of course a couple of dj -sets.
Speaking of which, who’s that character up there by the turntables in pink leatherjacket and a matching cowboy-hat covered in sequins, if it isn’t Rat Salad himself? He tried to hide when he noticed us and pretended to be someone else when we asked if it was him, clearly embarrassed by the situation. This wasn’t exactly the kind of R’n’R-scenes he normally frequented, in fact this wasn’t his scene at all. And the clothes wasn’t really his either, but something Qubert had payed him to wear for the occasion. Though even if he hated them he looked as cool as ever. Like a glammed-up disco-version of Attilla the Hun. We wanted to take his photos but he refused and succeeded to hide from the camera. This was waaaay too commercial and mainstream for the Rat and he didn’t want to be seen as a sell-out. Our guess is he had to take the gig to pay all the drug-debt to the bikers while José was held captive at home. He simply had no choice but to take Qubert´s offer. And since this was a venue that demanded a certain level of public courtship, Rat had brought some records for the set that he thought would fit into the occasion and be easy enough on the ears of the audience. But that doesn’t mean it’s not full of weirdness and that distinctive rat’n’roll -attitude. It’s Rat Salad we’re talking about here after all. Besides the band itself have always been experimenting with different styles so his taste is clearly eclectic. Either way none of the music played in this mix haven’t some sort of connection to the world of R’n’R. You might say that this is electronic dance music made by rockers, punks and utter freaks. Well, who cares about labels anywho? Rat sure don’t, especially not after a couple of whiskeys. Mean, Johnny Walker Red Label tastes the same as Johnny Walker Black Label when you’re drunk doesn’t it? And the same goes for music, the more you consume the less you care for labels. Point being, who the fudge cares?
In context of the evening and the event maybe this is amongst Rat’s sleaziest sets ? A cheeky and shameless partymix. Starting out with some beautiful, lush cosmic 70’s vibes before continuing into more new romantics and industrial landscapes and furter into everything from new wave, psych-rock, disco-punk, freak-muzak, art rock, kraut rock, to electro and synth pop. And after smelling some of the Colombian White Lady that was passed around at the party, Rat eased into his new version of himself and delivered the task with genuine excitement as you could see he was grinning to himself, wider and wider with animated gestures and dancing cheerfully to his set in his pink clothes. This was a feel-good summer party-night and this sure became a feel-good summer party-mix.

We ended up in custody the next morning, together with Rat and Qubert. The host of the evening bailed us out, but that’s a whole different story…

At least we managed to plug into the system and recorded Rat’s entire set that evening for your enjoyment.