In the 70’s, manager Malcolm McLaren launched a time bomb that went by the name of the Sex Pistols. The anarchist punks with their excessive stage performances dominated Blighty and beyond. Glen Matlock, an original member of the group from its formation in 1974, kept up this crazy pace before giving up his place to Sid Vicious. Since then, punk has run its course. On top of returning to his band on tour a few years later, he remains one of the most active Pistols with a lively solo career.
Good To Go is a project in which he took the time to reflect. This Peppermint production brings the ex-Sex Pistol together with Slim Jim Phantom (the drummer from Stray Cats), without falling into the trap of creating Never Mind The Bollocks version 2.0. With an acoustic opening song (Won’t Put the Brakes on Me) that quickly turns electric, the tone for the album is set. No one can stop Matlock! With rock’n’roll ripples, rockabilly swing, acoustic ballads and tracks perfectly suited to a road trip, Good To Go escapes the punk style. The Londoner also gives us a few surprises on the album, on two tracks in particular. Far from violins and metallic tinkling, Scott Walker features in an amplified version of Montague Terrace (In Blue) which Madlock bring some emotion to through his vocals. The second surprise is a venture into pure and hard soul, with a cover of Keep On Pushing by the Impressions, Matlock’s spin on the track is a nice, unique interpretation. © Clara Bismuth/Qobuz