Before Toyah, Hazel O’ Connor, Bjork, Florence Welsh and Amanda Fucking Palmer, there was the beautiful Lene Lovich. Part of Stiff Records’ roster, the Serbian American artist was a contemporary of Kate Bush but arguably a bit kookier.
‘Lucky Numbers’ was of course her top ten hit in the UK, but I prefer this. Jeepers, the things her voice can do in this song are insane. I went through a period in my early teens of putting so many ribbons in my hair all the time, I nearly got expelled from school and laughed outta Dodge. She must have influenced Strawberry Switchblade’s aesthetic too.
Like a proto-goth Frida Kahlo, her madwoman in the attic schtick was very much a part of who she was, and still is. A whirling mass of theatrics, soaring and yelped vocals, she was my first female crush and, as eccentric as ever, she still performs today.
Hit The North 