Double J Pick of the Week – Shilpa Ray

Shilpa Ray
Johnny Thunders Fantasy Space Camp

Hopefully you don’t need to know anything about Shilpa Ray to want to hear Johnny Thunders Fantasy Space Camp. The title alone – one of the best we’ve seen in years – is enough reason to want to hit play as quickly as possible.

It takes seven seconds to realise that Shilpa Ray is not to be trifled with. “So you think you’re gonna die in New Orleans, face down in a sleazy motel?” she snarls at the song’s beginning. Her voice is gritty, her delivery is aggressive and the lyrics are cutting throughout.

But what makes this track even more interesting is the music. It’s not quite the distorted dirge you might expect, it’s driven largely by Indian harmonium, albeit one played with the utmost of power and aggression.

This New Yorker has been at it for years and has played with everyone from Patti Smith to Grinderman and even collaborated with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. The song title drew us in, but now we need to hear more.