Cherie Currie and a Chicago newcomer named Essex have teamed up on “When You’re Young,” a cover of the early 1980s UK new wave track originally recorded by Victims of Pleasure, and the combination works beautifully. Produced by Die Krupps mainman Jurgen Engler, the track lands at the intersection of classic new wave and contemporary rock with real authority, and it serves as both a welcome return for Currie and a genuine introduction to an artist worth paying attention to.
Essex draws from Billy Idol, Marc Bolan, David Bowie, and James Brown, and his presence on the track reflects all of that, swagger and edge balanced with genuine melodic instinct. Currie is equally direct about what she found in him. “Billy Idol would be proud with this man’s presence,” she says. “After 50 years in this crazy biz it’s a breath of fresh air to find such a grateful and gracious man. He gives me hope for this nutty music business.” Essex keeps it simple in return: “It was an unbelievable honour to work with somebody that has inspired me since I was a kid. Working with her was insanely easy.”
The single arrives fresh from Currie’s contribution to last year’s Yacht Metal collection, a cover of Walter Egan’s “Magnet and Steel” that drew considerable attention. Essex, meanwhile, is working on an upcoming single and a full-length debut album later in the year, described as dark-edged guitars and synths, commanding melodies, and sharp, aggressive bite channeling the raw electricity of the MTV-era 1980s with modern grit.