2007 - Fall Sound
12 February: Album - Reformation Post TLC
20 February: Single - Fall Sound
9 April: Single - Reformation! The Single
Recorded after last year's acrimonious split, Reformation Post TLC features 'The Dudes' (as the Americans Tim Presley, Rob Barbato and Orpheo McCord were affectionately known) plus first appearances from Pete Greenway and Dave Spurr.
The album title references last year's walkout. The T and L standing for 'traitors' and 'lying' or 'treacherous lying' depending on your view. I'm sure you can work out what the C stood for.
By and large I listen to the albums as I write these blogs but Mrs Vanity and Presumption put this CD in the car last year so it's had more of an outing than some others. My opinion hasn't massively changed from its release. Some of it I really like, lots of it I don't.
Over! Over! starts with a defiant MES cackle. There were probably better choices as an album opener but's perfectly decent. The title track follows and rumbles along fantastically while Smith shouts seemingly odd words and phrases that relate to last year's events on the American tour. If your circle of friends dismiss MES as someone who just shouts random words best not play them this. Or get new friends.
Fall Sound is another belter. Ok there's a bit of late Peter Hook New Order about the backing (Sunrise from Low-Life perhaps)but I can live with that. Merle Haggard cover White Line Fever is somewhat underplayed. MES mumbles/sings his way through the song with the group barely out of first gear.
Insult Song gives me the feel of intruding on a private joke between the group. It seems off the cuff and the joke is over long before the song finishes. My Door is Never is much more like it. Not sure which of the line-up is on bass and guitar here but hats off!
Coach and Horses has a sixties feel to the backing while MES lyric takes us back to the 1860s. Bit of time travel here perhaps as in the legendary Wings. The Usher is also short and is a list song that ends as it seems to be getting somewhere ("6 - Enjoy film").
Elena takes the mic for The Wright Stuff. The song seems to reference Paul Gascoigne and also Ian Wright's involvement in a naturist segment of a prank tv show. It's alright, on the long side it's fair to say, but is no I've Been Duped. Scenario also has a sixties vibe, late sixties though - not quite falling into psych teritory. Solid but unspectacular.
After two minutes of interesting guitar build-up and then some electronic noodling about Das Boat turns into a racket. Reach for the skip button. The Bad Stuff is also a bit of a mess. Some studio chat precedes a couple of song segments smashed together with what sounds like half a phone conversation. There's a good song trying to get of the last minute of this.
Systematic Abuse reminds me of bits of last year's Fall Heads Roll (Assume, What About Us?), so a thumbs up for that, but it's twice as long as needs to be. Although worth a listen for hearing MES say "when I get a potato out". Outro is barely a song at all. A repeated bass note for 30 seconds that reminded me of Big Rock Ending by American outfit Ass Ponys.
The Fall Sound single was an iTunes download - the world is moving on!
The Reformation single had two versions of that song plus rough mixes of Over Over and My Door is Never. There's a lot to be said for these versions. I really like the rawness, the album version seem flat in comparison. Missed opportunities.
Fall Sound is the choice for this year. Starts off at great pace and Smith and the group never let up. Even in the quiet sections MES is berating the target of his ire or belting out the manifesto. Superb.
20 February: Single - Fall Sound
9 April: Single - Reformation! The Single
"I have woken up"
Recorded after last year's acrimonious split, Reformation Post TLC features 'The Dudes' (as the Americans Tim Presley, Rob Barbato and Orpheo McCord were affectionately known) plus first appearances from Pete Greenway and Dave Spurr.
The album title references last year's walkout. The T and L standing for 'traitors' and 'lying' or 'treacherous lying' depending on your view. I'm sure you can work out what the C stood for.
By and large I listen to the albums as I write these blogs but Mrs Vanity and Presumption put this CD in the car last year so it's had more of an outing than some others. My opinion hasn't massively changed from its release. Some of it I really like, lots of it I don't.
Over! Over! starts with a defiant MES cackle. There were probably better choices as an album opener but's perfectly decent. The title track follows and rumbles along fantastically while Smith shouts seemingly odd words and phrases that relate to last year's events on the American tour. If your circle of friends dismiss MES as someone who just shouts random words best not play them this. Or get new friends.
Fall Sound is another belter. Ok there's a bit of late Peter Hook New Order about the backing (Sunrise from Low-Life perhaps)but I can live with that. Merle Haggard cover White Line Fever is somewhat underplayed. MES mumbles/sings his way through the song with the group barely out of first gear.
Insult Song gives me the feel of intruding on a private joke between the group. It seems off the cuff and the joke is over long before the song finishes. My Door is Never is much more like it. Not sure which of the line-up is on bass and guitar here but hats off!
Coach and Horses has a sixties feel to the backing while MES lyric takes us back to the 1860s. Bit of time travel here perhaps as in the legendary Wings. The Usher is also short and is a list song that ends as it seems to be getting somewhere ("6 - Enjoy film").
Elena takes the mic for The Wright Stuff. The song seems to reference Paul Gascoigne and also Ian Wright's involvement in a naturist segment of a prank tv show. It's alright, on the long side it's fair to say, but is no I've Been Duped. Scenario also has a sixties vibe, late sixties though - not quite falling into psych teritory. Solid but unspectacular.
After two minutes of interesting guitar build-up and then some electronic noodling about Das Boat turns into a racket. Reach for the skip button. The Bad Stuff is also a bit of a mess. Some studio chat precedes a couple of song segments smashed together with what sounds like half a phone conversation. There's a good song trying to get of the last minute of this.
Systematic Abuse reminds me of bits of last year's Fall Heads Roll (Assume, What About Us?), so a thumbs up for that, but it's twice as long as needs to be. Although worth a listen for hearing MES say "when I get a potato out". Outro is barely a song at all. A repeated bass note for 30 seconds that reminded me of Big Rock Ending by American outfit Ass Ponys.
The Fall Sound single was an iTunes download - the world is moving on!
The Reformation single had two versions of that song plus rough mixes of Over Over and My Door is Never. There's a lot to be said for these versions. I really like the rawness, the album version seem flat in comparison. Missed opportunities.
Fall Sound is the choice for this year. Starts off at great pace and Smith and the group never let up. Even in the quiet sections MES is berating the target of his ire or belting out the manifesto. Superb.
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