MUSIC LIST
I THE TlIINGS PEOPLE DO FOR CllARlTY llue And Cry recently caught supporting Simple Minds in their highly successful shows tor the Cash For Kids appeal. No big deal you say? Well, having recently described the headliners as “bombastic, tedious stadium rubblsh’ in No 1 magazine, vocalist Pet Kane may not have been too keen on a chance meeting with Jim Kerr and co. backstage! Listen does however award Pat lull points tor his honest, accurate and succinct account. I THOSE WHO HAD ALMOST GWEN UP HOPE oi hearing an album irom The Painted Word can at last have something to look lorward to. Recording iortheir RCA debut album almost certainly begins in February, with Brian Tench producing. ills previous credits are as diverse as Kate Bush and the Bee Gees. All going well, RCA expect the product to be delivered in the second quarter. (lion music biz speak: the album will hopelully be released in the spring/early summer.) I EXPECT KEVIN McDERMOTT to sign a major record deal soon. A truly deserving cause, and not belore time. I DEACON BLUE re-release their single ‘Dlgnity’ - complete with a new Bob Clearrnountain production - on 11 Jan. The 12in version includes two highlights irom their acclaimed live shows in ‘Just Like Boys’ and ‘Sufleflngfi
I A WEEPING, WAILING and gnashing oi teeth is rending Edinburgh’s air right now. And who is responsible lor all these griel-stricken outbursts? Why, all those people who never bothered going to see Tarn White and The Dexters because, heck, they play so much that we can go and see them anytime. Not so: the great gravelly-voiced one has split irom his long-term rhythm ’n’ blues sidekicks to, apparently, diversity a bit, and is thought to be getting together a more rock-orientated band (though personal dilierences are said to have played a part as well). The city’s great rumour-mongers haven’t ruled out the occasional reunion, but at presstime it wasn’t known who would be taking over the residencies, which seem to have been handed down with Moses’ tablets.
I UPCOMING RELEASES distributed by Fast Forward/T he Cartel, which were reviewed on these pages a while ago but held up by unioreseen circumstances: ‘Pioneer Boy’ (Nightshiit) by Pioneer Corps, chart-aimed pop; ‘Fimbria’ (also Nightshiit) by This Scarlet Train, which 'should appeal musically to Cocteau Twins tans; and ‘The Back Oi This Beyond’ (Nightshilt yet again) by the one-man project Fuel, diverse and ethereal. Also, the 7in version oi ‘Eternity Road’ by Lowlile (guess what label).
ALBUMS
I We Free Kings: ilell On Earth and Rosy Cross (DDT). As Billy McKenzie has pointed out, We Free Kings are a rock band-their iolklness mainly arising irom their acoustic instrumentation, their elemental imagery as personal and universal as 02’s. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; though there are no cover versions on this LP, their recent versions at both Velvet Underground and Woody Guthrie songs show that they’re keen not to be pinned down. The Kings’ sound is lull and unusual, their eerie clash ol strings and accordion, at times discordant, never as slick as Dexy’s Midnight Runners were, adding strange colours and textures to the songs, most oi which are played at breakneck speed. it there’s anything wrong with ‘Hell on Earth . . .’ it’s that iar too olten everyone seems to be jostling lor attention at once. Other than that, an album to become lamiliar with.
I The Long Horns: Feelln’ Down (Mental). Dole-queue rockabilly irom Kilmarnock, basically. ‘This is Ron and Margaret Thatcher’s 52nd state!’ they shout, and ‘On the dole, on the dole, on the dole your lose control,’ - both sentiments it’s hard to rind any reason to quibble with, but The Long Horns iall tool at the same trap as The Redskins did when they tried to ‘walk like The Clash and sing like The Supremes’. However sincere, this particular combination just doesn't gel. They sound very much like the many bands who came along in The Clash’s wake, desperate to express political concerns, but unable to do it in anything but the most banal language. it’s a shame, because the playing on some ol the tracks is spirited, and shows an urge to mix pure rockabilly with punkier strains.
I Various Artists: Censorship Sucks! (DDT). Subtitled ‘Jello Aid’, proiits irom this compilation go to Listenl’s current iavourite good cause, the No More Censorship Oelence Fund. It you don’t know what that is, you should read the panel in our 54th issue or read the sleevenotes alteryou’ve bought the album. Which you should, because it’s got an impressive line-up: The Primevals, The Pastels, The Membranes, The Cateran, Oi Polioi . . . Since lew tracks are the best each
group can do, it’s a bit patchy, but buying it tor the aiorementioned Dog Faced Ilermans’ track and the revamped and heeled-up Cateran’s vinyl debut might be a good move. History is made, however, by the BMX Bandits, who outdo themselves by coming up with the twee-est- and worst- song oi their careers. (Mab)
I Good and Gone: Methil Box (Demon Radge). The blues had a baby, and alter growing up through countless Peel sessions irom bands who regarded ‘Trout Mask Replica’ as the ultimate rock album (as worthy a contender as ‘Sergeant Pepper’i’d hazard) it was bound to grow up a little strange. The latest perpetrators ol these gut-wrenching, loosely blues-based riiis - and better than many— are this Glenrothes trio currently based in Edinburgh, ‘Methil Box’ (love the title) being the second release on the excellent Dog Faced Hermans’ label. Apart irom the danger oi a lapse into Ron Johnsonism (is, excessive imiation oi John Peel’s iavourite label), the Hermans and Good And Gone are doing it pretty well at the moment- special mention to Eddie Farrell, who grimly pummelis his six strings throughout. Oddly, the most overtly bluesy tracks here are the least satistying, but don't let that stop you buying it.
SINGLES
I Pink Industry: Don't Let Go (Cathexis). Sounded absolutely gorgeous at 33rpm until the voice came in —still sounds entrancing at 45rpm, ii a bit more lively. Jayne Casey is the Liverpool success story that never was: While Frankie, Cope, and Bunnymen shot past her (and even Bill Orummond in his new guise as King Boy Dis gaining a new notoriety). Jayne and her old group Pink Military stayed more or less undiscovered, making occasional records on budgets that wouldn’t keep Frankie in booze lor ten minutes. Now, Glasgow’s Cathexis Records have scraped together the ackers to release ‘Don’t Let 60’, wherein drum machine, echoey guitar and iretless bass join Jayne in a heart-stopping surge which, it there was any justice, would top the charts and snatch the inevitable BPI award (hey! my lirst prediction oi ’88) irom under T'Pau’s noses.
I Nyah Feartles: Good, Bad and Alkles (DDT). Well, Nyah Feartles . . . what can you say, oh? ‘Mental bastards’ might be one description, and probably the one that’ll stick. Boys Oi The Lough On Acid doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but might conjure up some idea olwhatthey’re like. They even have the nerve to start one track on this EP with birdsong and soothing acoustic strumming belore tumlng it into an aural equivalent ol Jerry Sadowltz lmpallng The Proclaimers on their own guitars. Mental. (Mab)
I The Thieves opened The List/McEwan’s Lager Showcase at Fury Murrys, and thanks to Glasgow’s non-existent Christmas holiday train service, I missed a large part ol their set. However, i did see enough to appreciate thatthis is a tight, solid and commercial band, as highlighted by the closing song ‘Stranger Today.’ Final judgement suspended lor the time being though.
Second on the bill were competition winners, The Blue Monkey Experience. Despite a clear improvement on their last live outing, they still disappoint. On the whole, the songs lack the directness ol the recordings: they tend to drilt and meander without a clear locus, which can become a bit tedious, despite the obvious competence ol both the band and vocalist, Lainey McKay.
Three songs saved them, and hinted at what they are truly capable oi. ‘Staring At The Artex’ and ‘Strange Town’ irom the winning demo, both worked well live, wile a newer song ‘The River’ was also encouragineg good. At the moment, The Blue Monkey Experience have the potential ior greater things, but seem to be heading tor a strictly cult/indie ioliowing. They deserve better than that.
Finally, G-Spot Tornado. The lact that they had the biggest support at the three bands despite coming irom Edinburgh may have been related to the minibus parked outside. II it was they could have saved the petrol costs, as i reckon they could easily have won over most at the Glaswegian element oi the audience with their perlormance.
Forgetting the last two songs, where the jump-along, clap-along bit was taken too tar, they were a truly enticing proposition, with the contrasting lead vocals oi the guitarist (more rocky) and keyboard player (almost ioiky at times) provided plenty variety. Despite a totally inaudible sax, they seem to have the basis tor a good album already in their set. Any takers?
Edinburgh
I The Heaters Lord Darnley. West Port. 2294341. 10pm. Free. Fairlystandard blues-rock fare.
I The Peristalsis Brothers Boston Bean Co. St James Centre. 55601 I l . 8.30pm. Free.
I Live band Blues Basement. Broughton Street. 5567147. Nodetails yet.
THURSDAY 21
Glasgow
I The Flight Stuii Fury Murrys. Maxwell Street. 10.30pm. £3. The last time I wrote about the Right Stuffthey cut out allthe criticisms and used it in their promotional material. Just in case they didn't notice the rest of the review I said that they were cynical. gutless. soul-less and that Love And Money were doing the same thing
much better two years ago. Get the message?
I The Straight Men McNec‘s Bar. Eglinton Toll. 9pm. Free.
I Billy Mclsaac Riverside Tavern. Gorbals. 9pm. Free. See Thurs I4.
I Marie Sinclair Band La Taniere. Fox Street. 9pm. Free. (To be confirmed).
Edinburgh
I 2AM Venue. Calton Road. 557 3073.
Doors open 7.30pm. Other than their name they‘re a mystery to me. A lotof things go astray over Christmas though. I Ranacanteen Music Box. Victoria Street. 220 4341. 10pm. Free. See Sun 10. I Live band Blues Basement. Broughton Street. 556 7147. No details yet.
I Los Supremos Canny Man‘s. Morningside Road. 447 1484. 8.30pm. Free.
The List 8 — 2] January 1988 33