The band was subsequently augmented on stage by Paul Albertis (bass) and John Hendry (drums).
As well as releasing three studio albums, the band performed live as support to Lloyd Cole and Big Country.
Steven Lindsay's songwriting, like his singing, is tasteful, cultured (two references to painter Andrew Wyeth in the first five songs, including one titled after his masterpiece, "Christina's World"), and a bit dull.
The guitars chime, the machine-made beats burble, and Lindsay contemplates existence, from dead-end "Prospect Street" to a "Big New Beginning" in what sounds suspiciously like L.A. But there is a difference between swimming and treading water that he doesn't seem to recognize.
The group sound is of that jingle-jangly type redolent of the Postcard sound of the time although in hindsight the record is hindered somewhat by 80's production values with at times bounce-around drums and occasionally using synths where strings would do.
Some of them evince the preciousness and pretentiousness of which Morrissey was the high-priest of the day, but the art-lover in me particularly reveres the wraparound world he portrays in bringing Andrew Wyeth's wonderful painting "Christina's World" to life (Lindsay was a student at Glasgow School Of Art), while the Glaswegian in me also gets the reference to the city's fine museum of its own history the People's Palace in, naturally "Another People's Palace".
These are two of the highlights, along with the afore-mentioned debut single and album opener "Prospect Street" a sort-of anthem-for-doled-youth, cheekily borrowing Springsteen's "Born To Run" riff for ironic effect.
Other tracks of note include the acoustic rumination of "Jealous", the optimistic glide of "Slide" and the two-part sound-experimental "Swimmer". If the rest trip and occasionally fall into wallowing self-pity like "The Loneliest Man In The World" or too obvious soda-pop derivation like "Back Door Bound", indeed the album could have shorn a track or three to better overall effect, overall it's still a highly listenable and confident debut which really deserved some sort of success at the time and, failing that, retrospective kudos too.
These are two of the highlights, along with the afore-mentioned debut single and album opener "Prospect Street" a sort-of anthem-for-doled-youth, cheekily borrowing Springsteen's "Born To Run" riff for ironic effect.
Other tracks of note include the acoustic rumination of "Jealous", the optimistic glide of "Slide" and the two-part sound-experimental "Swimmer". If the rest trip and occasionally fall into wallowing self-pity like "The Loneliest Man In The World" or too obvious soda-pop derivation like "Back Door Bound", indeed the album could have shorn a track or three to better overall effect, overall it's still a highly listenable and confident debut which really deserved some sort of success at the time and, failing that, retrospective kudos too.
Side A
A1. Prospect Street - 3:21
A2. Christina's World - 4:10
A3. Slide - 5:06
A4. Big New Beginning - 3:21
A5. Another People's Palace - 4:46
Side B
B1. Swimmer - 5:22
B2. The Loneliest Man In The World - 3:39
B3. Jealous - 4:29
B4. Her Town - 3:56
B5. Beyond The Pale - 3:57
B6. Second Swimmer - 2:43
Companies, etc.
- Phonographic Copyright (p) – Virgin Records Ltd.
- Copyright (c) – Virgin Records Ltd.
- Printed By – TOPAC
- Published By – Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
- Published By – Rondor Music Ltd.
- Lacquer Cut At – Sonopress
- Pressed By – Sonopress
Credits
- Art Direction – Gary Wathen
- Bass – Raymond Docherty
- Composed By – McFie (tracks: B6), Steven Lindsay
- Design – Red Ranch
- Guitar [Lead], Guitar [Second] – Brian Mcfie
- Photography By – Heather Angel
- Programmed By [Programming], Saxophone – Ian Ritchie
- Vocals [Singer], Guitar, Keyboards – Steven Lindsay
Notes
Release: 1986
Format: LP
Genre: Pop
Label: Virgin Records
Catalog# 207 987-630
Prijs: €7,99
Vinyl: VG
Cover: VG
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