Lush, Split

Lush, Split (4AD-1994)

Album number two for Lush and for me my favourite, a little bit of a step forward from the previous album and I think it is due to the relentless touring and promotion of previous releases. The album for me is a proper album production where the album is made to fit well together. Similar sound and feel throughout the album.

I remember reading their was some trouble in recording this album as the band were not happy with how it was all working out. I wonder how they like it now as it really does sound great and due to the top end production the album is crystal clear and sounds fantastic. I swear the guitar sound here was stolen by Oasis and used on their first two albums. That slight buzz distortion noise that is non stop in Oasis is used here to give a more visual feel tot he music. Not so much an art music but it has so much more going for it than a typical 90s chart band.

This is a very personal album with love, life and relationship issues big part of the album. The lyrics sound way more direct and unlike last album Spooky (1992) where many of the lyrics were pronounced and made longer this is way shorter and clear for the listener to gain access quicker to what is being sung. It is a brave move as it really changes the bands sound, kind of making it more pop and radio friendly. I also think the older material had some studio effects to the vocals as well as Miki and Emma sounds so much real here briefly going back to the long strung out vocals style on 2nd single "Desire Lines" a classic shoegaze song clocking in at over seven minutes it builds up with nice guitar picking to head nodding heavy middle then back to the classic vocals. needless to say it would never have got on radio one as single of the week. And here may well be where things went wrong for this album as two different songs were released as singles on the same day. Crazy even today to do something like that but both songs were very strong and showcased both sides of the band as the other single "Hypocrite" has a more ballsy rock feel to it not a million miles away from the britpop sound that was just about to come in.

The singles aside there are some real great tacks on here with my favorites being the album opener "Light from a Dead Star" it has a nice slow start to it very artistic in a kind of into feel to it. And album closer "When I Die" is almost just a simple acoustic track, very direct and very personal lyrics. This track for me ends the album well as it has a similar sound found on the next bands album "Lovelife" and funnily the name is a track on this album, also one of my favorites. The sort of track that made sure Lush was not going to be flung onto the same pile of CDs as many others in the mid 90s a proper dream pop style song.

One thing about this album I think in 1994 it would be hard to fit it in anywhere as the new Britpop explosion really was not the band also just not the style of pop that was selling well then (much of the chart pop was one hit wonders in the 90s)

But again mainstreams loss is our gain, a great album by a bad who really did end too soon as the suicide of drummer  Chris Acland shocked the band members to the core and felt best to call it a day. Thankfully the will come back for a few gigs in 2016 and I feel people will start talking about them as their music really could do great on radio today.

Twitter: 29xthefun 

Sons and Daughters, This Gift

Sons and Daughters, This Gift (Domino-2008)

Glasgow based indie/rock band Sons and Daughters were onto album number three here. For me their was enough hard work done in the last two albums for the band to have a shot at something more.

I am not too sure why they never made it further with this album as it is back to back great music. Catchy poppy rock tunes that would make a radio melt with fun. The mixture of male and female voices on the singing really does catch the ear along with some nice harmonies it could get the worst karaoke singer grabbing a comb for a sing song in the toilet.

One thing I have to say is this really is not an all out pop album it has some very nice rock touches with nice riffs here and their in a kind of old school rock n roll style and first song 'Gift Complex' starts out with a fine example. With some nice production and the song opens up after the riff. Also some nice and loud bass lines here that are great for catching someone's ear and made for the radio.

The first few songs really are fantastic as is the production. 'Split Lips' and 'The Nest' really make you wonder who is working on this album and the name is very much familiar to most in Bernard Butler. he is ideal for this band.

One of the rare albums in the 00's that has that hit single feel to it and the tunes keep coming with 'Rebel with the Ghost' and 'Chains' making me wonder not where these songs fit on the radio but how often. Only two singles were put out with the second being a double A side with 'This Gift/Darling' sadly scraping in at the low end of the chart. A real shame as each song gives a a little bit of a different feel to the band all out pop song 'This Gift' being a classic A side and 'Darling' having a more rock feel to it.

The music here and the quality of the delivery would have stood out on Top of the Pops but this may well be where this band missed out as that show was cancelled in 2006 (two years before the album). I am not sure if the record label was right for this band as they really could have been big if the promotion was right.

But Again I am not blaming the label I am blaming you lot for not digging a little. Why not make up for it and get a copy of this album.

Twitter: 29xthefun