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Slowdive 'Slowdive' (2017)



After a 22-year pause, Slowdive returned with this self-titled album. A gloriously optimistic and confident record of powerful songs and shimmering guitars.

Puts a smile on my face and lifts my spirits. A great summer listen!

Rolling Stones - Some Girls

Continuing my sidestep into the 90's Shoegaze scene:
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My Bloody Valentine 'Loveless' (1991)



A band who have drifted in and out of the edge my attention sphere for years with this album, apparently regarded as the magnum opus of Shoegaze Rock. Time now to finally get to grips with it.

This is then the 30th anniversary release; "Double CD mini-LP style reissue package in a gatefold card sleeve with Disc 1 remastered from original 1630 tape and Disc 2 mastered from original 1/2 inch analog tapes."
Which also is interesting in that you can directly compare SQ from the Analogue master tape to the PCM digital master which was used to make the original CD edition.
Personally I find the 'analogue' version to have slightly fuller bass and mids, better separation and a wider soundstage, with the PCM disc coming across as flat and brittle.

Musically, I can't really see this as very groundbreaking as there is a lot that reminds me of Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr and the SST & Homestead bands I was hearing in the 80's.
My Bloody Valentine are trying too hard to impress here and end up turning introvertly inside themselves.

Will give this some more spins but Slowdive are providing me far more enjoyment at the moment.

Next up: Ride.

Scorpions - Savage Amusement

The Armory Show 'Waiting for the Floods' (1985)



An overlooked record from a post-punk supergroup consisting of Richard Jobson and Russell Web from The Skids, with ex-Magazine members John Doyle and John McGeogh (then in-between The Banshees and PIL). This formation was a direct answer to Stuart Adamson's Big Country, with a similar take on widescreen, anthemic 80's Rock.

I vaguely remember having/hearing this at the time but it didn't leave a lasting impression. A surge of interest in The Skids, Big Country and the career of John McGeogh prompted me to get hold of it and it has surprised me by revealing itself to be a superb record of U2 / Simple Minds-style songs, immaculately performed and leaves one wondering why this wasn't a huge hit at the time.

This recent 2CD reissue on Cherry Red compiles almost all of The Armory Show's output in its short existence, interested audiophiles should also note that this is a prime example of a stunningly good remastering job with the SQ really showing off all aspects to their absolute best.

A lost treasure !

Metallica - 72 Seasons

Cabaret Voltaire 'Code' (1987)



I recall that this was panned by the critics when it came out as being a lightweight dancefloor pop disc from the one-time darlings of the experimental/industrial gloom-rock scene. The CD came up in a summer clearance sale and with my reawakened interest in the Cabs I thought 'what the hell?' and pressed 'buy'.

Cabaret Voltaire had been going since 1974 and by '87 had a pretty good grip on studio technology and their ability to create moods and atmospheres. Success (finally) allowed them to lighten up and spread their wings, finding themselves much-played in discos they decided to make an album for that market and 'Code' was the result.

Excellently produced with plenty of weird stereo-effects and pumping rhythms, 'Code' isn't the sellout album I had believed it to be, there is depth and intrigue here wrapped in a glossy production package. A logical step on from 'The Crackdown', 'Micro-Phonies' and 'Covenant'.

Maybe not essential but certainly enjoyable.

Scarlet Rebels - See through blue

Been going through some of my soul collection on vinyl and reviving some long unplayed albums:

The Trammps - "The legendary Zing Album" (1975)
Anita Baker - "Rapture." (1986)
Heatwave - "Too Hot To Handle" (1976)
Maze - "We Are One." (1983)
Shalamar - "Friends." (1983)
Lionel Ritchie - "Can't Slow Down." (1983)
Johnny Guitar Watson "A real Mother." (1977)
Funkadelic - "One Nation Under A Groove." (1978)
Brothers Johnson - "Blam!" (1978)
Leroy Hutson - "Closer To The Source" (1978)
Detroit Emeralds - "You Want It, You Got It" (1972)

Some fabulous tuneroonies among that little lot!.

SteveTheShadow wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:29 pm Been going through some of my soul collecting on vinyl and reviving some long unplayed albums:

The Trammps - "The legendary Zing Album" (1975)
Anita Baker - "Rapture." (1986)
Heatwave - "Too Hot To Handle" (1976)
Maze - "We Are One." (1983)
Shalamar - "Friends." (1983)
Lionel Ritchie - "Can't Slow Down." (1983)
Johnny Guitar Watson "A real Mother." (1977)
Funkadelic - "One Nation Under A Groove." (1978)
Brothers Johnson - "Blam!" (1978)
Leroy Hutson - "Closer To The Source" (1978)
Detroit Emeralds - "You Want It, You Got It" (1972)

Some fabulous tuneroonies among that little lot!.

Funkin marvellous, mate