THE CHAMELEONS' second LP, "WHAT DOES ANYTHING MEAN? BASICALLY" had a lengthy and rather fraught incubation period; the band's legal stalemate with the STATIK label causing its' delay until the summer of 1985, almost two long years after "Script Of The Bridge" saw the light of day.
Nonetheless, housed in another suitably gorgeous sleeve by guitarist Reg Smithies, "...Basically" contained (and still does!) riches galore, more than confirming the impression that this is a band you can take to your heart without fear of future disappointment.
Since the album's release, I've been regularly regaled by mutual friends enthusing about "...Basically" as a particularly special moment in THE CHAMELEONS history and while I wouldn't necessarily subscribe to it as their absolute "best" album (it has stiff competition in the present and future now!), it undoubtedly bleeds both wonderful, emotionally-charged rock'n'roll and an addictive, mystery-laden atmosphere all its' own.
The band decamped to Highland Studios, north of Inverness in early 1985 to lay the songs down, once again with producer/ sound engineer Colin Richardson, plus in-house engineer (and later TINDERSTICKS collaborator) Ian Caple, and although there was an element of friction between the band and Richardson during the sessions, the end result is an unqualified artistic success.
I must admit initially to having been a mite disappointed that there weren't more sledgehammer thrills in the vein of "Don't Fall" at the time (only the full-frontal riffing of "Return Of The Roughnecks" has that immediacy), but subsequently the greater poise and maturity of "...Basically"s songs has only added to its' longevity.
Opening with the strings overture of the instrumental "Silence, Sea And Sky", "...Basically" is soon ushered into more familiar territory by Reg and Dave's gorgeous guitars introducing "Perfumed Garden" - a perennial favourite, with Mark's echo-sodden vocals embracing the past and gazing uncertainly into the future.
Following this there are three songs already firmly established as live favourites in the live CHAMELEONS set prior to these sessions. Indeed, they are a mighty triumvirate. "Intrigue In Tangiers" is both bracing and deeply poignant; "Return Of The Roughnecks" - driven by Reg's see-sawing riffs - is a real, no-nonsense clarion call and, of course, "Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)", Mark's reaction to a Britain gone, as he so accurately puts it "Conservatively Mad", with a snatch of THE BEATLES' "She Said She Said" sung over the outro to ram the point home.
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The album's second half is maybe a tad less anthemic, but positively reeks of the class and mystery we so proudly equate with THE CHAMELEONS. "On The Beach" - fuelled by some deliciously floaty lead guitar from Dave - hugs its' yearning romantic feelings close to its' chest, whilst the relentlessly personal "Looking Inwardly" opens with rolling drums and settles into a nagging mid-paced groove that really digs under your skin with repeated exposure.
"One Flesh" is another great example of the proud, upfront CHAMELEONS sound, though it boasts a gentle and undeniably moving epilogue. The two real killers, though, are the closing two tracks, "Home Is Where The Heart Is" and "P.S Goodbye". The first of these (Mark's favourite on the LP) is uttterly steeped in enigma and haunting string machine. Rhythmically dextrous (Mark and John turn in sterling performances) it's complex, affecting and quite possibly one of the best things they've done. "P.S Goodbye", meantime, is a beautiful, slightly melancholic confessional kiss-off, bowing out on an angelic "la-la-la" coda. Seriously lovely.
"What Does Anything Mean? Basically" revels in a handsome, windswept sound that resonates and pulls you into its' heart every bit as easily as it did in the dark days of 1985. Seventeen years on, you certainly won't want to resist.
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