This is a double album of previously unreleased material by BOB who were a busy indie band between 1986 and 1995, who although I think I saw them, made very little impression on me back then, which considering how good the unreleased material is may have been a sin of omission on my part. The First disc was written and recorded over 5 days in 1992. The second disc is a collection of the bands favorite demo's recorded between 1988-94.
The album opens with Telepathy a song that musically reminds me of Billy Bragg's Sexuality while not being quite as catchy lyrically it is a cool song about telegraphing a partner's behavior and how it makes you feel.
Say You're Alone is a slightly folk indie pop love song to the one they left at home while on tour and they hope they are still alone when they get back home.
That's What Tomorrow Brings is neo-psychedelic power pop and we can all guess where they lifted the song's title from.
Round is a far more raucous indie rocker that reminds me of Spitfire's Translucent EP that came out in 1991. Now is bright breezy indie pop tale of a need for Love and the chameleon like tendencies of a friend.
Sundown has a nice doomy feel to the bass and drums as it feels like a psych-rock epic of despair and mental anguish the sort of song that turns up on rare psych compilations.
Plastic sounds ahead of the game as they are describing their thoughts about someone who would now be considered a plastic, in a way I can't recall anyone doing in the early 90's, but Yeah Plastic Soul is what they've got a great indie tune that would have done well if it had come out in the early 90's.
She's Something Like Me has a feel a bit like Five Thirty circa the Air Conditioned Nightmare one of those building indie riffs that would have set the right sort of crowd off at somewhere like Club Silver back in the day.
Green Pepper Feast is good and bouncy adrenal charged indie pop with I hate to use the term a good Britpop edge and not in an Oasis way.
Queen Of Sheba Is a song of lust for someone in a relationship with someone else and the lust and desire they feel for her, it sounds like they are singing about a well-known woman around the scene who they are afraid will destroy them as easily as seduce them.
Plastered In Paris could easily describe one night I had the first time I went to Paris in 89, and any song that reminds me of any of the times I've been plastered In Paris, is all right with me, this is coolly seductive ready for the streets of Monmartre and Saint Sulspice.
Don't Kid is the slowest mellowest song on the album very stripped back song of betrayal and heartbreak and deceit. Until Halfway through it suddenly goes all prog rock freak out almost a game of two halves.
The first disc concludes with I Must Need Some Sleep in a hazy lazy slightly somnambulant plod towards beddy byes and he's all sad that you are not there to get in bed with him, poor guy, he will have to cry himself to sleep.
|
The second disc of demo's opens with Long May We Increase and speaking as someone not familiar with the finished version I have nothing to compare it too. A rather catholic sounding indie pop song that does feel like its missing something.
Too Far Down is the sort of indie tune I'd expect to hear on the Gary Crowley show back in the late 80's early 90's, almost the sound of the Bull & Gate in Kentish town love the guitar part.
STP is it about the Oil or the band or something else entirely like some drug trip hallucination in similar territory to The Razorcuts.
When The Saints is a fairly fey Benny Profane style slice of indie pop heartache. Helvetia is a slow gentle love song with a slight country tinge to it.
On Your Side has gently brushed drums and is a bit Stephen Tin Tin Duffy gentle pop wistfulness. Buy Me A Barstool is a plea to be a full-time drinker with some great organ and guitar this is a damn fine tune.
There She Was and she wasn't walking down the street, no she was on his screen and he is getting totally obsessed in a Five Thirty/Spitfire kind of way.
Shoot is a super short acoustic song looking forward to the fact that one day he might feel like shooting you!
207 isn't about a bus ride as far as I can tell, being more of a laid-back gentle indie strum with some surreal lyrical turns. Jehovah bears witness to the bands love of a great guitar part and a catchy tune with some nice gospel tinged organ.
Hanging On feels like a late-night apology for another indiscretion or two gently chilled out and a tiny bit pleading. Thunderfeet is a full-on stomp around throw a hissy fit and have an argument on a bile ridden song for the parting of the ways.
Turn that Racket Down is not what anyone should be shouting at BOB for anything on this album let alone this song about a line I've had shouted at me loads over the years, this is a nice woozy indie song about the hyper critical intolerant music haters we all meet.
The album closes With Before A Fool a wistful Prefab Sproutish fey indie pop song that gently gets it's point across before you realize what they are dreaming about.
Find out more at https://opticnerverecordings.com/products/copy-of-bob-you-can-stop-that-for-a-start-cd-pre-order?variant=31688197341295
|
