Cult Figures have returned, rather swiftly for them, for the bands fourth album since forming in Birmingham in 1977, Reports Of People comes just three years since Between Us And Heaven came out. The re-animated Cult Figures have remained the same since the last album and are still Stuart McFadden, Frasier Gillespie, Stuart Hilton, Steve May and Jon Hodgson. They went back and once again recorded the album at Woodbine Street Studios with John Rivers behind the desk.
The album bursts to life with Music Of Fear a very 2026 song title, about the fears of anyone scrimping and saving to get by in these straitened times, will it be death by a thousand cuts with cool harmony backing vocals, over the quirky alternative psychedelic backing, with echoes of Tom Verlaine, while they prepare to murder the boss, take your pick which boss. They just want a voice that's heard more than their last blue-sky post.
The Abductee is the memories and reflections of someone whose returned from being abducted by Aliens, he loved the experience, they were nice peaceful people who treated him well, the opposite of how we portray them, this has great weird sci-fi imagery, dove tailing guitars whipping up a melodramatic space storm, return to earth synths set to stun.
Death Of A Thousand Cuts is a scorched earth end of a romance, he just wants you out the door, but you're still trying to tape all his albums before he goes, He'll no longer make your porridge for you, amidst the tribal drumming and redolent downhearted guitars chasing you out the door.
Legacy Hand isn't about an artist who is signed to a label for legacy reasons, jangling guitars and splintered memories of everything that happened, your life turning to tumbleweed, like you don't have enough back catalogue to be that Legacy Hand, still earning an annual salary from that one huge hit.
Dangerous Boy sounds like he was a Mod in a classic tonic suit and Crombie coat, menacing air of the sort of Skin who would as soon give you a Glasgae kiss as shake youse hand, this tale unfolds over laid back harmonies, with wallflower indie backing, asking the thug lives with himself in the dead of night.
Walking Disaster sounds like a Razorcuts style indie pop hit with a mod edge, perfect for a sing along live, no matter they can't figure out who they are, this just sounds like it needs to be heard live.
Rose Bucket is a love song for a man who never gives his lovers flowers, who then meets a girl called Rose, she asks him how to get to Bromley, well if you have too I can tell you that. A wonderful psyche pop classic for anyone who doesn't mind going south of the river.
Space Invader has come armed with jangling guitars and sweet harmonies for your very own Darth Vader, dragging you off to space with that dust, you will have to practise your harmonies if you want any chance of beating him.
Badly In Love they ought to know better, but she has him totally smitten, so bad he is working on those Beach Boy vocal harmonies again, swooning 60's sunshine psychedelia begging her for more, no matter how badly she mistreats you.
The albums main single Lunatic Friend is someone we all know, urgent clattering on the edges of insanity indie pop, buzzing guitars, buzzing in his head, shouted vocals and thoughts of one or two of my Lunatic Friends who ended up being locked up, this goes out to Secrets and Dominic.
The album closes with Scum takes them back to childhood and being taken to a childhood club that had a religious edge, they couldn't take, the friend goes on to become a cop, he will always be Scum to them, diversion back to the old home town, a chorus perfect for a video of various American politicians.
Find out more at https://cultfigures.bandcamp.com/album/prelp-10-reports-of-people https://www.facebook.com/CultFigures
