The first impressions of this album- with its bizarre and slightly
ridiculous title (named after tourists who thought that people from Cardiff were called ‘Cardiffians’- get it?! Hilarious) corny album cover (filled with butterflies, and holiday snaps) and cheesy band pictures on the back (so 80s) doesn’t bode well.
But then, the penny drops. Not only is this a re-release from 1990 (hence the bad hair and dodgy cover art) Statton, a name which rings a bell, is no other than Alison Statton- the former lead singer of the influential Young Marble Giants.
‘Cardiffians’ is in-fact the second album from duo Ian Devine and Alison Statton, and sounds absolutely amazing. Statton’s voice is clear and sharp- cutting through the simple (and at times slightly cheesy) tunes, sending shivers down your spine. Each song is meticulously put together, from the gentle drumbeats to the melodic backing guitars.
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As this is a re-release some of the tracks do sound slightly dated, like ‘Fact Of Life’ with its echoing keyboard chords and saxophone solo, and previously unreleased ‘Take It Or Leave Me’ sounding like the theme tune to an early nineties cop show; but, it is this quaintness that helps give the album its charm.
‘Cardiffians’ comes with four bonus tracks, including previously unreleased songs and covers of some old ones. It’s a fantastic album, and it is definitely worth getting past the initial prejudice and preconceptions and let its songs grow on you, as they inevitably will!
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