That classy Liverpudlian outfit THIS FINAL FRAME never quite made the cut was always a mystery to this writer. Having spent pretty much all of the '80s in contention, they bequeathed one of THE great lost singles in the tense, noir-inflected 'The Diary' (1982) and sporadically followed it up with several fine further efforts ('Stories' and 'The Mask (Falls Away)' spring to mind) before finally petering out somewhere before the turn of the 90s.
Despite a lot of promise and an obvious welter of great songs, TFF never got around to making an official album, so it was a wonderful surprise for this writer when the band's long-time frontman Paul Skillen and his talented collaborator Carl Henry (also Half Man Half Biscuit drummer) got in touch with news of TFF re-entering the fray with their debut album 'My Blue Heart' after all these years.
The product of low-key songwriting sessions over a couple of years, 'My Blue Heart' was assembled gradually and with the emphasis on getting the songs right first and foremost and the good news is that it won't disappoint anyone who loved the band the first time round. Opening track 'Far From The Crowd' is a lush and ethereal delight with Skillen's charismatic, slightly Paul Haig-ish croon still right on target. The fact they've retained the brass that was an essential part of their original make-up is a good decision and Jim Short's cornet adds some great, British Sea Power-style touches.
A lengthy string of goodies follow through in its' wake. 'Crashing Down' is a bittersweet, beauty where Skillen knows that even against impossible odds ("you left this town with your heart intact/ head hung low and suitcase packed/ and I won't see another year with you") keeping on is the only option. 'Always', meanwhile, has a big, windswept sound akin to The Chameleons or maybe Levy, only with added blasts of cornet and 'Where Is The Love' marries synths, loops and a heady dance ability, though the jagged vibrato guitar figure acts as an edgy counterpart. Along with cathartic choruses 'The Love That Lies', it's one that could definitely do well as a single.
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Another really striking element of this new Final Frame is their desire to use woodwind. Thus, songs like 'Sound of The Waves' and the graceful 'Flowers In The Spring' are romantic, elemental pop of the first water and almost Pre-Raphaelite in design. Arguably this writer's favourite, though, is the closing 'The Ways of The World': a convincing pulling out of all the stops for the grand finale with chugging bass, fanfare trumpet and Henry's propulsive drumming all helping to meld a melancholic beauty New Order would be proud of. If they were still speaking.
Having thought they were long lost to the four winds of ill-fortune, it gives this writer an enormous feeling of well-being to know Messrs. Skillen and Henry have come in from the cold to open a new chapter in the saga of This Final Frame. 'My Blue Heart' is stuffed with songs of endurance, songs that still believe passionately and songs they can be proud to put their name to. Welcome back boys. It really has been far too long.
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