Day 0941 - The Last Broadcast

Doves "The Last Broadcast" (2002)

This one didn't really hit me on the first listen in the way their first album "Lost Souls" did.   It all just seemed a little less memorable.   It wasn't until I hit the track "N.Y." that it clicked for me.  The song has a nice groove overlaid with harmonised vocals that gets overrun with noise building to a crescendo and then bringing it back down to earth afterwards.   

 

The album really opened up for me after that.   The title track has a nice folk-rock feel to it, almost a bit like Fleet Foxes, but with a few spacey touches.   The last few tracks were solid too so I went back to the start and re-listened to the whole album which I now felt much more in tune with.

Similar kind of vibe to their previous album as far looped musical ideas with some nice vocals and vocal arrangements over the top.

Day 0667 - The La's

The La's "The La's" (1990)

 
There must be something about Liverpool.  This is a strong and competent pop album that reflects the passion for 1960s retro prevalent in the 90s.... actually, technically most of these songs were written in the 80s. 

The band had been trying to record the album for 3-4 years with 3-4 different producers and were never quite happy with any of these attempts.  The record company finally pushed for it to be released and the band (or at least songwriter Lee Mavers) was dissatisfied with the results, and didn't mind telling people.

Not sure what Mayers' problem was; it's great collection of concise pop songs.  The main frame of reference is early-to-mid-era Beatles played through a 1990s filter.  The most instantly recognisable song is "There she goes", and surely there can't be too many people in the western world who haven't heard it, due to its radio play and extensive use in film and tv.  The rest of the album is hardly filler though, with memorable upbeat pop tracks, the vaguely musichall "Freedom song" and the glorious "Looking glass" that starts off simple but builds to noisy-yet-melodic crescendo.  

Day 0620 - 16 Lovers Lane

The Go-Betweens "16 Lovers Lane" (1988)

Referred to in some quarters as 'the Indie "Rumours"' because romantic relationships within the band were ending (singer/songwriter Robert  Forster and drummer Lindy Morrison) and just taking off (singer/songwriter Grant McLennan and violinist Amanda Brown).  In amongst this changing and potentially volatile dynamic, their bass-player had also left and been replaced.

The album reflects that landscape, with a mix of upbeat pop songs and dole-drum laments.  The band broke up following this album (but reformed several years later).   The songs aren't terrible, but honestly, I listened to the album about 4 times in a row, and aside from vaguely recognising one or two songs when they came back around, it mostly just didn't feel like any of it was memorable enough to stick with me.

Day 0532 - Welcome to the Pleasuredome

Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" (1984)

Much more than just "Relax".   Produced by gloss pop maestro Trevor Horn (ABC, Spandau Ballet and Malcolm McLaren's Duck Rock), this album takes that gloss and rubs it in the smutty dirt.

The album manages to deliver some catchy pop while also delving into sonic experimentation such as on the meandering cover of "War" or the sprawling, bouncy epic "Welcome to the Pleasuredome".

Elsewhere the album has fairly loyal covers of Bacharach/David's "Do you know the way to San Jose" and Springsteen's "Born to run".  It's a bit of a musical smorgasbord and I'd happily listen to it again.  Might even pick up a copy at some point.

Fun fact: the band's name was taken from an entertainment headline regarding Frank Sinatra.

Day 0506 - The Dreaming

Kate Bush "The Dreaming" (1982)

Kate Bush was a hot property with the success of "Wuthering Heights"...unfortunately this album didn't do quite as well as that release.   It's a shame because this album pushes the boat out; presenting interesting and experimental music that still has a foot well and truly in the pop world.   If I was going to go past and future on this, it sounds like it's drawing on a little of the 70s-era Sparks, but also sounds as though it has gone on to influence artists as varied as Tori Amos, Camille, Florence and the Machine and Marina and the Diamonds... on top of that, it was also cited as an influence by Big Boi from Outkast, and Björk.

The album features a range of instrumentation that includes tribal percussion, Celtic fiddles, backwards vocals, drum machines and even a bazouki.  The music is quirky, interesting and varied, and the album rightfully gained prestige as the years passed.