Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Label: LTM Recordings
Cat No.: LTMLP 2549
Format: Vinyl – Black Vinyl with Bonus CD
Matrix/Stampers: BC92162 01 A1 v+, BC92162 01 A1 v+
A lost album of the Post-Punk era
Quite why Scotland’s Josef K decided not to release this album is a complete mystery. The official story is that they thought it sounded too polished compared to their live sound. It’s a common misconception. Joy Division were reportedly very unhappy with Unknown Pleasures for the same reason and look how that turned out.
Presented here as a nicely packaged (apart from the clear vinyl of earlier versions which is a shame) shrink wrapped album containing the LP and a CD of the Art TV (their original name) demo’s, you can’t help feeling that this could have been their Marquee Moon.
Originally recorded for Postcard Records, the band decided to scrap it and release an album they’d recorded in Belgium with Les Disques Crepuscule. The thinking was that the recordings in Belgium were more representative of their live sound and resulted in the album The Only Fun In Town.
Paul Haig’s angular discordant guitar shines. He knew perfectly how to play all the wrong notes at the right time, giving them the distinctive sound pioneered by bands like Television and Husker Du.
There are no bad tracks on here and Sense of Guilt, Citizens, Variation of Scene, Terry’s Show Lies standing out along with the title track which if extended could have been their seminal track meandering along with Haig’s quirky but absorbing playing. Like The Comsat Angels and The Sound their influence lives on as a sort of lasting homage to their brevity.
The bonus CD of Art TV demo’s is marred by the use of a keyboard/synth that sounds like it was a Casio bought from Woolworth’s but there are still gems on here such as Romance and Sense of Guilt that compensate for the unbearable Chance Meeting.
4.1 out of 5.0 stars
Available from LTM Recordings
