BEST OF THE REST
Other new reissues out this month.
Lou Reed
Hudson River Meditation LITA
Those unimpressed by Lou Reed having been introduced to his work by Lulu should probably steer clear of this droning ambient (new to vinyl) ’07 swansong. It may offer inoffensive accompaniment to clips of crashing waves, but it’s no Metal Machine Music. 4/10
Various
You Can Walk Across It On The Grass GRAPEFRUIT
Subtitled The Boutique Sounds Of Swinging London, here’s another beautifully curated compendium of 60s-based yesterpop from the tireless Cherry Red stable. Three ace CDs of the kitsch, klassic and Kinks, it perfectly captures its era and more than does its job. 8/10
Various
Strength Thru Oi! CAPTAIN OI
The second collection showcasing the emerging Sounds-encouraged working-class street punk movement of ’81 was the most controversial. Its provocative cover, offensive title and inclusion of 4-Skins were all asking for trouble but poetry? Back again on coloured vinyl. 6/10
Suburban Studs Slam CAPTAIN OI
Of course, not every major could sign the Clash. Which is why WEA ended up with Birmingham’s SS: particularly unimaginative, derivative three-chord spear carriers; a poor man’s Eater. Extra-ed demos for debut Slam’s follow-up indicate why it never materialised. 4/10
Various
Patterns On The Window: The British Progressive Pop Sounds Of 1974 GRAPEFRUIT
Grapefruit’s triple, year-focused ‘Brit-prog-pop’ sets are steadily progressing through the 70s, and while far from definitive are prime examples of scattershot, memory-jerking fun. Roxy, Ronno, Rod, Fox, Feelgoods… 67 tracks, united only by their brilliance. A joy. 8/10
Kim Wilde
Love Blonde: The RAK Years CHERRY POP
She never looked like a blonde who was having much fun. USP? Pouting glumly while counting the hours until she could get back to the shed. Four CDs of nasal 80s belters, Kids, a lipsticky lyric book and, gulp, remixes. Chequered Love? Chequered past, more like. 6/10
Procol Harum
Shine On Brightly ESOTERIC
At prog’s genesis, its pioneers ventured down some curious paths, and while much of the Harum’s cross-pollination of Sarfend R&B with poetic neo-classical pomp works well on this re-vinyled ’68 second, cockles and cravats aren’t always the easiest of bedfellows. 6/10
Tim Blake
Crystal Presence CHERRY RED
A box of curios for Gong/Hawkwind completists, or a triptych of crucial missing links in the evolution of ambient electronica. However you carve it, these ’77 to ‘91 works from synth experimentalist Blake presaged EDM’s decidedly chilled-out near future. 7/10
Steamhammer Live REPERTOIRE
Two things to consider when faced with this four-CD (with excellent additional TV clips-tastic DVD) set: first, the sound quality across the live audio (’69-’72), though remastered, is still ‘archival’ at best; second, the Worthing-born heavy psych boogie is amply woogied. 6/10
Various
New Guitars In Town (Power Pop ’78-’82) CHERRY RED
Alongside all the usual punk/new wave/PP suspects: Boomtown Rats, Jam, Buzzcocks, Undertones (75 bands over three CDs), there’s a whole heap of stuff you’ve not already got. Why? Because it’s not terribly good. It’s not rubbish, but it won’t change your life. Next. 6/10
Neil Young With Crazy Horse Dume REPRISE
1975: purged of Tonight’s The Night, holed-up with producer David Briggs and an in-form Crazy Horse, Young’s on fire. Classics abound, too many for Zuma. This 16-track double vinyl all-analogue snapshot (previously CD-ed in Archives II) encapsulates a zenith. 9/10