And so we come to the album of the week. Blueboy existed in
the late 80’s/early 90’s and their records mostly came out on Sarah Records.
Sarah was a Bristol label that majored in C86/twee indie type stuff. And at the
time the lot of ‘em annoyed me considerably. Mainly because of what I reckoned
were their hugely unoriginal attempts at recreating early Aztec Camera records
without a fraction of the talent.
But then I chanced upon this album, and I changed my
opinion, and opened my mind a bit. And like this was when I was in my forties –
crazy stuff.
Blueboy formed in Reading and were led by singer Keith Girdler
and guitarist Paul Stewart, who wrote the songs ala a latter day Morrissey/Marr
partnership (yes, that used to annoy me about them as well). After a couple of
singles they released this, their debut album in 1992. I have to confess I have no
real idea what the music press response was to it, or how successful it was
sales-wise etc…or whether it was particularly influential. But when I heard it
over 10 years late, I loved it to bits. And still do. In fact playing it this
time round, I think I like it even more. In fact I think I will run away with
it, to a desert island, and shit.
The lyrics are wistful, elegiac and yet have a sly humour
poking through now and again. Paul Stewart’s guitar playing flits between
gentle picking and tremolo’d major 7th and 6th chords to the chorus-pedalled
thrashing at the end of closing track Amoroso. The perfect accompaniment to Girdler’s
delicate voice, often backed by cellist Gemma Townlet’s airy vocals,
reminiscent of Wendy Smith, but not really like the Sprouts at all. Honest.
Agghh – I am gonna have to play it again. It’s beautiful.
PS Keith Girdler sadly passed away in 2007. I need to find out more about him and his band.
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