On paper I shouldn't really like this record - Factory pretty much passed me by in the sense that I was't even in England for any of it, and when I came back here the 'classic' Manchester/Factory of the 80s was all over and the likes of Northside were firing up. By this time it seemed a hagiographic smokescreen was already in place for all things Factory, and objective viewpoints to any of it were difficult to find in a pre-internet age. It rendered any random delving into the label's supposedly 'incredible' albums something of a minefield quality-wise - for an outsider looking in (and dwelling in Manchester at the time) it was always difficult to work out which albums on Factory were definitely worth a look and which ones were possible tax write-offs.
This one thankfully falls into the former category, coming across like a more introverted Pet Shop Boys than plodding post-punk also-rans (the default Factory setting in my head), with distant vocals and a hazy layer of echo above masses of airy layered synths. At times singer Caesar sounds so doleful - even on the more upbeat songs like Talk About the Past, it comes as no surprise that after Factory fucked them around, barely promoted their record and the band had enough, they later signed to beloved Bristol C86 quietcore label Sarah records - a perfect fit alongside labelmates such as The Field Mice.
It's the perfect melancholic record to stick on when you've caught the nightbus back alone from an electro-indie night (invariably named after a The Normal b-side) and made yourself a plate of beans on toast - which you later throw at the wall, in tears. Which is a compliment, by the way - that's a coveted slot.
Wakefact: The band featured Bobby Gillespie on drums for a few short years before he went on to get on with the rest of his well-documented career.
The Wake - 'Talk About the Past'
This one thankfully falls into the former category, coming across like a more introverted Pet Shop Boys than plodding post-punk also-rans (the default Factory setting in my head), with distant vocals and a hazy layer of echo above masses of airy layered synths. At times singer Caesar sounds so doleful - even on the more upbeat songs like Talk About the Past, it comes as no surprise that after Factory fucked them around, barely promoted their record and the band had enough, they later signed to beloved Bristol C86 quietcore label Sarah records - a perfect fit alongside labelmates such as The Field Mice.
It's the perfect melancholic record to stick on when you've caught the nightbus back alone from an electro-indie night (invariably named after a The Normal b-side) and made yourself a plate of beans on toast - which you later throw at the wall, in tears. Which is a compliment, by the way - that's a coveted slot.
Wakefact: The band featured Bobby Gillespie on drums for a few short years before he went on to get on with the rest of his well-documented career.
The Wake - 'Talk About the Past'
Likely you've seen this, Van Zandt harshes on Gillespie.
ReplyDeleteHeh! I like the first 30 seconds where they couldn't find the volume control on the keyboards... oh no, here it comes again... I know what you mean though. PSB in a cave. With some club thump seeping through from above. And orange juice elbowing their way in to frantically jangle in the meantime. I really don't know what to think. Certainly sounds like you described it: Factory then Sarah. I'm almost old enough to remember Factory being good but it was all a bit tinny for my liking. And I don't know, maybe it's a bit too lively for beans throwing. I'll give it a go. Martin Hannett was shockingly overrated too. I imagine that may be seen as controversial but he couldn't produce for shit. Possibly.
ReplyDeleteI'm struggling to think of a Martin Hannet production that I think highly of.
ReplyDeleteESG maybe, but that was only because ACR finished their week's recording time 2 days early and let them have the spare 2 days to record you're no good/moody etc...
I saw hagiographic smokescreen in 1986 at the Ritz, they were terrible.
ReplyDeleteThey were no Crispy Ambulance.
ReplyDelete