by Vinyl301 -

Momus: Tender Pervert

Folder

Creation 1988. CRELP 036 CD

Discogs

Momus is the Greek god of satire and mockery, an apt name for Nick Currie’s musical persona which reached its most satisfying expression on this, his third album.  It’s lyrically complex, dealing with death, ravished innocence, and on this album particularly, anger about the Thatcher government’s attitude towards homosexuality in the wake of the AIDS crisis.  In fact so angry was the (straight) Currie about this that the album was originally called The Homosexual, changed only when Creation boss Alan McGee pointed out it would make distribution difficult.

The lyrics on this album are immensely entertaining.  They’re twisted, witty stories dealing with all manner of socially unacceptable subjects very much in the vein of Serge Gainsbourg.  Later Momus albums were made, at least for me relatively unlistenable by his use of irritating DIY electropop backing.  Yes, the pastiche of the Pet Shop Boys was effective, but, well, he wasn’t very good at it.  On this album though the backing works much better with the material.

I was going to say much more about it, but I came across this on Momus’s web site which is Currie revisiting his own work a long time after the event. It makes for a really interesting read, and is certainly more worthwhile than anything I might say.

This is the original Creation CD issue. I also have the first vinyl pressing, which I’m certainly not going to rip, but it did come with an interesting bonus 7″ which I’ll post. Like so much else, it’s held up by turntable problems.

by Vinyl301 -

Hypnotone: Dream Beam

R-180889-1257689853

Creation 1990.  CRESCD 082

Discogs

Creation’s brief dalliance with dance music wasn’t entirely successful, but this single, their first dance release is an exception I think.  I suppose Alan McGee’s self belief must have had a boost when his jangly indiepop signing Primal Scream created the whole indie/dance crossover thing, but it was obvious his ear was attuned to guitar bands and not much else.

Hypnotone were Tony Martin (who did production work for Primal Scream and The Lilac Time) and Martin Mittler (of Intestella) .   This was retro even in 1990 with its minimalist synth sounds, but otherwise very much of its time, and apparently, a Balearic classic.

They did a handful of singles and, surprisingly a couple of albums, none of which are now available.  They did do a rather fine remix of Primal Scream’s Come Together though which is on the double version of the Dirty Hits compilation.

by Vinyl301 -

Primal Scream, Irvine Welsh & On-U Sound: The Big Man And The Scream Team Meet The Barmy Army Uptown

irvine

Creation 1996.  crescd 194

Discogs

A marriage made in heaven, this.  Primal Scream are absolutely at their peak, Irvine Welsh is the author of Trainspotting and I’ve been nuts about On-U ever since their bargain Pay It All Back sampler tempted me into the world of dub for the first time.

What we have is classic Primal, dubbed up by On-U with Welsh reading from Trainspotting over the top, made for the European Cup in 1996.  Of the three versions, it’s only the first which is really essential listening.

It wasn’t the only time On-U got involved with football – under the moniker The Barmy Army  they did a album full of football crowd samples called The English Disease.  If the useless slacker sorting my phono stage ever finishes it, I’ll rip my vinyl copy and post it here.  In the meantime, it’s CDs only I’m afraid.

I can’t imagine anyone needs further recommendations for Primal Scream, but just in case, Screamadelica is the one to have, but I also like Xtrmntr and their pretty decent attempt to be Exile On Main St era Stones on Give Out But Don’t Give Up.  Yes, I know most people hate that one, but I’m not most people.

by Vinyl301 -

Trashmonk: Mona Lisa Overdrive

Folder

Creation 1999. CRECD 212

Discogs

I don’t recall buying this, but I know very well how it happened.  I spotted it in a bargain bin, was attracted by the artwork, noticed it was on Creation and shelled out, probably a quid for it.  By the time I got home the interest had passed and I doubt I played it more than once, maybe never.  Maybe I wasn’t in the mood that day.

Anyway, fast forward a decade or so, and I’m ripping all my CDs so that I can play them on a streamer, and I come across this.  Curiosity piqued, I google it, and it turns out to be interesting.  Trashmonk is Nick Laird-Clowes, better known to me at least as The Dream Academy, whose Life In A Northern Town  I remember being fond of.  Curiosity piqued further, I play it and I’m hooked.  What was I thinking all those years ago?

This guy is much older than you’d think.  He hung out with John Lennon when he was recording Imagine, presented The Tube with Paula Yates and did stuff with Pink Floyd (well no-one’s perfect I suppose).  There’s also the inevitable drugs + rehab back story involving time in India.

This album, released on Creation in 1999 and again on Poptones (another Alan McGee label) in 2001 clearly had catastrophic sales.  Musically it’s exactly what you’d expect given his life story.  The song writing is quite folky, but superimposed on it is eastern instrumentation, especially tablas and all sorts of techie stuff.  OK, that sound a bit like a dog’s breakfast but it really isn’t; the whole thing hangs together very well, underpinned by strong songwriting.

There are rumours of a second album in the pipeline, but nothing’s appeared yet.