Mesh - In This Place Forever LP (1996)

One of the Mesh back catalogue I've been attempting to track down at a reasonable price since hearing their most recent album a couple of years ago. In comparison to 'A Perfect Solution' however, this is a tad disappointing, but that's possibly because I had such high expectations. This is still a high quality, hard edged electro-pop album with a couple of classic sing-a-long tracks.

You can easily see how Mesh used their earlier albums as a stepping stone to perfect their sound and ultimately produce a near flawless album in 'Perfect Solution', but that's not to say this isn't a decent album in its own right. All the elements are here; the pulsing synth driven rhythms, the passionate deadpan vocals and the silky production skills, but it's just not quite the finished article. For some reason it also sounds a very British album where latter releases have had a distinctly German feel about them.

The pick of the tracks are the minimal trance vibe of 'Last Breath of You', the anthemic charm of 'I Don't Think They Know' and best of all, the apocryphal, multi-layered genius of 'You Didn't Want Me.' I can do with out the more industrial numbers, but the techno interludes are quite refreshing.

If you fancy a bit of Mesh for the first time, I'd advise starting with 'A Perfect Solution', but for the converted, this is well worth a listen if it's not too expensive.

5. REM - Electrolite

I've never been one for buying a band's albums as they are released and tend to enjoy jumping about and jumbling the order a little. In the case of REM however, I have tended to buy the albums in sequence and as such they have provided a rich soundtrack for the entirity of my adult life. As a teenager listening to 'Murmur', as a student listening to 'Document', looking for a job to 'Out of Time', getting married to 'Automatic for the People', becoming a dad to 'New Adventures in Hi-fi' and ultimately growing into middle age with 'Around the Sun'. I'm not sure what will happen now they've split up; I was hoping they'd go on forever like the Rolling Stones.

Considering REM have sold millions of albums and are guaranteed stadium fillers, it's surprising that I have never met anyone else who actually likes them. Maybe they just don't admit to it. REM always seem to have existed in their own bubble and have never been part of any scene or movement. For me they are the greatest folk-rock band and Michael Stipe has a voice I never get tired of listening to. They were influential, relevant and apart from 'Accelerate' never produced a duff album.

It's almost an impossible task to pick a single selection to sum up twenty-five years of REM, but in the end I've opted for 'Electrolite' from the chronically under-rated album, 'New Adventures in Hi-Fi'. I'll always remember Daughter of Doccortex being born and coming home and listening to this.

26. BT - Loving You More (Perfecto)

The 'Perfection' compilation on Perfecto Records changed my life in 1996. I'd got really disillusioned with the NME's constant championing of the next big thing and the inherent indie snobbery of what you could and couldn't like. I bought and loved 'Perfection', switched allegiances to Muzik magazine and spent the next three or four years in the world of dance music.

There seemed to be none of the beard stroking indie anorak preciousness in dance culture. Basically, you liked what you liked and nobody cared. Oakenfold could stick a bit of the pure-pop of Grace in the middle of his compilation and everyone thought it was great. A bit of trance, a little gospel, some house, a transvestite and a sprinkling of cheese, with the whole thing packaged and produced like a Disney spectacular.

I listened to the album over and over again at the time and still love it now. It was so fresh and different to the groups I was used to, it really revolutionised my thinking. It's just a shame I keep losing the CD. The BT track I've selected is trance with a deep house vocal and instantly transports me back to the nineties the second I hear it. Brian Transeau has never quite achieved his full potential for me, but this is as close as he came to perfection! Can you see what I've done there?

Various - Logical Progression Level 2 1996

What is it?

This is is a 2-disc Drum ‘n’ Bass affair from a variety of artists: Disc 1 is mixed by Blame with vocals added by MC Conrad and DRS, Disc 2 is different tracks, unmixed with no added extras.

Why should you listen?

I had this in my Walkman (it was 1996) for a full year and I listened to it every day on my way to work. I still listen to it from time to time and it’s still great. One of my top albums of all time. 

What’s it like?

If you like a bit of Drum ‘n’ Bass, then you’ll probably enjoy this. I’m going to mainly review Disc 1, as Disc 2 isn’t that great (apart from the excellent ‘Atlantis (I Need You)’ by LTJ Bukem). On my iTunes ratings the highest any of the tracks get is 3/5, but I can’t say I ever just listen to any individual track. Listened to as a whole, the album shines. It all gets off to a good start with ‘Visions of Mars’ by Blame himself. You get a variety of styles in the middle - all tied together by a clean, melodic sound - that slowly builds to Blu Mar Ten’s ‘Global Access’. The drums and bass drop out leaving you with some swirly pads and my favourite vocal passage of the album. Everything then kicks back in with Blame’s ‘Cuban Lynx’. I can’t overstate the difference that the vocals make to this album, without them it would be distinctly average.

What’s the best track?

From the two discs it would have to be the aforementioned ‘Atlantis (I Need You)’. A premium quality hook at the start that disappears for vast swathes of time in the middle, before punching back in. If you’ve got the time though (roughly an hour), it would have to be the whole of Disc 1.

Who does it sound like?

Because this is by various artists, I’ll just list a few of the artists included: Odyssey, Artemis, Intense and Tayla.

evlkeith

Shudder To Think - Funeral At The Movies & Ten Spot (1996)

What is it?

A compilation of two Shudder To Think albums from 1991 and 1990 respectively.

Why should you listen?

Craig Wedren has got a cracking voice on lead vocals even though he sometimes goes into high pitched falsetto mode. But that sounds great too. The songs are quite catchy, harmonious and poppy but they sometimes throw in an unexpected chord or rhythm to make sure it doesn’t get too commercial.

What’s it like?

Classed as post-hardcore but in truth they sound more like a rocked up Sarah band at times (‘Day Ditty’). At other times like a top pop combo (‘Crosstown Traffic’) and there are also hints of a Fugazi type sound (‘Rag’). Nothing too complicated though, just two guitars, bass, drums, vocal and vocal harmonies. No fanciness. These albums have certainly stood the test of time as I first listened to them in 1992. There’s a rather humourous story associated with my first listenings. I can remember playing the records (not on a gramophone though) in a freezing cold attic room in Hull. In winter, to sleep, I had to wear all my clothes, hat, gloves and have a sleeping bag under my duvet. Even then I got frostbite on my nose. (Yeah, great story. Can we move on now?)

What’s the best track?

‘Jade-Dust Eyes’ - just for the bizarre phrasing on the first line. Two minutes and six seconds long, but it is perfectly formed pop. Doesn’t outstay its welcome in the slightest.

Who does it sound like?

Dag Nasty, Velocity Girl, Bivouac.

Heavenly - Operation Heavenly LP 1996

The final Heavenly album and released on Wiija instead of Sarah. I had to pay big bucks to get this one and it was probably worth it, as this is a bouncy, fun bundle of girl based harmonies in slightly 'tougher than twee' pop songs.

Amelia Fletcher is the golden girl of the C86 era and can almost do no wrong, however this is far from a perfect album. There are 5 or 6 strong tracks here, but the rest are at best average and in the case of 'Ben Sherman,' awful. Focusing on the positive however; 'Trophy Girlfiend', 'K-Klass Kisschase', 'Mark Angel' and 'Fat Lenny' are all outstanding Heavenly songs touched with a bitter sweet dose of nostalgia for the mid 80's.

It has to be said that the lyrics could be stronger and more cutting in the vein of 'Atta Girl' but that's a small criticism as we were in the grip of Britpop when this was released. Well I guess everyone else was in the grip of Britpop, but for Evlkeith and DocCortex it was business as usual.

It's hard to know what to say about Heavenly. They are what they are. There are no surprises here and if you like their earlier stuff you'll like this too.

McCarthy - That's All Very Well, But LP 1996

I bought this to at least partially replace my vinyl McCathy albums which had become scratched and scuffed after many years of happy listening. It's an odd collection combining singles, rarities and peel session tracks and it's hard to see which audience it was aimed at. It's sad to say but many of the songs featured sound a little tired, dated and the lack of production doesn't help matters either. On the plus side the compilation does showcase a great band, some excellent political pop songs and is worth buying for 'Should the bible be banned' if nothing else. If you want to experience McCarthy at their peak however, purchase 'Banking Violence and the Inner Life' and 'I am a Wallet' instead.