Sunday, December 10, 2023

Song(s) of the Day # 3,585 East Village

 

One of those things that pops up from time to time. Generally coming to my notice through the advertising services of Rough Trade, that great resource for the likes of me looking to plug late gaps in their record collection.

So here are East Village one of the great 'didn't happen' bands of the late Eighties and early Nineties, and Drop Out, the record you need by them.  It's just been repackaged with liner notes from Jon Savage of all people, and is in the marketplace again. Initially release in 1993, a couple of years after the band split. 

Boasting a slightly incongruous cover with an 'it' girl sippng a drink at the edge of a sunlit pool..The greatest band to ever come out of Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire, though they may not have much competition.

In  the reviews I've read, while listening to the record, over the last few days, a few odd names have come up as reference points; Go Betweens, Felt, Weather Prophets. All guitar bands from the Eighties united by a common feature. They didn't have hit singles. Although maybe they did in the heads of people with record collections like mine who are still managing to kid themselves all these years later.

I liked the record a lot anyhow. It's one that deserves to be dusted down and given its moment in the sun once more. Indebted to The Byrds more than anything. East Village are The Stone Roses without the stellar rhythm section or the desire to dance. The Buckinghamshire La's.. A wonderful record.Well worth rediscovering, or more probably discovering for the first time.

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