tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83238801185308213612024-02-20T16:53:43.550+00:00NothingManchester band The DistractionsThe Distractionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13293736773433555700noreply@blogger.comBlogger443125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-65007178011252982992020-12-21T16:42:00.004+00:002020-12-21T16:42:59.690+00:00Nearly perfect<p style="text-align: justify;">Continuing our round-up of all the reviews we've seen for the Nobody's Perfect reissue, this one from A. S. Van Dorston was an early review over on the <b><a href="https://fastnbulbous.com/distractions-nobodys-perfect/"><i>Fast n'n Bulbous</i></a></b> website. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-jbAwd265yJmgPafm5a49SMTsD4ieDtA2OQo6FvlkBn8U7CgZvEQy86eusPGSnfjvm4Uw_D81YSQAuFsgk9jhelprsMa6E-d5ymBUtnKTWRQa1jfgLglJ7umNWzK2lkDToHIdRtFAPY/s325/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="99" data-original-width="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-jbAwd265yJmgPafm5a49SMTsD4ieDtA2OQo6FvlkBn8U7CgZvEQy86eusPGSnfjvm4Uw_D81YSQAuFsgk9jhelprsMa6E-d5ymBUtnKTWRQa1jfgLglJ7umNWzK2lkDToHIdRtFAPY/s320/logo.png" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Distractions – Nobody’s Perfect (Island/Occultation, 1980)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Talk about a long road to recognition. I first learned about <b>The Distractions</b> when they released their reunion album The End Of The Pier in 2012, which I mentioned in my <i><a href="https://fastnbulbous.com/the-greatest-post-punk-bands-you-never-heard/">The Greatest Post-Punk Bands You Never Heard</a></i> piece the next year. Their 1980 debut Nobody’s Perfect, despite being released on Island alongside the debut from <b>U2</b>, <b>Grace Jones</b>’ Warm Leatherette and <b>The Buggles</b>, was a lost classic because the band broke up by 1981 after lack of success, and the album was deleted and all but erased from history aside from a tantalizing entry in the Trouser Press Record Guide, which said the band had an “abnormally broad palette,” their eclecticism drawing on “everything from Chuck Berry to Phil Spector to psychedelia — often within the same song — and the vocals tend to be more somber than carefree.”</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Formed in Manchester in 1975 with '60s mod, soul and garage influences, they were later inspired by the <b>Buzzcocks </b>to evolve toward a unique hybrid sound of Motown, garage psych, power pop and post-punk. After recording the <b>Ramones</b>-ish You’re Not Going Out Dressed Like That EP in 1978 , they released the “Times Go By So Slow” single on Factory records, arguably one of the best the label ever released. They had already signed to Island before the single was released, and put out two more singles, “It Doesn’t Bother Me” and “Boys Cry” before releasing Nobody’s Perfect. Island seemed to have dropped the ball so they released three final tracks on the And Then There’s EP on Rough Trade in April 1981, and broke up. While fellow Mancunians Buzzcocks, <b>Joy Division</b> and <b>The Fall </b>would become legends, The Distractions were simply lost.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU62aTFmZQAZ6VH37UG5Vnx12anAnQqevQudFUyPdfbXdw8Cl-J9bJ4KTM_mgOHpAwH8YOXlzQ6qpKyjbXEwZtllyu8U-60ovhjOsVs7VLjtmy0G1s9BwHPOB36olitWYN0XgGPUzCGE/s769/distractions-nobodys-2020-768x769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU62aTFmZQAZ6VH37UG5Vnx12anAnQqevQudFUyPdfbXdw8Cl-J9bJ4KTM_mgOHpAwH8YOXlzQ6qpKyjbXEwZtllyu8U-60ovhjOsVs7VLjtmy0G1s9BwHPOB36olitWYN0XgGPUzCGE/s320/distractions-nobodys-2020-768x769.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In 2016, it was announced that HiddenMasters would reissue the album, singles and demos as a box set called Parabolically Yours by the next year, but it didn’t happen. Fortunately it was announced last year a crowd funded joint effort between Occultation Recordings and Man In The Moon Records would finally make it happen. The CD and LP will be available March 20, but early funders are already receiving it, and it’s in my sweaty eager hands right now. It appears you can stream or buy the original 14 track album (remastered) on Bandcamp now, but need to order the CD or record to get the bonus demos, EPs, singles and bonus remixed version.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After years listening to a shitty vinyl MP3 rip, it’s a glorious experience hearing the remaster. While the original recording was flawed (so much so that fan and eventual member Nick Halliwell vowed to remix it if given the chance, which he did, on disc 2, tracks 13-26), I’m not one for revisionist history, however, and while the remix is meatier and brings other elements more up front, I prefer the more spindly, ethereal feel of the original. A great example is the opening track “Waiting For Lorraine,” which starts with a guitar riff similar to <b>Blue Oyster Cult</b>’s Byrdsian “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” before launching in a more up-tempo pace that’s poppy yet haunting. Elsewhere, staccato keyboards recall 1977-79 era Elvis Costello & The Attractions, new wave synths on “Sick And Tired,” and the post-Motown pop soul cover of <b>Eden Kane</b>’s 1964 “Boys Cry” is given some grit with Mike Finney’s textured, soulful vocals. The stop and stop riffs at the beginning of “Leave You To Dream” could easily be a <b>Vampire Weekend</b> song before sailing into a melodic organ-driven gem combining mod pop and <b>Felt</b>. “Looking For A Ghost” is truly spectral, featuring an eerie orchestral choir that Brian Wilson would have been have proud to have arranged. The lovely, languid piano intro makes you think “Valerie” will end the album slipping gently into the night. No chance of that, as within 20 seconds, it explodes into a frenetic, riotous pop punk tune.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtq4IDYmmQEKC_r3OR-8EG8sLGAD35VdFCl9Coec5kk0LZ9aV5xa52OcfIdON2_0nJHl3faq5XhQ3ir9KVGX94zQ_UKPtePZDEnfsA2oJ1WAIgMsF6PfTzrzBANTStnCUqA3R2C3CJXE/s768/distractions-nobodys-perfect-2-768x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtq4IDYmmQEKC_r3OR-8EG8sLGAD35VdFCl9Coec5kk0LZ9aV5xa52OcfIdON2_0nJHl3faq5XhQ3ir9KVGX94zQ_UKPtePZDEnfsA2oJ1WAIgMsF6PfTzrzBANTStnCUqA3R2C3CJXE/s320/distractions-nobodys-perfect-2-768x576.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I can understand why the album fell between the cracks. Some moments it would appeal to fans of <b>The Jam</b> or <b>The Last</b>, but others would confound them. Ideally the band would have been nurtured by their label for three or four releases to gain converts to their unique style. The band did eventually record more, with two EPs in 2010, then The End Of The Pier (2012) and Kindly Leave The Stage (2017), which sound completely different. But now we finally have the definitive, exhaustive version (if you order the CD or LP — the download is only the original 14 tracks) of the debut that’s of its time, out of time, and nearly perfect</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">(C) <a href="https://fastnbulbous.com/author/admin/">A. S. Van Dorston</a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-91407082939362542322020-12-02T20:56:00.002+00:002020-12-02T20:56:52.573+00:00Nobody's Perfect, but this reissue is - Louder Than War<div style="text-align: justify;">This is the second half of Ian Canty's review of the Nobody's Perfect 2CD reissue at <i><b><a href="https://louderthanwar.com/the-distractions-nobodys-perfect-album-review/">Louder Than War</a></b></i>, which covers the all the bonus tracks. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhymbWlLVyv7k4zJUAkdSmvwy-gpkYVvm-PuWMnChIcZR14FI4A7mVpb4zwlMQo5uOz2ptthrptrwv0pxYYNm0JuGIVod8ahwosnLxRr2PU0ZdhDtYg5iomCN27zSEpkRt-vaXm5NeGMs/s475/louder-than-war-logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhymbWlLVyv7k4zJUAkdSmvwy-gpkYVvm-PuWMnChIcZR14FI4A7mVpb4zwlMQo5uOz2ptthrptrwv0pxYYNm0JuGIVod8ahwosnLxRr2PU0ZdhDtYg5iomCN27zSEpkRt-vaXm5NeGMs/s320/louder-than-war-logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Distractions – Nobody’s Perfect</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By Ian Canty</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>The rest of the selections here are made up of their Island singles, the 'And Then There’s…' EP issued on That Records in 1981 after they left Chris Blackwell’s empire and a compilation cut <i>Leave Me </i>(produced by the great Richard Strange). Kingpin Steve Perrin had left the band after the exit from Island and was replaced by Arthur Kadmon (ex-Ludus). The EP in particular offers a tantalising glimpse into how The Distractions could have thrived as the 1980s went on. The horns added to <i>Ghost Of A Chance </i>work well, as Mike Finney was always a soul singer in truth, the R&B flavour suits the band ideally. <i>Love Is Not For Me</i> has some great funk jabs and <i>Leave Me</i> shows the subtle craft of The Distractions was still in full effect.</div><div><br /></div><div>Disc two here goes under the title of 'Ride Your Ideas Ragged', which seeks to gather up all demos, the early singles from the band 1978-80, plus a new remix of the album by Nick Halliwell. By sidestepping any unwise modernisation, he has done wonders. Instead he subtly brings up different elements up in the sound and gently adds small but necessary fills. What he presents here a new and thrilling alternative to the 1980 mix, exposing hidden layers. This spotlights Mike’s excellent voice, but also gives a different perspective too – you can finally see the sense of Nick Stewart’s pursuit of Gary Usher (producer of The Beach Boys) to helm 'Nobody’s Perfect' hearing the harmony vocals on <i>Leave You To Dream</i>, or properly hear some neat bass runs on <i>(Stuck In A) Fantasy</i>. Mike Finney’s voice is given pride of place and this mix also offers clear perspective of the instrumental prowess at work. It all gels together wonderfully well.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_qiWofSpGKqE5IKVv5ILIKpBMhJanQxUIHXwZRKnJR_kAghAh6n4Cp868ZyLcZDa4QLNJMDWRxHBzVwltOJcvWDXf3NTAL4Cs-dZEdI7JY1AQAky-xvKYUVaU6gMuDJy4LPAewgBG6U/s1200/NP2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1198" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_qiWofSpGKqE5IKVv5ILIKpBMhJanQxUIHXwZRKnJR_kAghAh6n4Cp868ZyLcZDa4QLNJMDWRxHBzVwltOJcvWDXf3NTAL4Cs-dZEdI7JY1AQAky-xvKYUVaU6gMuDJy4LPAewgBG6U/s320/NP2020.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Apart from the remix, there’s a lot of fun to be had on their early punky demos, with the ratty sound of the first version of <i>Pillow Fight</i> a real winner. The <i>Time Goes By So Slow</i> single, as noted above, never ages and the TJM EP finds the band limbering up the gifts at their disposal nicely. No wonder Tony Wilson jumped in. </div><div><br /></div><div>'Nobody’s Perfect' didn’t make the kind of mark it should have and as a consequence has remained sadly unavailable until now. This reissue is sorely needed and the booklet meets the standard set by the musical contents. Ex-NME writer, novelist and long-term advocate of the band David Quantick provides an excellent sleeve-note to set the scene and Nick Stewart explains his crucial relationship with the band. Nick Halliwell also tells us about the remix, which rounds off a fine collection.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happily The Distractions sprang back into life in the 21st century and have since supplied us with two great belated follow-up LPs in 'The End Of The Pier' and 'Kindly Leave The Stage', from 2012 and 2017 respectively. I caught them live a year or two back and they were just brilliant, with Finney’s voice still a thing of beauty and the new version of the band spot on (see <a href="https://louderthanwar.com/distractions-27th-january-2018-dublin-castle-london-live-review/" target="_blank">here</a> for more). I would urge you to check them out live as you really wouldn’t want to miss the chance of seeing the songs featured here done justice, would you? Nobody’s Perfect maybe, but this reissue is.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b>(c) Ian Canty at <i><a href="https://louderthanwar.com/the-distractions-nobodys-perfect-album-review/">Louder Than War</a>.</i> </b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div>granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-23475365600665058982020-11-01T17:25:00.003+00:002020-11-01T17:25:38.718+00:00 Beguiling; a true gem - Louder Than War<div style="text-align: justify;">Here's the first half of an insightful review of the Nobody's Perfect 2CD reissue by Ian Canty at the essential <i><b><a href="https://louderthanwar.com/the-distractions-nobodys-perfect-album-review/">Louder Than War</a></b></i> website. The second half, which looks at all the additional tracks, will follow soon. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhymbWlLVyv7k4zJUAkdSmvwy-gpkYVvm-PuWMnChIcZR14FI4A7mVpb4zwlMQo5uOz2ptthrptrwv0pxYYNm0JuGIVod8ahwosnLxRr2PU0ZdhDtYg5iomCN27zSEpkRt-vaXm5NeGMs/s475/louder-than-war-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhymbWlLVyv7k4zJUAkdSmvwy-gpkYVvm-PuWMnChIcZR14FI4A7mVpb4zwlMQo5uOz2ptthrptrwv0pxYYNm0JuGIVod8ahwosnLxRr2PU0ZdhDtYg5iomCN27zSEpkRt-vaXm5NeGMs/s320/louder-than-war-logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Distractions – Nobody’s Perfect</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By Ian Canty</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Man In The Moon/Occultation Recordings</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2CD/Vinyl</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Reissue of the long out of print debut album by Manchester’s The Distractions, Nobody’s Perfect, with a host of extra material including the Time Goes By So Slow and You’re Not Going Out Dressed Like That? 7 inchers… LTW’s Ian Canty hears one of the great “lost” albums by a truly great band…</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Distractions, formed in Manchester way back in 1975 by kingpins Mike Finney and Steve Perrin, were a treasure of a band. Gathering pace with in the punk/new wave boom of 1977, they married their own take on classic pop with the rough and tumble of the new breed and few (if any) did it better. The promise that they displayed meant the local independent labels swiftly became interested in the band. They subsequently debuted with the You’re Not Going Out Dressed Like That EP on the TJM imprint early in ’79. Lead track Doesn’t Bother Me was an early indication of their admirable abilities, taking their time unwinding the song towards a top quality chorus, with power and finesse plus Mike Finney’s excellent voice. This gave both a feeling of immediacy and craftsmanship and was totally endearing too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the success of the TJM EP Tony Wilson, who had been keeping a keen eye on the band, offered them a chance to cut their next disc for his fledgling Factory label. The resulting 45 was pure brilliance: Time Goes By So Slow is one of those few songs that will never date, a classic single that retains the freshness and mystique that it established on the very first plays every single time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite their abundant talents, The Distractions weren’t overly cursed with luck. Though in A&R man Nick Stewart they no doubt found a kindred spirit (and he is responsible for this reissue on his own Man In The Moon label) the rest of Island Records, who signed them, didn’t really seem to know what to do with them. As a label they generally struggled with the new wave, which on the whole they steered clear of. Having got The Distractions to sign on the dotted line they tended to view their anti-image with the same sense of puzzlement that they approached The Slits with. The more traditional Eddie And The Hot Rods were luckier, but overall the label were at a loss on how to put over these bright young things and this would have an impact of our heroes and heroine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By the time of the recorded material presented on this first disc, Perrin and Finney had been joined by Adrian Wright on guitar and a rhythm section of Pip Nicholls and veteran drummer Alec Sidebottom, the latter of whom had previous which included a stint behind the traps for '60s psychedelic act The Purple Gang. These three came with musical talent to burn and it is fair to say were a little overlooked back then. But Wright was a handy songwriter himself and with the rhythm section’s fire, this all added a further layer of depth to The Distractions’ brew.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_qiWofSpGKqE5IKVv5ILIKpBMhJanQxUIHXwZRKnJR_kAghAh6n4Cp868ZyLcZDa4QLNJMDWRxHBzVwltOJcvWDXf3NTAL4Cs-dZEdI7JY1AQAky-xvKYUVaU6gMuDJy4LPAewgBG6U/s1200/NP2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1198" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_qiWofSpGKqE5IKVv5ILIKpBMhJanQxUIHXwZRKnJR_kAghAh6n4Cp868ZyLcZDa4QLNJMDWRxHBzVwltOJcvWDXf3NTAL4Cs-dZEdI7JY1AQAky-xvKYUVaU6gMuDJy4LPAewgBG6U/s320/NP2020.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So this new collection begins with Nobody’s Perfect, the original version of the LP released in 1980. Over the fourteen tracks of the record The Distractions show a rare imagination and ability. It’s very tempting to see them as Buzzcocks’ slightly older brothers and sister, with a worldly and enhanced insight into the workings of the emotional world, but still somehow retaining hope for the fantastic to happen. Opening salvo Waiting For Lorraine gives a decent pointer of their unique skills. A busy, driving rhythm sets the band off to a flying start and the song, as usual excellently interpreted by Finney, runs expertly through the gamut of doubts that go through an anxious lover’s mind when the object of their affection is away from them. It rings true, which is where The Distractions always score highly. Of course the refrain quickly embeds itself too, the tunes are always of a very high quality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A very pretty version of Eden Kane’s hit Boys Cry was a decent fit for the band and it was released as a single with the hope that a cover might give them a foothold in the charts. This was a reasonable strategy, but it unfortunately failed and really The Distractions’ own songs were so much better. They were a flexible and imaginative outfit too and offered a variety that few others could match, whilst always keeping their own individual identity throughout. Something For The Weekend is catchy and cheeky and the neat little touches, like the rock & roll piano riff that underpins the music on this track, all go to show why they stood out from the pack.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nobody’s Perfect is such a strong album that it feels wrong to pick out highlights – everything here has something about it that may speak to you and call your heart. Paracetamol Paralysis shows the band weren’t po-faced either, very witty words attached to a riffy piece of punk rock and Nothing is touching and soulful, with a purposeful drive. It’s hard not to imagine that the writers lived these songs and that I suppose is key to why The Distractions sound so great even today. They wore their hearts on their sleeves and they were big hearts indeed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the other end of the scale Wonder Girl is Merseybeat repositioned adeptly for the 1980’s and the choral arrangement of Looking For A Ghost is incredible. I can’t think of any other band at the time that would even have tried it, let alone pull it off with such aplomb. Valerie brings Nobody’s Perfect to an all-action rousing end, gentle piano giving way to a rollicking punk pop masterclass. I found this LP beguiling from the get-go, there’s a warmth to it that remained in my mind long after I had finished listening to it, as well as corking tunes all the way through brilliantly played and sung. A true gem.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>(c) Ian Canty at <i><a href="https://louderthanwar.com/the-distractions-nobodys-perfect-album-review/">Louder Than War</a>.</i> </b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To be continued </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-20583724930086698292020-09-12T10:45:00.004+01:002020-09-12T13:38:02.923+01:00Something For The Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9y3Y68XBPK0" width="320" youtube-src-id="9y3Y68XBPK0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Click through <a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1382817135254053&id=183640375171741" target="_blank"><b>this Facebook link</b></a> to see The Distractions play 'Something For The Weekend' live on TV's Runaround with Mike Reid in 1980! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWgm_Gi7S9BRrUPhsn8TD0FhnTNHB6jLKWoaeqyvIj4vUTzciW4zCPl_v9WwR_PPE1fy59v3cDbxi9EDCDcwAntA_xyhsrZHxVCnc2r-UtlJIy886gAlBSPQJtxL694PbFV8FtA-Mzcw/s1078/Screenshot_20200912-125318_XPlayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1078" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWgm_Gi7S9BRrUPhsn8TD0FhnTNHB6jLKWoaeqyvIj4vUTzciW4zCPl_v9WwR_PPE1fy59v3cDbxi9EDCDcwAntA_xyhsrZHxVCnc2r-UtlJIy886gAlBSPQJtxL694PbFV8FtA-Mzcw/w400-h234/Screenshot_20200912-125318_XPlayer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Click <a href="https://max.mailbigfile.com/31a2ba3ef6e9214d77dcd7078051a7cb/listFiles.php" target="_blank"><b>this download link</b></a> to obtain a high-resultion video file, courtesy of superfan, Nick Barber.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1079" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikj9KVV0KDamRnLmEyi294gefqnQK3hJwSuCSQAyciETr2XhCNYsNSHIEKLtc6knpKWv8E7lr7GgZoMxv3SyVDiWH7LDedHe_gnU4-2_AhJtT4xALpHfemDijIWH73lPdnluUBGdVO5Lk/w400-h234/Screenshot_20200912-125133_XPlayer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-1051164474852579232020-08-31T15:43:00.002+01:002020-08-31T20:02:31.164+01:00A classic pop debut - Record Collector<div style="text-align: justify;">Here's the <b><i><a href="https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/nobodys-perfect">Record Collector</a> </i></b>review of the Nobody's Perfect<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">2CD</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> and LP </span><a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">reissue</a> by Tim Peacock that accompanied the <a href="https://distractionsnothing.blogspot.com/2020/07/infectious-pop-songs-record-collector.html">Nick Stewart interview.</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVonEkp0X0MQAuzlxOGxGwyWYbsV8PhlSlyd7A1iX6j3Ux6tTmAoLzOpOt4opwxpvLbVJOUo55Rwj0gPHQFognErpZpSEa-MEQklv5ZwqGzkwYmvsP1mEt2FIEH8ksrP6GIZa4Y5WSddI/s888/header.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="888" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVonEkp0X0MQAuzlxOGxGwyWYbsV8PhlSlyd7A1iX6j3Ux6tTmAoLzOpOt4opwxpvLbVJOUo55Rwj0gPHQFognErpZpSEa-MEQklv5ZwqGzkwYmvsP1mEt2FIEH8ksrP6GIZa4Y5WSddI/w410-h72/header.JPG" width="410" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Practice Makes Perfect<br /></span></b><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Post punk classic reissued. <i>By Tim Peacock</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b><i></i><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Distractions<br /></span></b><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nobody’s Perfect</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">⭐⭐⭐⭐<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Man In The Moon/Occultation MITM 42 (2CD/LP)</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like so many gifted bands who suffered similar fates, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why The Distractions fell through the cracks. Cited – along with their regular gigging partners Joy Division – by the NME’s Paul Morley as one of Manchester’s brightest hopes (“Joy Division are the perfect rock band for the 80s… and The Distractions are the perfect pop band”), they seemed poised for greatness when they signed to Island, only for their debut album, Nobody’s Perfect, to sink without trace.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In retrospect, the record’s abject failure still seems hard to credit, as The Distractions seemingly held all the aces when it was first released in February 1980. They could easily pull a thousand punters to their hometown gigs and their lone Factory single, Time Goes By So Slow, was as revered locally as Buzzcocks’ What Do I Get?, Magazine’s Shot By Both Sides or Joy Division’s Transmission. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whatever the vagaries, though, it’s criminal that Nobody’s Perfect has languished in obscurity for this long. It never previously made it to CD or even caught a whiff of a vinyl reissue, so this bells and whistles 40th anniversary edition – which also includes all the band’s early demos, non-LP singles’n’flips and a 2020 remix of the whole shebang by uber fan/Occultation label boss Nick Halliwell – will be a welcome surprise for long-term fans. It’s as close to a definitive Distractions package as you could wish for.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL7xbd_bml-LAdrNAJiTiTiGYTIdML7d9YHGgx_oD8pV819wuEShwHavrc9am4K0Si8KGBc4eRO2LugHLPhG32EnODJQDA6qC05yHxlxPGvmO36HzXW1pJcPAnGKWmpW6jpkoBt9q-GA/s846/Perfect.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="846" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL7xbd_bml-LAdrNAJiTiTiGYTIdML7d9YHGgx_oD8pV819wuEShwHavrc9am4K0Si8KGBc4eRO2LugHLPhG32EnODJQDA6qC05yHxlxPGvmO36HzXW1pJcPAnGKWmpW6jpkoBt9q-GA/w410-h267/Perfect.JPG" width="410" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Distractions (with Mike Finney, far-right): “diverse and dashing”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Approaching the two discs chronologically reveals just how quickly the band evolved en route to making Nobody’s Perfect. The second disc’s slew of demos from September 1978 and the four tracks from the debut EP, You’re Not Going Out Dressed Like That, have retained their original vim and vigour, but while their garage-y energy captures the spirit of the times, the superior song-craft inherent in Maybe It’s Love and the melancholic Nothing demonstrate that this talented quintet had already outstripped the limitations of punk.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Armed with a major label budget for Nobody’s Perfect, The Distractions pulled out all the stops to create a classic pop debut and came heroically close. Seemingly always the bridesmaid, Mike Fnney reveals why he remains the most underappreciated vocalist of his generation on the sumptuous ballads (Still It Doesn’t Ring; a glorious, Spectorian remake of Eden Kane’s 1964 hit, Boys Cry), while tunes as diverse and dashing as the edgy power-pop of Waiting For Lorraine and the swooning Leave You To Dream should have seen chief songwriter Steve Perrin ranked among Mancunian giants such as Graham Gouldman and Pete Shelley many moons ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tying up loose ends, there’s also the three tracks of And Then There’s..., the band’s lone post-Island EP from 1981, which are quirkier and clearly recorded on a shoestring, but produced with little discernible drop-off in quality. To complete the picture, meanwhile, ardent fans and newcomers alike will have a blast comparing and contrasting the original Nobody’s Perfect with Nick Halliwell’s angular modern-day remix, which kicks the record’s outdated keyboard textures into touch and recasts the album in a notably sleeker, radio-friendly light that sounds thrillingly contemporary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Px7ECCLzhFtQ8_aaP-rLxUluQ5tVziRdu1Lq28D45EqFLn-GVdyrb6uPLZES0GyV8AuVgM7vldvbIyBTJiskk5ccpjuhhbuZb0w2oUcFlAE2xTNhq7W6J4YT6jumT87BH3DZGJZiNrU/s976/Dist+RC+rev.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="976" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Px7ECCLzhFtQ8_aaP-rLxUluQ5tVziRdu1Lq28D45EqFLn-GVdyrb6uPLZES0GyV8AuVgM7vldvbIyBTJiskk5ccpjuhhbuZb0w2oUcFlAE2xTNhq7W6J4YT6jumT87BH3DZGJZiNrU/w410-h338/Dist+RC+rev.JPG" width="410" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-37746150683048149502020-07-26T15:10:00.001+01:002020-07-26T15:10:33.770+01:00Infectious pop songs - Record Collector<div style="text-align: justify;">
The biggest mainstream music magazine coverage of the reissue of Nobody's Perfect came in the wonderful <a href="https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/nobodys-perfect"><b><i>Record Collector</i></b></a>. Tim Peacock's generous review was accompanied by a Q&A with Man In The Moon's Nick Stewart, one of the main movers behind the long-awaited <a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html">2CD</a> and LP <a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue">reissue</a>. So before the review, here's the Q&A with the former Island Records A&R man.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span>Man In The Moon Records’ </span><span style="color: #ab6f0b; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;">Nick Stewart </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">on signing The Distractions to Island and
the making of </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">Nobody’s
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;"><b>You’re famous for your A&R work, signing U2 among others. Is
it true you were trying to sign Joy Division to Island when you first heard The
Distractions?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">Yes. I heard </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">Unknown
Pleasures </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">and A Certain Ratio’s <i>'All Night Party'</i> shortly after I joined Island’s A&R department in August
1979 and thought they were both fantastic, so I met with Tony Wilson, Alan
Erasmus and Rob Gretton at Factory’s HQ in Palatine Road, Manchester, in
September ’79. I already rated Tony because of his work with Granada TV and I
soon found out how single-minded Rob was. When I attempted to sign Joy Division
to Island, he made it abundantly clear they weren’t for sale. However, Tony
asked if I’d heard The Distractions’ recent Factory single, Time Goes By So
Slow. I was a sucker for jangly '60s pop and The Distractions reminded me of The
Byrds, so I was smitten as soon as he played me the record. By the time I
returned to London, I was determined to sign them. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;">You originally wanted Gary Usher to helm the </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-DemiItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-DemiItal;">Nobody’s Perfect </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;">sessions?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">I thought Gary Usher was a genius, because he’d done those classic
Byrds albums, </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">Younger Than
Yesterday </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">and </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">The Notorious Byrd Brothers</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">. To their credit, Island were up for
it, but Usher hadn’t made a record for a decade – he’d retired and bought a
sweet shop in Seattle! He wanted to produce The Distractions, but he also
wanted Island to fly his entire family to London and put them up for a month, which
was impossible financially. Eventually Phil Chapman and Jon Astley, who later
worked with The Who and Eric Clapton, produced it. I gave them a copy of </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">The Notorious Byrd Brothers </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">and told them I wanted </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">Nobody’s Perfect </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">to sound like it. It didn’t, but they
did a great job regardless.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;"><b>The Distractions came out of Manchester’s punk scene, but they
obviously stood apart from the era’s three-chord chancers…</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">That’s right. I was a big fan of Brinsley Schwartz and Nick Lowe’s
music in general and I felt The Distractions had more in common with them and
that late ‘70s power pop thing. I didn’t see them as punk at all. Their
antecedents were definitely The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and some of
the </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">Nuggets </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">acts like The Standells. They harked
back to the melodic pop/rock from the mid-to-late ‘60s with West Coast Californian
inflections. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;">The band had a wealth of infectious pop songs and a terrific
vocalist in Mike Finney, so why did </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-DemiItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-DemiItal;">Nobody’s
Perfect </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;">fail commercially?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">In a sense, The Distractions were like The Only Ones, who also
signed to a major label [CBS] and had quite a lot of money thrown at them. They
obviously weren’t a “punk” band, either, so like The Distractions, they didn’t
fit in with the times – and remember there was also a huge turnover of musical
styles back then. For example, 2Tone was big news in 1980 and the new romantics
were about to break through. Even so, I was convinced <i>'It Doesn’t Bother Me' </i>and<i> 'Boys Cry' </i>would both </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">be hits, but Radio 1 just weren’t interested. The album came out
and the band toured, but it just never caught fire.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;">How do you feel Nick Halliwell’s new mix of </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-DemiItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-DemiItal;">Nobody’s Perfect </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Demi;">compares with the original?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">It’s a whole lot brighter and punchier and it’s certainly very
2020. I think he’s done a fantastic job with it and it has a good chance of
picking up some of that elusive airplay this time around. </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">Nobody’s Perfect </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-Book;">is returning 40 years to the month of
its original release in 1980 and it’s never been out on CD before, so the
timing’s right and it will be very interesting to see how well it does. It’s
been away for a long time, but I think it’s going to get a lot of love at last.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;">As told to Tim
Peacock</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: FranklinGothicITCbyBT-BookItal;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwq7-RM9kmO8DgHutyHsXDvyW2E4HqKIhMmcT4ctyhVKbj4qer1hc89LExW80TJDa_z_v1K2VGuvEXT5XtZeIjvYqdFcOKKZ4PjI_9jbrQT6JBDUfHsqT0CECIuBe-Upc8YJhiMIdchcc/s1600/RC+Q%2526A.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1255" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwq7-RM9kmO8DgHutyHsXDvyW2E4HqKIhMmcT4ctyhVKbj4qer1hc89LExW80TJDa_z_v1K2VGuvEXT5XtZeIjvYqdFcOKKZ4PjI_9jbrQT6JBDUfHsqT0CECIuBe-Upc8YJhiMIdchcc/s400/RC+Q%2526A.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-56313014902091458262020-07-17T15:16:00.001+01:002020-07-17T15:16:18.077+01:00Unknown pleasures - Uncut<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGvfvmhOdf8lVqo3NxCu6FxgMJ7qedw-seGSAmW5TdqJolL9TlHnLKDMBrDiXzsPOld4In2ofB734eaq7bKRuPwvDtzagddDUeAU_JJU7MOZKK4Egdbr7_h9BnrAlbiKfVGst3tm6N38/s1600/Uncut+close+up.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="826" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGvfvmhOdf8lVqo3NxCu6FxgMJ7qedw-seGSAmW5TdqJolL9TlHnLKDMBrDiXzsPOld4In2ofB734eaq7bKRuPwvDtzagddDUeAU_JJU7MOZKK4Egdbr7_h9BnrAlbiKfVGst3tm6N38/s400/Uncut+close+up.PNG" width="400" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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On to the larger reviews from the music monthlies. This <i>Uncut</i> magazine review from Daniel Dylan Wray in the April 2020 issue scores our reissue at 8/10 and 9/10! Stocks are starting to run low so if you're yet to pick your 2CD and/or LP up head, head to <a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html">Occultation</a> or <a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue">Bandcamp</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">REDISCOVERED</span></div>
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<b>Uncovering the underrated and overlooked</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE DISTRACTIONS </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nobody's Perfect</span></b></div>
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<b>MAN IN THE MOON</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">8/10</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unknown pleasures from forgotten Manc band</span></div>
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1979 was a musically fertile time for Manchester, and Factory Records were at the centre of it all. That year they put out records by the likes of Joy Division, OMD and A Certain Ratio, and also a 7" by a significantly less feted group, The Distractions. If "Time Goes By So Slow" today sounds like a connecting bridge between post-punk and the jangly indie that followed, in 1979 the group's focus was somewhat antithetical to the post-punk rhythm of the times. Swiftly signing to Island, the group, led by vocalist Mike Finney and guitarist Steve Perrin, released their debut album the following year. Despite some critical warmth, however, <i>Nobody's Perfect</i> sold poorly and just a year later The Distractions disbanded.</div>
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Forty years on, though, this curious and charming record, now being reissued, remains unshakably infectious, from the buoyant, almost Blue Oyster Cult-esque skip of opener "Waiting For Lorraine" to their soul-drenched cover of Eden Kane's 1964 hit "Boys Cry". Defying easy labelling, the group wriggle around between new wave, punk, post-punk and soul, and there's an inescapable "wrong place, wrong time" feeling that emanates from these 14 tracks. For a start, there's something inherently and inescapably Liverpudlian about this Mancunian group, with Finney's vocals possessing a touch of Ian McCulloch and their jangle-heavy sound almost like a long-lost blueprint for The La's or The Coral.</div>
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Just a few years after <i>Nobody's Perfect</i>'s release, the unwinding guitar solos, creamy vocal deliveries and melody-drenched hooks that fill the album would come fully into fashion via the likes of Orange Juice and <i>C86</i>. Perrin would later comment that the band were, "Out of time rather than ahead of it - The Distractions have never seem to fit in with a particular period." As a result, they have fallen into place along with the likes of The Freshies and The Chameleons as somewhat forgotten Manchester bands from the era. Although, as this reissue proves, there's plenty of reasons why that should be remedied. </div>
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<b>Extras: 9/10</b>. Original and remixed version of the album, along with 20 bonus tracks featuring rarities, demos and alternate versions. </div>
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DANIEL DYLAN WRAY</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRJon-k9CtbY36JQEIh-HqQF0qezsA_T3yEDNwa9Qpt2egQC90P7QUUGiCsyxnOSuWr6qYK3h_pm0fNMGVeloPM3ZgoNF8Laa88voWklOimZvgefbuJtS2DTuajcRNB-1dcy6n1E1BJc/s1600/Uncut+review.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1087" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRJon-k9CtbY36JQEIh-HqQF0qezsA_T3yEDNwa9Qpt2egQC90P7QUUGiCsyxnOSuWr6qYK3h_pm0fNMGVeloPM3ZgoNF8Laa88voWklOimZvgefbuJtS2DTuajcRNB-1dcy6n1E1BJc/s640/Uncut+review.png" width="434" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-90557714572934193252020-07-03T16:39:00.001+01:002020-07-03T19:19:03.635+01:00Justified acclaim - Classic Pop<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to the long round-up of the Nobody's Perfect reissue reviews. This is the first of the absolutely glowing reviews that the release had in the music monthlies: a four-star <b><i>Classic Pop </i></b>review by John Earls in March 2020's issue. Nobody's Perfect sits alongside fellow Mancunians, M People - only The Cure's Disintegration and Electronic's self-titled debut received higher scores, and we can't argue with that. <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Nobody's Perfect 2CD and LPs are still available from </span><a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html" style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; opacity: 1; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Occultation</a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> or </span><a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue" style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Bandcamp</a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> (get the 14-track download there too).</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">⭐⭐⭐⭐</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Originally signed to Factory, Manchester indie popsters The Distractions were poached by Island's Nick Stewart, the A&R who signed U2. Forty years later, Stewart reissues his charges' debut album on his own Man In The Moon label. His long-standing faith that The Distractions deserve more acclaim is fully justified. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Singer Mike Finney has the same mix of intense fervour and soulful beauty as Kevin Rowland, while guitarist Steve Perrin's melodies take in <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Undertones-style melodic punk (</span><i style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Louise</i><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">), pre-Smiths wistful wonder (</span><i style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Stuck In A Fantasy</i><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">) and Phil Spector dramas (</span><i style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Boys Cry</i><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">). </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">A lost classic, it may be The Distractions' diversity that proved their undoing as they tear through so many styles and cheerfully master them all. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The reissue is lovingly done - the original LP on heavyweight vinyl, or a 2CD set featuring 34 bonus tracks compiled from five standalone singles, four demos, a compilation appearance and an alternative mix of the original album by The June Brides producer Nick Halliwell.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Touchingly, The Distractions reformed in 2010. They've released two further albums on Halliwell's label Occulation and still tour. If <i>Nobody's Perfect </i>is any judge, they deserve wider cult hero status. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxeYjo0mJsIR-aKMqSZmu6OnRA4ko2s3GNSdbNuyez2atLKAqBWh6nVmKCIaiWRpFej8doss8LEKrdHOQOFoYrzQNSmrNx4gG-i4ROKg8kvjIH7EuRjMt9VLz6Rd0onm8CFxIkj2VHyc/s1600/Classic+pop+page.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="617" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxeYjo0mJsIR-aKMqSZmu6OnRA4ko2s3GNSdbNuyez2atLKAqBWh6nVmKCIaiWRpFej8doss8LEKrdHOQOFoYrzQNSmrNx4gG-i4ROKg8kvjIH7EuRjMt9VLz6Rd0onm8CFxIkj2VHyc/s400/Classic+pop+page.PNG" width="280" /></span></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-42547920640050908172020-06-29T21:37:00.000+01:002020-06-29T22:18:18.553+01:00New releases<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While The Distractions have bowed out after their third and final album, <a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/kindly-leave-the-stage">Kindly Leave The Stage</a>, and the triumphant reissue of <a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue">Nobody's Perfect</a>, this is not to say there will be no more music. In fact, June 2020 has seen not one, not two, but <i>three</i> new releases with a Distracting flavour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the same day, Friday 19th June, there were two Bandcamp releases, both in support of great causes (and of course, the fourteen band-owned, Occultation-administered tracks from Nobody's Perfect 2CD set can also be had for <a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue">just £7</a>). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTKjIkPMUF80Yi630H3ec0biFdys3yXVj3ws28vmYGJuOhUzU7xVa2HddKwJU9jpBnPb5Mwe_wekpiHm46NvDFBF3SOSsYrfkWn_DIZrNwSYeoUvZyJdCPNn3tDjtpbj0U_UYbIWY4g0/s1600/Lockdown+live+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1170" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTKjIkPMUF80Yi630H3ec0biFdys3yXVj3ws28vmYGJuOhUzU7xVa2HddKwJU9jpBnPb5Mwe_wekpiHm46NvDFBF3SOSsYrfkWn_DIZrNwSYeoUvZyJdCPNn3tDjtpbj0U_UYbIWY4g0/s400/Lockdown+live+3.PNG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://lockdownlive.bandcamp.com/">Lockdown Live!</a> is a live music project in support of independent music venues in Manchester, including Gullivers and the Eagle, where Mike and Alex's live band have played in recent years. Their June releases continued on the 19th with <i><a href="https://lockdownlive.bandcamp.com/album/lockdown-live-volume-3">Lockdown Live Volume 3</a></i>. The compilation album is available to stream and download in MP3, FLAC and other high-resolution formats for just £5.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Distractions have contributed a live version of <i><a href="https://lockdownlive.bandcamp.com/track/girl-of-the-year-exclusive-live-from-the-kings-arms-salford-01-09-2012">'Girl Of The Year'</a></i> to the compilation. The track was recorded on the second evening (Saturday 1st September) of the wonderful Salford Arms gigs back in 2012. This professionally recorded track comes after a number from The Only Ones' Peter Perrett - and of course, the late, great Mike Kellie of The Only Ones played with The Distractions in Salford! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvEvtz78v_5S7kgJZdikWPjnrImkeJ6u4hJTGo4bryDjGJyA1Q-M9Et9PJnwAsSdBLRO6NcpYR1xNQ5THdUAq2Y2EgdVHfh8ot3St10aKoLij50nHp5IrxqtmyaaglVy8EHWE43T9vQY/s1600/a2729439216_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvEvtz78v_5S7kgJZdikWPjnrImkeJ6u4hJTGo4bryDjGJyA1Q-M9Et9PJnwAsSdBLRO6NcpYR1xNQ5THdUAq2Y2EgdVHfh8ot3St10aKoLij50nHp5IrxqtmyaaglVy8EHWE43T9vQY/s320/a2729439216_16.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As mentioned above, Mike Finney, Alex Sidebottom and the new live band of Joe, Chris and Johnny, have been playing around the country for the last few years, and are delighted to rebrand as <b>New Distractions</b>. The first new material from the band is a charity release in support of the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, Manchester. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://newdistractions.bandcamp.com/track/juliet">'Juliet'</a></i> and <i><a href="https://newdistractions.bandcamp.com/track/stacey">'Stacey'</a> </i>have been played live in the last year and are - to quote David Quantick from 2010 - <i>"in the great Distractions tradition of songs about girls"</i>. In late 2019, New Distractions recorded these two tracks (and several more...) in the studio, and released them on 19th June 2020.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the price of half a pint (£2) or more, you can also stream and download <a href="https://newdistractions.bandcamp.com/releases"><i>'Juliet'</i> and <i>'Stacey'</i></a> in MP3, FLAC and high-res formats. A CD release is planned for later in 2020, but we hope you can support what is a great cause in these unprecedented times.</span></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-61536729539594572032020-06-07T17:32:00.002+01:002020-06-07T17:41:42.940+01:00Soul-strong - Mojo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Continuing our round-up of the terrific reviews that the Nobody's Perfect reissue received, here's the first of the music magazine reviews from <i>Mojo</i>. It's also the shortest, and least-effusive, albeit still quite positive. You can still pick up Nobody's Perfect 2CD and LPs from <a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html" style="color: #0066cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; opacity: 1; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Occultation</a> or <a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue">Bandcamp</a> (where the Occultation-administered 14-track download is also available). </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Distractions</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nobody's Perfect</span></div>
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MAN IN THE MOON. CD/LP</div>
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<b>A 48-track, 2-CD reissue of "lost" Manchester band's 1980 debut.</b></div>
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"The missing link between Freddie And The Dreamers and The Fall," suggests Manchester photographer Kevin Cummins in the sleevenotes. More the Dreamers... It now seems anomalous that single Time Goes By So Slow (featured here) was released by Factory Records. Early Elvis Costello was the closest post-punk counterpart, but The Distractions stuck even closer to tremulous rock 'n' roll verities. This is manifest on a cover of 1961 Eden Kane hit Boys Cry. Something For The Weekend, meanwhile, suggests both Del Shannon and the Springsteen of Hungry Heart. Bespectacled Mike Finney is an unlikely frontman - almost a real-life John Shuttleworth - but his soul-strong voice is impassioned, while songs like (Stuck In A) Fantasy sound like unknown 1960s standards. </div>
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<i>Roy Wilkinson</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbxRoDtZegE1jGTnKBAt8SV3aZ-izNAEQna7ItzBX-gXo8BOMUwsJ18U75qymL9cLeotRqo2svPanpZQF7_5fVum9qO4qD8bzNaqB0UCeV8vta9a4BT9OvZyIETZ_Qif1AJyOhyKoF8g/s1600/Mojo+NP+review.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="274" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbxRoDtZegE1jGTnKBAt8SV3aZ-izNAEQna7ItzBX-gXo8BOMUwsJ18U75qymL9cLeotRqo2svPanpZQF7_5fVum9qO4qD8bzNaqB0UCeV8vta9a4BT9OvZyIETZ_Qif1AJyOhyKoF8g/s640/Mojo+NP+review.PNG" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-89649952070111958102020-05-06T18:03:00.001+01:002020-06-07T16:17:45.412+01:00Must-have reissue - Sunday Times<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can still pick up the Nobody's Perfect sets from <a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html" style="opacity: 1;">Occultation</a>, but if you're reading this, then you probably have already had them for a month or two! Continuing our round-up of reviews from the national press, this is the Sunday Times website review from 15th March 2020 in the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/on-record-pop-rock-and-jazz-march-15-pmlbqv8vs"><b><i>On Record: Pop, Rock and Jazz</i></b></a> section. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Nobody's Perfect</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Man In The Moon</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE DISTRACTIONS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Nobody's Perfect </b></span></div>
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After a brief flirtation with Factory records, the Manchester band The Distractions fell into the arms of Island Records' Nick Stewart, who would sign U2 to the label shortly afterwards. Only one of them went on to conquer the world, but The Distractions, whose debut album Nobody's Perfect celebrates its 40th birthday this year, were beloved by both fans and critics for music that, like that of many bands at the time, forged an edgy compromise between their pop past and punk's then insistent supremacy. Reissued on vinyl on Stewart's own label, with multiple fan-pleasing extras, the album is a reminder of one of the key moments of musical collision in British pop. <i>DC</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PwyTM0YlQ-lc0gitiG_pbKeMrCmHeauajDTLusee64XcNuts_RIlZEmpKRbJTKci8cO7cqRWqsX2qOCrzagQaHd0tqvww0fMENYcny5xUBQA9UqLjnpW4PXhRYfbOdTZNqMIz9j50nE/s1600/St+full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PwyTM0YlQ-lc0gitiG_pbKeMrCmHeauajDTLusee64XcNuts_RIlZEmpKRbJTKci8cO7cqRWqsX2qOCrzagQaHd0tqvww0fMENYcny5xUBQA9UqLjnpW4PXhRYfbOdTZNqMIz9j50nE/s1600/St+full.jpg" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-235159889552082402020-04-25T13:02:00.001+01:002020-04-25T13:03:36.353+01:00Brilliant bittersweet pop - Daily Mail<div style="text-align: justify;">
The long-awaited Nobody's Perfect resissue is still available from <a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html" style="opacity: 1;">Occultation</a> and <a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue">Bandcamp</a><span style="text-align: start;">, as well as some online retailers, but it's selling fast, such has been the overwhelmingly positive response from fans and journalists alike. Here's the review that appeared on the ever-popular Daily Mail website and in its English and Scottish papers on Friday 27th March.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfnl97-dtzNhJSyrDDLCUNpsJDTsi72_YBXJcKQDr99LzDpG12bXWOnHOWhzgM1oAcmFrD_kBUst4GF5ZP2Xrl7goun6lFqAjMRF_hCrNE6_RNlMjznIkAI5fduydI5lfIQYfHhXTGxk/s1600/Screenshot_20200425-125547_Drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="997" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfnl97-dtzNhJSyrDDLCUNpsJDTsi72_YBXJcKQDr99LzDpG12bXWOnHOWhzgM1oAcmFrD_kBUst4GF5ZP2Xrl7goun6lFqAjMRF_hCrNE6_RNlMjznIkAI5fduydI5lfIQYfHhXTGxk/s400/Screenshot_20200425-125547_Drive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE DISTRACTIONS: Nobody's Perfect (Man In The Moon)</span></b><br />
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<b>MANCHESTER outfit The Distractions were contemporaries of Joy Divison and released the brilliant Time Goes By So Slow single in 1979. They also signed to Island at the same time as U2, but disbanded after their 1980 debut. The band recently re-formed and this 40th anniversary reissue - with new mixes - reiterates their bittersweet pop credentials.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrqElhhmrwdSLQH0cgcpkPG1uU7foHSoLYrDvjru_-OT5zLHlbmzH1RGnNAq3Fmye27CZxjM9bvUG5WrZtiwpRZIg74GvdNQDf-XTdCEIROvTr1IAKxyJuAAo85g7AjQef10P-X-xCd4/s1600/Screenshot_20200425-123227_Drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="690" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrqElhhmrwdSLQH0cgcpkPG1uU7foHSoLYrDvjru_-OT5zLHlbmzH1RGnNAq3Fmye27CZxjM9bvUG5WrZtiwpRZIg74GvdNQDf-XTdCEIROvTr1IAKxyJuAAo85g7AjQef10P-X-xCd4/s640/Screenshot_20200425-123227_Drive.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-78180474449054484682020-04-19T15:52:00.000+01:002020-04-19T15:52:46.001+01:00This classic - Sunday Mirror<div style="text-align: justify;">
We hope you've enjoyed the Nobody's Perfect reissue (still available from <a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html">Occultation</a> and <a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue">Bandcamp</a>, and that you agree that it was worth the wait! Over the coming weeks we will be taking a look at some of the reviews that have been published in the music magazines and websites. But first, the newspaper reviews, and this from the Sunday Mirror (spot the mistake in the opening line!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhszVAXUlcPCUAys__dfx25O6iQOotcIylksZNuVx7w8rlgfgB5SIolzG7bTkia22HVsZeBxxzbWQ2bH1nbMXexfqrXYZ9Y9o8H0PqmRl67Hc6BkX73WXZQbN5OrsKWQnV3afiNjlmbgk/s1600/Screenshot_20200419-153411_Drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="847" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhszVAXUlcPCUAys__dfx25O6iQOotcIylksZNuVx7w8rlgfgB5SIolzG7bTkia22HVsZeBxxzbWQ2bH1nbMXexfqrXYZ9Y9o8H0PqmRl67Hc6BkX73WXZQbN5OrsKWQnV3afiNjlmbgk/s400/Screenshot_20200419-153411_Drive.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Re-release</span><br />
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This classic has been reissued, 20 years on. The post-punk New Wave band were label pals with Joy Division before they were signed to Island Records by Nick Stewart, who also discovered U2. He says: "Tony Wilson of Factory Records suggested I check out another local band who'd just recorded a single called Time Goes By So Slow. I loved it from the moment I heard it."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RezTbdA7PRWH5B2kMRVLASw1TGXzhx6XXvRVVqsU5tChGZtwHWyiSTHLcLeZCyS-gVELzBVFdSYNOnGaPE2jU-rMSci5HfIkhvcybXlvyJDkSPGI__3b1jfXZ_4urJlZMKnL2VPb-8/s1600/Screenshot_20200419-153448_Drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="1079" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RezTbdA7PRWH5B2kMRVLASw1TGXzhx6XXvRVVqsU5tChGZtwHWyiSTHLcLeZCyS-gVELzBVFdSYNOnGaPE2jU-rMSci5HfIkhvcybXlvyJDkSPGI__3b1jfXZ_4urJlZMKnL2VPb-8/s400/Screenshot_20200419-153448_Drive.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-53209501885676045962020-04-10T14:14:00.000+01:002020-04-10T14:30:07.143+01:00Because they were so good<div style="text-align: justify;">
The third and final part of the <a href="https://barmcakemag.tumblr.com/" style="opacity: 1; text-align: right;"><b><i>Barmcake</i></b></a> magazine Distractions / Mike Finney article. Again, huge thanks to Dave at <i>Barmcake </i>for kind permission to re-publish this. <i>Barmcake </i>is essential reading, after all it's <i>Northern entertainment for the middle-aged, </i>but you don't have to be northern to enjoy it. If you can't find a FREE copy at your local stockist (when this madness is over), then you can also pick it, and back issues, up via their tumblr site: <a href="https://barmcakemag.tumblr.com/">https://barmcakemag.tumblr.com</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI07Py_G32Cr9D13gpk5foAGz7vywHoCtypG6dMnEjJBLldx-iBUu7B1FQ8_MdOV5ihpWSampOw8WU9fhtmQzEm3F8RE_RN0c9RjRKi0dLQf3Jl5eqGS4d_-K1mTjjdrRcjxYI4-YV_e0/s1600/Barm+cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI07Py_G32Cr9D13gpk5foAGz7vywHoCtypG6dMnEjJBLldx-iBUu7B1FQ8_MdOV5ihpWSampOw8WU9fhtmQzEm3F8RE_RN0c9RjRKi0dLQf3Jl5eqGS4d_-K1mTjjdrRcjxYI4-YV_e0/s400/Barm+cover.png" width="280" /></a></div>
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<b>Were you mates with members of these bands? I believe Mark E Smith was a fan of your voice, comparing you to Roy Orbison?</b></div>
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Pete Shelley was very supportive, as was Mark Smith. Mark was kind enough to say that he thought the songs were non-original because they were so good, also saying to Mick Middles that I reminded him of the 'Big O'... can't get any better than that, surely?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp3g_4wTTKxmTq0DqUvkF3mAIUnnn-Rr_VCy4hmWYkweSRlNTwjxkxUPgC4HUsaMmqdK6722qjqMZjYUJLqRZfzdNSQlxUlD-dC-mdZV30Rz0IxANmFyAUCSapTDoFtaxrMdTjlxQGxo/s1600/last+of+barm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp3g_4wTTKxmTq0DqUvkF3mAIUnnn-Rr_VCy4hmWYkweSRlNTwjxkxUPgC4HUsaMmqdK6722qjqMZjYUJLqRZfzdNSQlxUlD-dC-mdZV30Rz0IxANmFyAUCSapTDoFtaxrMdTjlxQGxo/s1600/last+of+barm2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Our big buddies in the Manc music scene were Buzzcocks (the line-up of Pete, Steve, John and Garth) and Ian, Bernard, Pete and Steve of Joy Division. </div>
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We would meet at Cox's Bar at the back of the Free Trade Hall - a Boddington's pub that was relatively posh for Boddies pubs, and on to the Ranch Bar in Dale Street. JD were Stiff Kittens then. They were a very likeable bunch and privately, they could not have been further from their Joy Division stage persona... excellent senses of humour, which reverted to child-like as we got more pissed. </div>
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This never changed, although I haven't seen Bernard and Pete for many years. They live in the Chorlton area and I live in Holmfirth - yes, I crossed the Pennines. A Manc who chooses to live in Yorkshire - that says a lot about my personality, I'm sure!</div>
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<b>I understand that band weren't happy with the way Island recorded the first LP as they felt it didn't sound like you. Was that the main reason for you splitting up in 1981?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArO7Abge4pLuZKBv_J3EwA9lggyIfBZmqwR-x1-fq_J30FT_1U6MPgyaWpmigXz4HrT98WmMbWKylkllH90Yi8QcF8dDUCFmfqDzajohx1JR7b6vjNl78h7C1LDaaejFvHD7SilNnkY8/s1600/Barm+band.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="597" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArO7Abge4pLuZKBv_J3EwA9lggyIfBZmqwR-x1-fq_J30FT_1U6MPgyaWpmigXz4HrT98WmMbWKylkllH90Yi8QcF8dDUCFmfqDzajohx1JR7b6vjNl78h7C1LDaaejFvHD7SilNnkY8/s320/Barm+band.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">THE DISTRACTIONS. The classic line-up. Left to right: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Alex Sidebottom, Adrian Wright, Steve Perrin, Pip Nicholls, Steve Perrin. <b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photo: Adrian Boot.</b></span></div>
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The album was a mix 'of its time', not what any of us wanted, so a compromise. The re-release that is being completed by Nick Stewart (the A&R man who signed us to Island) is being re-mixed to a more Distractions sound - removing many of the keyboards, a lot of effects, etc.</div>
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I still see Steve Perrin each year when he comes over from New Zealand, we have been friends since 1974 and that will not change.</div>
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The version of The Distractions doing the stuff now would have had Steve, if he was here, although he is no keener on playing live now as he was back then! </div>
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The fall-out really was musical differences, along with me becoming more and more into 'socialising''; the whole thing pissing off Steve; Ade Wright leaving to become a student. Pip Nicholls, Alex and me carried on with Arthur Kadmon (ex-Ludus and The Fall) for a while, when it just fizzled out. </div>
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I set up The Secret Seven, we recorded for Bronze Records, but not for long, then I joined the Art of Noise, again - not for long...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8Tcp9AbOvGgWptqnJqq4haRCd_I7JC85Pg0fLvTJ7an3euVWY9a2w8cHcDAcKvJ-QSzV_Lz8a_k458C3Uftdw8rdU8QdfvX1pmgUDezL6CbvRIIaWsDYNno8auwY_9AW2xdD_2ir_E8/s1600/barmcloseup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="161" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8Tcp9AbOvGgWptqnJqq4haRCd_I7JC85Pg0fLvTJ7an3euVWY9a2w8cHcDAcKvJ-QSzV_Lz8a_k458C3Uftdw8rdU8QdfvX1pmgUDezL6CbvRIIaWsDYNno8auwY_9AW2xdD_2ir_E8/s400/barmcloseup.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<b>Did you regret leaving Factory for Island?</b></div>
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There are times that staying with Factory would have made artistic sense, but the whole Island thing was just so attractive - they just didn't know what to do with us. U2 signed the following day and always wanted to be rock stars in the conventional way, which was much easier. I don't blame them, I just don't share their passion for it. We wanted to break moulds, but we were not sure which moulds to break.</div>
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We were the first Factory band to play Hurrah Club, in New York so we got a lot of attention there; Warhol's team out in force; Lou Reed in the audience. That was a great moment, that and the great <a href="https://distractionsnothing.blogspot.com/2010/03/live-in-new-york.html">review in the NY Times</a>.</div>
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<b>For details about the re-release of Nobody's Perfect and new material, go to <a href="http://www.thedistractions.co.uk/">www.thedistractions.co.uk</a> or Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DistractionsMcr">@DistractionsMcr</a>. The band play St Joseph's Hall, Leigh, on February 15, in aid of The Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouK7InLRiT9bikKRLdaeAB-TAa-q5x42EnSRLTpsrabJyGeZ7cbK1nK-1YK_KezTCewgmI8-2heVXYyunIjhNfPS7S3Fb3BVWWBJl9dQ6N7m0D0sMk31Tyxpbku4x8FQ4ExPppIu1hmo/s1600/barmcake3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="626" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouK7InLRiT9bikKRLdaeAB-TAa-q5x42EnSRLTpsrabJyGeZ7cbK1nK-1YK_KezTCewgmI8-2heVXYyunIjhNfPS7S3Fb3BVWWBJl9dQ6N7m0D0sMk31Tyxpbku4x8FQ4ExPppIu1hmo/s640/barmcake3.jpg" width="448" /></a> </b></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-22224096051758764872020-03-11T21:38:00.001+00:002020-03-11T21:42:01.594+00:00Dark pop<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here's the second part of the <a href="https://barmcakemag.tumblr.com/" style="opacity: 1; text-align: right;"><b><i>Barmcake</i></b></a> magazine <i>(Northern entertainment for the middle-aged) </i>feature on The Distractions featuring Mike Finney. Many thanks to <i>Barmcake </i>for the opportunity to re-publish the article.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjkDcmxGycLExPD25UANH5qS3k4K9Ie69pMRgQgeqCZ4tsDv0L82cs7YNAAoUStwfJoacc0jc9iD0BKUPWR0s8YzcDP-RyCtB0GV4Gul_tG48QzlFRsszmlL3wpBJ9Ylo3vsG9EF9J_k/s1600/Barm+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="610" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjkDcmxGycLExPD25UANH5qS3k4K9Ie69pMRgQgeqCZ4tsDv0L82cs7YNAAoUStwfJoacc0jc9iD0BKUPWR0s8YzcDP-RyCtB0GV4Gul_tG48QzlFRsszmlL3wpBJ9Ylo3vsG9EF9J_k/s400/Barm+2.png" width="281" /></a> </div>
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In an interview on Salford City Radio, Mike Finney said the band was formed after Steve listened to him singing along to the songs on the jukebox in the Imperial pub, Stockport. Mike was 'a big soul boy', Steve liked Beefheart and Richard Hell. They both liked The Velvet Underground and when the band first formed, they initially covered Velvets and Stones songs.<br />
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But when Steve bought the Ramones album in 1976, they decided to write their own songs. By the time they did their first paid gig in 1977 at the Ranch Bar, Manchester, they had a set of original tunes (bar a Velvets cover).<br />
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<b>I asked Mike what made The Distractions stand out from other bands at the time?</b><br />
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We were one of the few bands doing pop tunes. There were the Flamin' Groovies, a few power pop bands, but little in the way of pop tunes. However, if you listen to the words, most of them are pretty dark compared to those guys.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI07Py_G32Cr9D13gpk5foAGz7vywHoCtypG6dMnEjJBLldx-iBUu7B1FQ8_MdOV5ihpWSampOw8WU9fhtmQzEm3F8RE_RN0c9RjRKi0dLQf3Jl5eqGS4d_-K1mTjjdrRcjxYI4-YV_e0/s1600/Barm+cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI07Py_G32Cr9D13gpk5foAGz7vywHoCtypG6dMnEjJBLldx-iBUu7B1FQ8_MdOV5ihpWSampOw8WU9fhtmQzEm3F8RE_RN0c9RjRKi0dLQf3Jl5eqGS4d_-K1mTjjdrRcjxYI4-YV_e0/s320/Barm+cover.png" width="224" /></a> </div>
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Pete (Shelley) often told us that was the direction we should go in and 'dark pop' became a Manchester thing. Unfortunately, we didn't get the bookings outside, inhibited by all having day jobs. We had never played south of Buxton before we signed the Island deal in 1979!<br />
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<br /><b>When people talk about the Manchester music scene in the late 70s, Buzzcocks, Joy Division and The Fall dominate. Do you feel The Distractions never got the acclaim they deserved then and now?</b><br />
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We got massive acclaim within the music press at the time. Many of the journalists are still mates - Mick Middles, David Quantick, and others. Tony Wilson wanted us to release on Factory to provide light between A Certain Ratio and Joy Division at gigs, which worked very well from an artistic perspective, but may JD fans stared at their shoes and said we were not 'serious' enough. That's life!<br />
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We played in Victoria Vaults, York, recently. We went down very well, but most people had never heard of us before and the irony of us supporting a Joy Division tribute act was not lost on us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArO7Abge4pLuZKBv_J3EwA9lggyIfBZmqwR-x1-fq_J30FT_1U6MPgyaWpmigXz4HrT98WmMbWKylkllH90Yi8QcF8dDUCFmfqDzajohx1JR7b6vjNl78h7C1LDaaejFvHD7SilNnkY8/s1600/Barm+band.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="597" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArO7Abge4pLuZKBv_J3EwA9lggyIfBZmqwR-x1-fq_J30FT_1U6MPgyaWpmigXz4HrT98WmMbWKylkllH90Yi8QcF8dDUCFmfqDzajohx1JR7b6vjNl78h7C1LDaaejFvHD7SilNnkY8/s320/Barm+band.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">THE DISTRACTIONS. The classic line-up. Left to right: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Alex Sidebottom, Adrian Wright, Steve Perrin, Pip Nicholls, Steve Perrin. <b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photo: Adrian Boot.</b></span></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-61714568119964440852020-02-23T12:42:00.001+00:002020-02-23T12:53:16.375+00:00Breaking the mould<div style="text-align: justify;">
In late 2019, the wonderful <a href="https://barmcakemag.tumblr.com/" style="opacity: 1; text-align: right;"><b><i>Barmcake</i></b></a> magazine - <i>Northern entertainment for the middle-aged - </i>published a feature on The Distractions, including an interview with Mike Finney. With huge thanks to Barmcake, we are pleased to publish the piece in three parts. Here's the first.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rb57VHjCJoYRyt5KKYSy8SqBmStikqIS25rzlA5oLxhuhU6faEEmwoCMfTxcT0BSu1NjCTlVu1ng_1hKCP12QCrX9DsPRH1Arc-ERL4inbQ3efDpNasN8qnQl5AlbH88vT4sdD2U8xw/s1600/IMG_20200223_122337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1129" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rb57VHjCJoYRyt5KKYSy8SqBmStikqIS25rzlA5oLxhuhU6faEEmwoCMfTxcT0BSu1NjCTlVu1ng_1hKCP12QCrX9DsPRH1Arc-ERL4inbQ3efDpNasN8qnQl5AlbH88vT4sdD2U8xw/s400/IMG_20200223_122337.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">'We wanted to break </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">moulds, but were not sure</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">which moulds to break'</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Signed by Island, praised by Pete Shelley and Mark E Smith, The Distractions could have become one of Manchester's biggest bands. Singer Mike Finney talks about their seventies heyday and plans for the future</span></div>
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"One of the greatest, but least heralded, of all Manchester beat groups" is how The Distractions' own website describes the band. It's a fair summary.<br />
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When people look back at the city's late 70s music scene, The Distractions appear to have been pushed out by the 'big three' of that time - Buzzcocks, Joy Division, The Fall - and related to passing references.<br />
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But the inkies (Sounds, NME) raved about them, comparing them to Buzzcocks and The Undertones. Paul Morley and David Quantick were among their fans; Quantick said Mike "looked like a bookie's clerk and sang like R. Dean Taylor or some other blue-eyed soul god". The band signed to Factory then Island in 1979 around the same time as the latter snapped up U2.<br />
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The Distractions were founded in 1975 by Stockport College pals Mike Finney and Steve Perrin and split in 1981 after five star reviews of their first album but poor sales. They have reformed and recorded sporadically over the years and started playing live again more regularly, following a memorial gig for Manchester punk legend Jon The Postman in 2015.<br />
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The band now feature Mike and Alex Sidebottom from the classic line-up, with new members Joe Brehony, Chris Dutton and Jonny Poole. They plan to release new songs in the New Year. Meanwhile, The Distractions' first LP, Nobody's Perfect, will be re-released next year in time for its 40th anniversary. It will have at least 18* additional tracks and at least 14 additional remixes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQfzqxpKzviWWvAPwyML54gmviQzjCaC14O8hK7fN_fSpsOtLRCmpl9DyAEqXTcN9zXDSam6aasmXGojep2yX_hgagxA9RDi9JPkpYevLuMKvIDg3yYgQs5-zA-ZqmVjX6DQSX3P2q1E/s1600/IMG_20200220_121451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1129" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQfzqxpKzviWWvAPwyML54gmviQzjCaC14O8hK7fN_fSpsOtLRCmpl9DyAEqXTcN9zXDSam6aasmXGojep2yX_hgagxA9RDi9JPkpYevLuMKvIDg3yYgQs5-zA-ZqmVjX6DQSX3P2q1E/s400/IMG_20200220_121451.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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(C) <a href="https://barmcakemag.tumblr.com/" style="opacity: 1;"><i>Barmcake</i></a>, 2019.</div>
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* the reissue has 20 bonus tracks as well as the 14 album remixes</div>
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<br />granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-50692217704521265332020-02-20T19:57:00.003+00:002020-02-20T19:57:48.312+00:00End of the Pier-fect<div style="text-align: justify;">
The reviews for our Nobody's Perfect reissue are already coming in. But before those who pre-ordered from Occultation get their hands on their vinyl LPs and 2CD sets (about a month ahead of the official release date), here's a review of The Distractions' comeback album, 2012's The End Of The Pier (which you can pick up in good value bundles from <b><a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_orders.html?mc_cid=d4124773b7&mc_eid=6c35d56aa4">Occultation</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.thesdeshop.com/search?x=0&y=0&q=Distractions">SDE</a></b>) from our friend <a href="https://rarebird9.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-distractions-end-of-pier-2012.html?m=1" style="opacity: 1;"><b><i>Rarebird</i></b></a> that we somehow overlooked at the time:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Distractions - "The End of Pier" (2012)</b></span></div>
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The Distractions were an overlooked Manchester band who broke up in the early ‘80’s after releasing only one full-length album called Nobody’s Perfect. They have recently re-formed, and have finally issued their second full-length album – 32 years after their first. The End of the Pier was recorded in June 2011 by a lineup consisting of original vocalist Mike Finney, original guitarist Steve Perrin, keyboardist Nick Garside (who was a part of the band’s short-lived mid-‘90’s lineup), guitarist Nick Halliwell (who played on the 2010 EP Come Home), bassist Arash Torabi, and drummer Mike Kellie. The album was released this week in the U.K. on the Occultation label, and the CD will be available as an import from Amazon.com next week. The mp3 download can be purchased now. </div>
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The music on The End of the Pier is surprisingly mellow and understated. After the band gets some lingering new wave intensity out of their system on the lead-off track <i>“I Don’t Have Time”</i>, they tone things down to achieve a gently melancholic pop sound. The End of the Pier does not quite match the emotional poignancy of the Nobody’s Perfect album, nor does it deliver the same concentrated cogency as the more recent Black Velvet and Come Home EPs. It probably wasn’t meant to do either. </div>
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Finney and Perrin do not pretend to be young men anymore on this album. Both musically and lyrically, they come across as former new wavers who have grown up over the past three decades. Finney’s vocals still have power, especially when he reaches down deep on <i>“When It Was Mine”</i>. However, he does not communicate the same sense of emotional anguish as he did in the past. He no longer sings like a young man who feels like his feelings of longing and heartbreak will never subside; now he comes across more like an older and wiser man who has learned how to cope with such feelings. </div>
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Some of the songs (<i>“Boots”</i>, <i>“The Summer I Met You”</i>, <i>“100 Times”</i>) do echo the new wave aesthetic of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s, but they substitute mature refinement in place of youthful tension. <i>“Girl of the Year”</i> and <i>“The Last Song”</i> (not the Edward Bear tune, although it does bear some lyrical resemblance to it) are reminiscent of more old-fashioned pop music. Although it is still clear that Finney and Perrin appreciate a wide range of musical styles, they mainly aim for simplicity on The End of the Pier. Halliwell (who also produced the album) fits into The Distractions very well. His compositions <i>“Wise”</i> and <i>“Man of the Moment”</i> stand out as intelligently constructed ballads.
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The Distractions’ earlier work has held up well over time; it’s hard to predict how The End of the Pier will be regarded years from now. Then again, the band was probably not concerned about that. The Distractions who recorded this album were not naïve young men trying to please record executives or hoping to become the next big thing. This version of The Distractions merely seemed to be aiming to create a fine, respectable album, and at that, they have succeeded. </div>
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<b>The Distractions “The End of the Pier” (Occultation YMIR7DC017) 2012
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Track Listing: </div>
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1. I Don’t Have Time -- (Perrin) </div>
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2. Wise -- (Halliwell) </div>
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3. Girl of the Year -- (Perrin) </div>
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4. Boots -- (Perrin/Halliwell) </div>
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5. When It Was Mine -- (Perrin) </div>
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6. Too Late To Change -- (Perrin) </div>
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7. The Summer I Met You -- (Perrin) </div>
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8. Man of the Moment -- (Halliwell) </div>
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9. 100 Times -- (Perrin) </div>
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10. The Last Song -- (Perrin/Halliwell) </div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-44841336020598103692020-02-12T23:07:00.000+00:002020-02-17T19:59:25.122+00:00Win a Nobody's Perfect 2xCD set<div style="text-align: justify;">
Congratulations to the winner, Veronica!<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">COMPETITON! </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPR0ar2diwCEY7cCXYcALuwzWeHzuY2eDM2EzGml8kHu5Blxn4J2Vd4JII6CiUHjN0FHTV31yXPjX_G_TcuoyiOaKK8kIlj3XaZAO0a-ujyeD6DGG4cS0HR9pYQLzl6GBUxoL_Hr1FWpM/s1600/Screenshot_20200211-190037_Twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1080" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPR0ar2diwCEY7cCXYcALuwzWeHzuY2eDM2EzGml8kHu5Blxn4J2Vd4JII6CiUHjN0FHTV31yXPjX_G_TcuoyiOaKK8kIlj3XaZAO0a-ujyeD6DGG4cS0HR9pYQLzl6GBUxoL_Hr1FWpM/s400/Screenshot_20200211-190037_Twitter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For a chance to win a 2xCD set of Nobody's Perfect 2020, please email your answer to the below to <a href="mailto:dan@thedistractions.co.uk">dan(at)thedistractions.co.uk.</a></div>
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<b>Name the Rhonda Fleming film featured on the 'It Doesn't Bother Me' sleeve.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4bIPTEEGt9BMHCP7vuOXKxUBCZKXM18h_AJk8t_lj9F7yomfE0lVFpM0lm05Bpj4-gCiPIwc2Hi6EMhcfMPgiI7wMGg_2rnRRL6GlygLogSW7PPp5U1LGYIwaj8cElO1FiSp6ViYVjM/s1600/Distractions_ItDoesntBotherMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="280" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4bIPTEEGt9BMHCP7vuOXKxUBCZKXM18h_AJk8t_lj9F7yomfE0lVFpM0lm05Bpj4-gCiPIwc2Hi6EMhcfMPgiI7wMGg_2rnRRL6GlygLogSW7PPp5U1LGYIwaj8cElO1FiSp6ViYVjM/s400/Distractions_ItDoesntBotherMe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You can also enter via Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/DistractionsMcr">@DistractionsMcr</a>) and Facebook ('The Distractions - UK').<br />
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Thanks to Nick Stewart (the man who picked the photo for this release which was 40 years ago this week!) at <a href="https://www.maninthemoonrecords.com/">Man In The Moon Records</a>. </div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-29730920996584629082020-02-11T19:07:00.003+00:002020-02-11T19:07:44.002+00:00Nobody's Perfect is here<div style="text-align: justify;">
Occultation Recordings and Man In The Moon Records are proud and thrilled to confirm that the 2xCD and LP reissues of Nobody's Perfect have now been manufactured. </div>
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Pre-orders placed with Occultation will start to ship out next week as soon as the 5" art prints and posters are delivered. We hope you agree that they look great...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepsVk7AicOIcvScK4NbV3tsk9geHsofsf6Mpqxq-KEp2SPlF6a2ok2Mr1SrzFWIL7vLX4wx0KeC8fkanNsmfIsdMfNIUcAH3ltTKBLEZ004rNXF5l-G1CgXdVNgJ692nStpDWy8FwhQ4/s1600/FB_IMG_1581349288421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="779" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepsVk7AicOIcvScK4NbV3tsk9geHsofsf6Mpqxq-KEp2SPlF6a2ok2Mr1SrzFWIL7vLX4wx0KeC8fkanNsmfIsdMfNIUcAH3ltTKBLEZ004rNXF5l-G1CgXdVNgJ692nStpDWy8FwhQ4/s400/FB_IMG_1581349288421.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The 2xCD and LP in their shrinkwrap.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXR01976Heenym5t_xJxrUl4ZlN_dli0LhM18RRpFayR25PtJ8PybY5-vo1gZVeMfOM7lkZQrbKShPcm2MWjC2pzZ5etAutYiswZMhz3blD8oZlpC4jcqevLaNx9zPrxeK5OAVEfZZBM/s1600/FB_IMG_1581362227945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="836" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXR01976Heenym5t_xJxrUl4ZlN_dli0LhM18RRpFayR25PtJ8PybY5-vo1gZVeMfOM7lkZQrbKShPcm2MWjC2pzZ5etAutYiswZMhz3blD8oZlpC4jcqevLaNx9zPrxeK5OAVEfZZBM/s400/FB_IMG_1581362227945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The LP with printed inner sleeve and sleevenotes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKTsdkYbdbw8pVFeOjS1RpuWUaLx0aVZoirmT6MNCFKscxOGfJPwF2ZZm45GwCYUPOL_VXtMIx7xgjMb7pYlqwMGDTJqPCmm-Rfab2mcOmJ7T3jPUPKW4uQ7WAQ6ai_VLCHLcX6Pi6Bk/s1600/Screenshot_20200211-190037_Twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1080" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKTsdkYbdbw8pVFeOjS1RpuWUaLx0aVZoirmT6MNCFKscxOGfJPwF2ZZm45GwCYUPOL_VXtMIx7xgjMb7pYlqwMGDTJqPCmm-Rfab2mcOmJ7T3jPUPKW4uQ7WAQ6ai_VLCHLcX6Pi6Bk/s320/Screenshot_20200211-190037_Twitter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A close-up of the CD front cover.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftdeIwxk-sdjB99GflQbULjXqYPA1eu1PW1vORnFo9XfQPrzxBBfKxjh2cgyu1j2zNco2s-p-h8glkOPKoeB3R8eYPY8eBpK_ewVeGFyUggQjuTUpkNgHN5rFlj0m-EXYBB8gKRtUFy0/s1600/FB_IMG_1581362249504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="1050" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftdeIwxk-sdjB99GflQbULjXqYPA1eu1PW1vORnFo9XfQPrzxBBfKxjh2cgyu1j2zNco2s-p-h8glkOPKoeB3R8eYPY8eBpK_ewVeGFyUggQjuTUpkNgHN5rFlj0m-EXYBB8gKRtUFy0/s400/FB_IMG_1581362249504.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The three-panel digipack CD outer artwork.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoubK6V0tQFWnsivY11qolaQnNPQ-wlIKhdH7kCNM3zfeehXAxa9lb1Sho4_yF9_roCX3JFOgp90R4B62A3x0ylUtxG-8qnE6kLnLgRsqYWbLrjTgm1-jHwnxF1ZPEsXXiLq9c9EuIZ8/s1600/FB_IMG_1581362240748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoubK6V0tQFWnsivY11qolaQnNPQ-wlIKhdH7kCNM3zfeehXAxa9lb1Sho4_yF9_roCX3JFOgp90R4B62A3x0ylUtxG-8qnE6kLnLgRsqYWbLrjTgm1-jHwnxF1ZPEsXXiLq9c9EuIZ8/s400/FB_IMG_1581362240748.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A look inside the CD booklet.</span></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-53806767515799424342020-02-03T12:59:00.001+00:002020-02-03T13:39:54.354+00:00Pre-order the Nobody's Perfect reissue now<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_details.html">Occultation Recordings</a></b> are thrilled to be taking pre-orders of the Nobody's Perfect 40th anniversary double CD and LP reissue that is being released officially on 20th March 2020 in conjunction with Man In The Moon Records.<br />
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Pre-ordering now means that your order will be sent to you as soon as they are received from the manufacturers, several weeks before the official release date. As a thank you for your support (and patience), initial copies ordered from Occultation will come with extra content:<br />
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- Initial CD orders will come with an exclusive limited 5" laminated art print with a hot-foil effect.<br />
- Initial LP orders will include the 5" print plus a poster.<br />
- All orders come with an immediate download of the 14 tracks administered by Occultation (standalone download available at <b><a href="https://thedistractionsmcr.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-perfect-2020-40th-anniversary-expanded-reissue">Bandcamp</a></b>).<br />
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<b>Order Nobody's Perfect from Occultation <a href="https://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E4070/Orders/np2020_details.html">HERE</a></b>. You can also pick up previous LPs and CDs in bundles that save you a fair bit.<br />
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Our friends at <b><a href="https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/the-distractions-nobodys-perfect-2020-two-cd-deluxe-reissue-and-vinyl/">SuperDeluxeEdition</a></b> are also offering similar, exclusive deals on this set as well as the other Distractions albums.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pcjrO99PIcRUkOsP0EKmwpHfGIPyauFbyr8fZlETJYZEzOySOtaER9R6bkwrnMmDkEQLbEHAzFuIpg0JCpzKfcTFMuecEQRdHN0OCWlO-1mC7sQKS77FR2sFKL0uBEgKjOT6sUiaOFA/s1600/Screenshot_20200203-125715_Twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1040" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pcjrO99PIcRUkOsP0EKmwpHfGIPyauFbyr8fZlETJYZEzOySOtaER9R6bkwrnMmDkEQLbEHAzFuIpg0JCpzKfcTFMuecEQRdHN0OCWlO-1mC7sQKS77FR2sFKL0uBEgKjOT6sUiaOFA/s320/Screenshot_20200203-125715_Twitter.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
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Track listing for the 2CD and LP versions are as follows:<br />
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<b>CD1: "Nobody’s Perfect”, 1979-81</b></div>
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1. Waiting For Lorraine</div>
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2. Something for the Weekend</div>
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3. Boys cry (when no one can see them)</div>
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4. Sick and tired</div>
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5. Leave you to dream</div>
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6. Louise</div>
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7. Paracetamol Paralysis</div>
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8. (Stuck in a) Fantasy</div>
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9. Nothing</div>
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10. Wonder Girl</div>
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11. Still it doesn't ring</div>
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12. Untitled</div>
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13. Looking for a Ghost</div>
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14. Valerie</div>
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15. It doesn’t bother me</div>
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16. One Way Love</div>
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17. Something for the Weekend</div>
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18.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What’s the use?</div>
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19.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Twenty-Four Hours</div>
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20.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ghost of a Chance</div>
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21.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love is not for me</div>
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22. Leave me</div>
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<b>CD2: "Ride Your Ideas Ragged”, 1978-80</b></div>
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1. Pillow Fight</div>
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2. Sick and tired</div>
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3. Still it doesn’t ring</div>
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4. Valerie</div>
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5. Doesn’t bother me</div>
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6. Nothing</div>
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7. Maybe it’s Love</div>
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8. Too Young</div>
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9. Time goes by so slow</div>
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10. Pillow Fight</div>
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11. It doesn’t bother me</div>
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12. One Way Love</div>
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13. Waiting For Lorraine</div>
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14. Something for the Weekend</div>
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15. Boys cry (when no one can see them)</div>
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16. Sick and tired</div>
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17. Leave you to dream</div>
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18. Louise</div>
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19. Paracetamol Paralysis</div>
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20. (Stuck in a) Fantasy</div>
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21. Nothing</div>
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22. Wonder Girl</div>
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23. Still it doesn't ring</div>
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24. Untitled</div>
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25. Looking for a Ghost</div>
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26. Valerie</div>
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<b>LP: Nobody's Perfect 2020 remix </b></div>
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The LP version features CD2 tracks 13-26, i.e. the remixed version of the album.<br />
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-87615344177495899942020-01-28T18:52:00.000+00:002020-01-28T18:52:05.499+00:00Sign up to pre-order now<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sign up to The Distractions mailing list <b><a href="https://occultation.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=431c9816be319aa8c106a7af5&id=3e3a10a253">HERE</a></b> so you can be the first to pre-order Nobody's Perfect 2020 on 2xCD and LP, plus extra goodies and bundles from Occultation:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghB8SNm7EACQzXKYcFReC9dz1pSeJwTdbrhh2ZqLjeBqeCrCAKOu_hTI8F_siD1q3CkheAXUsWsjdb_eRdAg-rd1IS8-gsub3_QjQ4P2ck-SKFYWoenr6m8HFMBMPEWkmSPpoRGDnzDx8/s1600/IMG_20200128_184929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="1430" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghB8SNm7EACQzXKYcFReC9dz1pSeJwTdbrhh2ZqLjeBqeCrCAKOu_hTI8F_siD1q3CkheAXUsWsjdb_eRdAg-rd1IS8-gsub3_QjQ4P2ck-SKFYWoenr6m8HFMBMPEWkmSPpoRGDnzDx8/s320/IMG_20200128_184929.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-44531430107489994592020-01-11T14:03:00.002+00:002020-01-11T14:03:40.718+00:00Paul Slattery on The Distractions<div style="text-align: justify;">
An extract from Paul Slattery's new photobook, <i><a href="https://www.legendspublishing.net/product/joy-division/">Joy Division at Strawberry Studios</a>.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeEgkDheSt1z5PD5B3Ol3xgmQB0zHK_59QvBx_Dn3_HBGMmjfPYmynPKmUjk0GZk1qajsQhyphenhyphenwnCLZfqqQCGqQJdrjVr0fxx5rXoBIn0jVkehanbVA0oIA4UkpVc_BvyzVxC7lnruBHCU/s1600/Screenshot_20200111-133838_Samsung+Internet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1080" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeEgkDheSt1z5PD5B3Ol3xgmQB0zHK_59QvBx_Dn3_HBGMmjfPYmynPKmUjk0GZk1qajsQhyphenhyphenwnCLZfqqQCGqQJdrjVr0fxx5rXoBIn0jVkehanbVA0oIA4UkpVc_BvyzVxC7lnruBHCU/s320/Screenshot_20200111-133838_Samsung+Internet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the evening we went to the Funhouse at The Mayflower to see Joy Division play along with The Distractions, The Fall and Ludus at a gig entitled 'Stuff The Superstars'... tickets were £1.50. I thought Joy Division were excellent - they came on very early in the programme and I remember them sounding so much better and far more powerful live than on the album.</div>
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Everything about Joy Division seemed to stand out - Steven Morris's electronic drum sound... Peter Hook's low-slung bass driving the rhythm... Bernard's clanging guitar... and amazing baritone vocals and dancing from ian Curtis... this was new and special.</div>
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I had to be careful about the amount of pictures that I took as I only had a few frames left to photograph the rest of the gig - The Fall and The Distractions, who had just signed to Island Records, were bigger bands and I had to save some film for them. Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing.<br />
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From another <a href="https://www.joydiv.org/psinterview.htm">interview with Paul Slattery</a>: "There were some great bands on there – Ludus, The Fall, The Distractions were a really great pop band from Manchester, and Joy Division. I never knew whether Joy Division’s band of music would surpass The Distractions. I’d seen the Distractions a few times and I like that kind of pop music."<br />
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And on this <a href="http://retroman65.blogspot.com/2019/08/joy-division-at-strawberry-studios-new.html">audio interview with Paul Slattery</a>: "The headliners of the night were The Distractions - Manchester pop band, The Distractions - who I loved. I thought they were fantastic."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oHKtykbaDqgsSmkZENcNEkoW-OGjZ9mF_dg5OrXCuY1fk0KwJJXM5wp4X5Yd47BpRqWP6ow7qVAr-r_kdPpOJfP3WQimoFbk6AyaC17-Eq9xdg0utAW4RKlMyuL8EVEMacftZSE0Xc4/s1600/20200111_130721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oHKtykbaDqgsSmkZENcNEkoW-OGjZ9mF_dg5OrXCuY1fk0KwJJXM5wp4X5Yd47BpRqWP6ow7qVAr-r_kdPpOJfP3WQimoFbk6AyaC17-Eq9xdg0utAW4RKlMyuL8EVEMacftZSE0Xc4/s320/20200111_130721.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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On 26th Ocrober 1979, I'd been asked to do a photo session with The Distractions, backstage at the Electric Ballroom - Joy Division were headlining that evening.</div>
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Unknown Pleasures had already become a cult record and Joy Division's status and reputation had grown considerably since I had met them at Strawberry Studios three months earlier.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWRVwnGpeXLfTkeBs6tX03bKS72trwLq3zAJobfEupotXwVvSQZezZrpgRXPBTBL3iQWNBTg5mIfqDLnGRPVMbNL2mSMyqh8oTohyzLqLHdPpXCmSHvj95wM7kc_q8ymZJwBm9nbMDTk/s1600/20090805-115752-121494-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWRVwnGpeXLfTkeBs6tX03bKS72trwLq3zAJobfEupotXwVvSQZezZrpgRXPBTBL3iQWNBTg5mIfqDLnGRPVMbNL2mSMyqh8oTohyzLqLHdPpXCmSHvj95wM7kc_q8ymZJwBm9nbMDTk/s1600/20090805-115752-121494-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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The place was really packed and the photographers had to fight their way to the front. I had about half a roll of film left I the camera, and after I finally managed to get a reasonable place in the crowd, I was able to take these images.</div>
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I didn't realise at the time that my pictures would be so poignant, and in many ways, moving.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHBCCMReKMauBjsJdK6_Yd-sWgIG0beoW9R2DmsNxIFmIMCtt8MmjUrI8QzJW0Sa_-j6uieMWaks46lNwcjTbW1dqKaeCv_qbvetolblhUm-P9b7_Wuj0zoAqRpUzAYwBeH5av1cfYb4/s1600/joy_division1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="716" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHBCCMReKMauBjsJdK6_Yd-sWgIG0beoW9R2DmsNxIFmIMCtt8MmjUrI8QzJW0Sa_-j6uieMWaks46lNwcjTbW1dqKaeCv_qbvetolblhUm-P9b7_Wuj0zoAqRpUzAYwBeH5av1cfYb4/s320/joy_division1.gif" width="227" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-70985882107589040592019-12-16T12:57:00.001+00:002019-12-18T11:28:13.871+00:00Mancunian Ramones<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This piece from Prof David Quantick appeared in April 2019's <i>Record Collector</i> magazine. A month or two later, it was announced that his wish would be granted! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK5FXzSkh5ZPO4Cf6_KaFOO6Or-l_4U-8MXTXvxSQy92XzSZfwnsMDPKkHfClt7vkgjbdO328s0uGY4qvE3BI9QhATuZEmPdYm7Hu3SdY-Af2GwIwqCF84N5DvDfaxalYxFhbHKOmhw0/s1600/20190302_114554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK5FXzSkh5ZPO4Cf6_KaFOO6Or-l_4U-8MXTXvxSQy92XzSZfwnsMDPKkHfClt7vkgjbdO328s0uGY4qvE3BI9QhATuZEmPdYm7Hu3SdY-Af2GwIwqCF84N5DvDfaxalYxFhbHKOmhw0/s400/20190302_114554.jpg" width="310" /></a></i> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>PLEASE RELEASE ME</b></span></div>
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<b>A new, regular look at albums crying out for reissue</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Distractions</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nobody's Perfect </span></div>
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<i>(Island ILPS 9601, UK LP, 1980)</i> <b>£15</b></div>
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1980 was a cusp year for guitar music as punk and new wave finally gave way to post-punk, 2-Tone, and new romantics. Which may partly account for the lack of success of Manchester band The Distractions' <i>Nobody's Perfect</i>, one of the great lost pop albums of all time - that, and the fact that the band signed to Island roughly when U2 did; far from ideal timing. Despite strong reviews, <i>Nobody's Perfect</i> did nothing commercially, and the band lost one of its members (guitarist Steve Perrin), were dropped from the label, and sputtered out shortly after.<br />
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The Distractions were an odd mix. Described as "Buzzcocks [if they] had been on Motown", they boasted Pete Shelley-type melodies, lyrics and racing guitar, and the vocals of Mike Finney, one of <i>the</i> best pop-soul singers. They began their career with the brilliant EP <i>You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That</i> (which posited them as the Mancunian Ramones), briefly swerved onto Factory to make the revered Time Goes By So Slow single, and were then signed by Island.<br />
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<i>Nobody's Perfect</i> is one of those albums that creates its own world, from the wry title and matching front cover to the songs, which range from the skittering paranoia of Waiting For Lorraine to the choral doom of Looking For A Ghost. Brilliant songs of frustration and melancholy, the near-hit single, a cover of Eden Kane's Boys Cry, showcased Finney's voice but not the band's gift with guitars and melodies; at times this record could be the work of a very wired Searchers, so well does it combine its tuneful roots with the modern era. True, it suffers from a slight lack of oomph in its production, but turned up loud, it's glorious.</div>
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Still unavailable in any form (though there is talk of a crowd-funded release for all The Distractions' work), <i>Nobody's Perfect</i> could have been a forlorn tombstone, but Finney and Perrin reunited in 2012 and released two superb albums of middle-aged brilliance, <b><a href="http://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7DC017/eotp_main.html"><i>The End Of The Pier</i></a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Releases/YMIR7E1050/kindly_main.html"><i>Kindly Leave The Stage</i></a></b>. These, thankfully, are still in print.</div>
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<i>David Quantick</i></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-24622868694861342912019-12-04T21:44:00.000+00:002019-12-04T21:48:52.268+00:00Hit album qualities<div style="text-align: justify;">
This short piece was published on <b><a href="https://popdiggers.com/nearly-forgotten-pop-classics-from-the-80s/">Pop Diggers</a></b> last year under 'Nearly forgotten pop classics of the '80s' by Peter Jonsson. Since then, the retrospective referred to is now, of course, the <b>40th anniversary 2CD deluxe and LP reissue of Nobody's Perfect</b> - the former containing 48 tracks. These are scheduled in 2020 as joint release by <a href="https://www.maninthemoonrecords.com/">Man In The Moon Records</a> and <a href="http://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Artists/TheDistractions/distractionsmain.html" style="opacity: 1;">Occultation Records</a>. Full details soon. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b09TzcAIv_Gj57yrfUrLK6r09y6aBIWkCr7Jqbuv5_Wd0fvUP1o4WKtMzZwQGTBMNAsZBNyYXNSVZafz3vcrf9fpD_xEAmd7J_Z0xCiEIWfVENW0OcZ5mWRWj5S5uK2Ogt0pUh2Z994/s1600/facebook-675-250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="675" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b09TzcAIv_Gj57yrfUrLK6r09y6aBIWkCr7Jqbuv5_Wd0fvUP1o4WKtMzZwQGTBMNAsZBNyYXNSVZafz3vcrf9fpD_xEAmd7J_Z0xCiEIWfVENW0OcZ5mWRWj5S5uK2Ogt0pUh2Z994/s400/facebook-675-250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE DISTRACTIONS </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">(Stuck In A) Fantasy </span></b><br />
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[Nobody’s Perfect track; Island, 1980]<br />
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Not long after the expectations of The Distractions’ marvelous – but at that time much overlooked – debut album Nobody’s Perfect [1980] failed to materialize, the group started to fall apart. Quite understandable, since Nobody’s Perfect displayed all hit album qualities you can imagine. It was even sweetened (to no avail) by a jangling cover of Eden Kane’s UK # 8 hit from 1964, Boys Cry, released as the first of two singles from the album. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfQIyX-hfRsgBJ9S12YgTnLO8EjCIapbhozbxFshJKZK_52KaE3PGva5Lkkk5uvistibm7kvhoaOjnaQFFaqye1FijNP8axYvckqXrgcejP0S6Zv93E60YNExzOWLsn3J_ThPFkJwKH8/s1600/distractionsnobodys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfQIyX-hfRsgBJ9S12YgTnLO8EjCIapbhozbxFshJKZK_52KaE3PGva5Lkkk5uvistibm7kvhoaOjnaQFFaqye1FijNP8axYvckqXrgcejP0S6Zv93E60YNExzOWLsn3J_ThPFkJwKH8/s1600/distractionsnobodys.jpg" /></a></div>
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Formed in 1975, The Distractions drew attention in their Manchester-area right from the start. They recorded some really good songs for minor companies before they were signed to Island Records in 1979; the punkier 12” EP You’re Not Going Out Dressed Like That [1978] and the pop pearl Time Goes By So Slow [1979]. Line-up changes just after the release of Nobody’s Perfect did not make things better, and they disbanded in 1981. Steve Perrin (guitar) and Mike Finney (song) constitutes the driving force behind the band and they re-united the band in the 1990’s and again, twenty years later, this time with new material on <a href="http://www.occultation.co.uk/Occultation_Space/Artists/TheDistractions/distractionsmain.html" style="opacity: 1;">Occultation Records</a>. </div>
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Despite their recent gigs in 2017, the last album is called Kindly Leave The Stage [2017]; giving a hint of where they think they are heading. Hopefully, successful crowd funding for the planned retrospect Parabolically Yours can make them change their minds. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMWZA6Ph1qG4WSC5hAI4ndX5M4r9xr6hF-ZajDWILwfSsLNMY7f6WTG1fI84ZEmzKa-guVlCSP0eI47q_ow5xWnokXIjciTcVVc7HItVS15g7GPSZqUJ9UqVQkXbciGb9UHUve_kEln4/s1600/Screenshot_20191204-212226_Samsung+Internet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="957" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMWZA6Ph1qG4WSC5hAI4ndX5M4r9xr6hF-ZajDWILwfSsLNMY7f6WTG1fI84ZEmzKa-guVlCSP0eI47q_ow5xWnokXIjciTcVVc7HItVS15g7GPSZqUJ9UqVQkXbciGb9UHUve_kEln4/s320/Screenshot_20191204-212226_Samsung+Internet.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323880118530821361.post-65195677321250399652019-10-23T19:35:00.006+01:002019-10-23T20:42:08.278+01:00One of those voices<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Here's the rest of the great <b>Brian Davies</b> article in the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Positive Reaction </i>fanzine from 1979. The Distractions and X-O-Dus - soon to both be signed for single deals by Tony Wilson's Factory Records - play the Rock Against Racism gig at Manchester Polytechnic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_ihJGWcz2Gw5rH4LlQ_mnzzBLTO2z93Z8z6RrvvP61U829dBfClV73Xh-7vQin9RIVhU6BPd3Kd5k48HCesAJyXRz1pXwUsrHLBDoAV6XYtLvMzIMucx1GmHzC-I5M-u6QcZV2Tt8jE/s1600/Screenshot_20191012-155118_Facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="838" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_ihJGWcz2Gw5rH4LlQ_mnzzBLTO2z93Z8z6RrvvP61U829dBfClV73Xh-7vQin9RIVhU6BPd3Kd5k48HCesAJyXRz1pXwUsrHLBDoAV6XYtLvMzIMucx1GmHzC-I5M-u6QcZV2Tt8jE/s320/Screenshot_20191012-155118_Facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>MANCHESTER POLY - TUESDAY 3rd Apr. 1979.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">DISTRACTIONS / EXODUS / BLACKSTONE</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ROCK AGAINST RACISM GIG</span></b></div>
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<b>MANCHESTER HERO BRIAN DAVIES WAS THERE!!!</b></div>
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The group formed about two years ago, when (I think) lead singer Mike Finney and guitarist Steve Perrin put an advert in NME, and from this, they got another guitarist Adrian Wright. He brought with him ex-Purple Gang drummer Alec, who had just returned from America. After they hassled Pete Shelley for a bass player they got Pip Nicholls. Tony Davidson, owner of the wealthy TJM label saw them and asked them to record for him. Within a week they had been in the studios and recorded the four tracks which make up the EP: "Doesn't Bother Me", "Nothing", "Maybe It's Love" and "Too Young". It was Single of the Week in NME and almost received the same accolade in 'Sounds'. The future looks quite rosy for one of Manchester's brightest hopes, with a gig in London soon at either the Marquee or Music Machine. The EP was a one-off and the band had signed a production deal with Arrow for the next single, possibly the brilliant "Still It Doesn't Ring".</div>
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Anyway to the gig. Brilliant with a couple of reservations. The band write superb tunes, but tend to play everything at 100 mph. This tends to blur the subtleties hidden away in the music, but the band's overall competence virtually makes up for this. </div>
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The set was composed of 17 songs, all original apart from the Small Faces classic "Whattcha Gonna Do About It?". Unfortunately, the band had to curtail the set, due to the fact that time was running out, and there was another group to come on. Singer Mike looks like he would be more at home as a bank clerk, but he commands attention, in the middle of the stage and he has "one of those voices". </div>
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Similar to Jake Burns, in that it makes you think that he can't sing like that all the time, but he does. Other stand out songs were "Paracetamol Paralysis" (nice title), "Time Goes By So Slow", all of the EP apart from "Doesn't Bother Me", which they wouldn't play due to time restrictions, the new single, and the much requested "Valerie". As their manager said, "They're the best pop group in the country!". You know, I think he's right. They don't lack a sense of humour either, especially Steve: "This is an anti-in tune song"! </div>
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He says he is influenced by Velvet Underfround and the Bay City Rollers? I don't want to end with the usual "check 'em out" conclusion, but that's exactly what applies. They're a hard-working and extremely friendly band. CHECK 'EM OUT!!! </div>
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Went home happy, and missed Blackstone, sorry! </div>
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BRIAN DAVIES </div>
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NEXT MONTH! </div>
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Possibly another article on THE DITRACTIONS, V2 interview, NOT SENSIBLE, more gig reviews. </div>
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BRIAN in MANCHESTER!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIPCCcXdy8AiFfXVq3ruuPTdSPJ5N-nen4U4fG-gQ13GyRlJ0pejoIzLIG6OlDtyg2SFLk5hndU72uOMKFYZQrYR0_5lV3SgrfmnPkQ6qQOzTpz64e8ivpQz76demc5LdvgSCLnaCI4Q/s1600/Screenshot_20191023-193434_Gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIPCCcXdy8AiFfXVq3ruuPTdSPJ5N-nen4U4fG-gQ13GyRlJ0pejoIzLIG6OlDtyg2SFLk5hndU72uOMKFYZQrYR0_5lV3SgrfmnPkQ6qQOzTpz64e8ivpQz76demc5LdvgSCLnaCI4Q/s400/Screenshot_20191023-193434_Gallery.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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granatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08551985686564886849noreply@blogger.com0