YNGODLTbutton TGBSSbutton DBMbutton BCbutton NP2button SFTWbutton ATTbutton

Home

News

Discography

History

Misc

Sign up for news

Documents

TheDistractions

nothing

the official distractions website

Welcome to the official Distractions website. We will be aiming to record the history of one of the greatest, but least heralded, of all Manchester beat groups.

Click here to sign up for occasional newsletters

DistractionsBand2


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Post-punk melodicism

Yet another superb review for the Come Home EP, from Jack Rabid at The Big Takeover, the bi-annual music magazine.




The Distractions - Come Home EP (Occultation U.K.)

by Jack Rabid

The trend of bands from the late ‘70s/’80s reforming and doing work that doesn’t embarrass their halcyon days continues!  The latest exhibit is this unheralded but quite excellent pop group from the late ‘70s Manchester underground that made a sterling single for the famous Factory label at that label’s peak before heading off to major label Island for a few years and an LP, and then breaking up in 1981.  Along with a brand new Black Velvet EP (recorded in the mid-90s during a previous reformation), also for Occultation, Come Home represents the first time they’ve been heard from in 29 years, and principal members Mike Finney (vocals) and Steve Perrin (guitar) plug right back into their blend of their city’s original energetic post-punk melodicism mixed with 1979 Liverpool’s softer indie-pop romanticism.  They are also ably assisted by Nick Halliwell, whose own Granite Shore released 2010’s best single on this same label, “Flood of fortune,” working with Phil Wilson (having worked with Liverpool’s Wild Swans on his previous single — this younger orchestral-pop fan sure knows his U.K. music history!), along with a new rhythm section.  The second and third tracks, “Nicole” and Halliwell’s own “Oil Painting,” are both mellow in a light Orange Juice mode (albeit with Finney’s more drama-laced vocals), but the lead song “Lost” is the notable here.  With a mix of acoustic guitars strumming, lead guitar picking, warm and insistent piano, and a strident tempo, it should tickle fans of New Zealand’s Flying Nun label, and those who like their pop to tickle and tease a little behind a very strong chorus melody.  Welcome back Distractions! (occultation.co.uk)


twitterlogocfindusonfacebookbadge1a1

No comments:

Post a Comment

Blog Archive

FAC12logo

sign up for distracting news

YNGODLTbutton TGBSSbutton DBMbutton BCbutton NP2button SFTWbutton ATTbutton