Superb pop from Manchester

This article from - surprise, surprise - Sweden reads as if it was published in about 1981 before the release of the And Then There's... EP on THAT Records (not Rough Trade as sometimes stated).  It's from the Aaren Strup website, "an encyclopedia of New Wave and Punk music from 1977 to 1982 with images and interviews":

THE DISTRACTIONS

Steve Perrin gitarr, sang 

Pip Nicholls bas, sang  

Mike Finney sang  

Adrian Wright gitarr, klavistur, sang  

Alec Sidebottom trummor, slagverk, sång  

Superb pop från Manchester. En grupp som funnits i några år nu, men som haft svårt med skivbolag och i kunnat slå igenom ordentligt. De började sin musikaliska karriär med en 12-tums EP på ett Manchester baserat bolag som heter "T. J. M. records". Efter det blev det en singel (Times goes by so slow) på "Factory". Sedan gick de vidare till "Island", ett större bolag som trodde att gruppen var något att satsa på eftersom pressen alltid rosade Distraction. En LP släpptes, men den slog konstigt nog inte alls och efter den så bildade gruppen ett eget bolag "That records" som kommer att distribueras av "Rough Trade". Man kan bara hoppas att bandet får den framgång som de är värda.

Nobody's Perfect - Island (IUPS 9604), 1980

Svängig och charmig till tusen, varierad rock som i det närmaste är perfekt. Gruppen har en fin känsla för smakfulla arrangemang och bra poplåtar. Den här plattan har allt: bra sångare, bra material och den har gått hem hos pressen. Tyvärr så har den inte blivit något genombrott.

Artiklar om:   The Distractions

- NME 791027 s. 24 "Happiness is just a distraction" - Paul Morley.

- NME 801018 s. 27-28 "Attention! You are about to be distracted" - Charles Shaar Murray. 

Translation with google's assistance and a few improvements:

THE DISTRACTIONS

Steve Perrin - guitar, vocals

Pip Nicholls - bass, vocals

Mike Finney - vocals

Adrian Wright - guitar, keyboards, song

Alec Sidebottom - drums, percussion, vocals

Superb pop from Manchester.  A group which has existed for some years now, but who had difficulty with the record company to allow them to record properly.  They began their musical career with a 12-inch EP for a Manchester-based label called TJM Records.  After that there was a single (Time Goes By So Slow) for Factory Records.  Then they went on to Island Records, a larger company who believed that the group was something to bet on because the press always acclaimed The Distractions.  An LP was released, but strangely it wasn't a hit at all and after that the group formed a separate label, THAT Records, for an EP which will be distributed by Rough Trade.  One can only hope that the band will be the success that they deserve to be.

Nobody's Perfect - Island (IUPS 9604), 1980

Swinging and charming to thousands, a varied rock that is almost perfect.  The group has a fine sense of tasteful arrangement and great pop songs.  This album has everything: good singers, good material and it has hit home with the press.  Unfortunately it has not been their breakthrough.

Articles about The Distractions:

* NME 27 October 1979 p.24 "Happiness is just a distraction" - Paul Morley.

* NME 18 October 1980 p.27-28 "Attention! You are about to be distracted" - Charles Shaar Murray.