I was running slightly late due to a family meal when I went to see The Hanging Stars at Stereo in October. I got there in time to catch the last couple of numbers by the support act only to find that it was Gerry Love. I'm still kicking myself.
To make up for that I have acquired a copy of Electric Cables by his (other) band Lightships which was first released in 2012 on Stephen Pastel's Geographic label. It has just been re-released to celebrate its 10th anniversary and is available here. You can also get a digital copy at Bandcamp
The Guardian in a 4/5 review wrote fans of Gerard Love's work with Teenage Fanclub will sigh contendedly at how Fanclubesque this album is. Every element is in place: Love's diffident, uninsistent voice; quirky arrangements where the expected guitar is replaced by something else – a flute, a keyboard; those little repeated instrumental hooks that pick their way through a whole song; the autumnal mood, part regret, part contentment; that glorious way with a melody. Love's songwriting is wholly distinctive.
This is the man who wrote Sparky's Dream and Ain't That Enough for heaven's sake.If you like the Fannies (and who doesn't?) this album is as essential as the rest of them. Buy it!
Craig at Plain or Pan has just written a great article about a show that Gerry put on in Irvine recently. I wish I'd been there.
Lightships -The Warmth of the Sun
Teenage Fanclub - Sparky's Dream
Teenage Fanclub -Ain't That Enough
Bought the Lightships album, haven't played it for ages. Must dig it out.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have any Lightships. Will be correcting this immediately. - Brian
ReplyDeleteMissed this one completely, but just listened to the whole album and it's great.
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