An unknown classic

I love this album and would agree it is the best work since the "Dancing Years". Hooray for Everything has become one of my favorites, but the Bride Stripped Bare is another great tune. I know there was no Dave Allen on this disc, but they didn't seem to miss him.

Great line-up

true

No Dave Allen on bass, but a great line-up nonetheless: barry andrews: vocals, keyboards... finn andrews: backing vocals... martyn barker: drums and percussion... andy partridge: guitar... catherine shrubshall: brass and woodwind... mark the harp: blues harp... ben smith: trombone... stuart rowe: guitars... finn wilkinson & mia griffiths: kids choir... produced by barry andrews & stuart rowe... mixed & mastered by stuart rowe

A sad day for emusic

m4v1k

It's a sad day for emusic when this and Cormorant aren't leading the emusic charts given all the garbage that seems to be more popular than these two very fine, if not mind blowing albums. I only wish emusic would have got these sooner as I'd already purchased both albums on CD. Nearly two years after purchasing Cormorant I still find myself listening to it on a regular basis.

Extremely Good Music

hiddenfire88

It really is a return to form. It really is as good as their best stuff. Songs with traction recorded extremely well. The drum tracks here are awesome, the playing and the sound, just TIGHT. The sounds ebb flow and oooze around the beats.

Yeearrgg!

Fancyartist

I watied for months before I broke down and bought this on Amazon for $8.99. Now, it is here! I never thought emusic would post any more Shriekback. All that being said, this is a really good album!

Return

StanC

Wow... I have to admit that after hearing their last album Naked Apes my expectation were pretty low. But this album is very much a return to form of the great music they were making in the 80's. For me the standout tracks are Hooray For Everything, Bittersweet, Amaryllis In The Sprawl and Mahalia.

weaponsgrade creativity

Neo-Romantic

There are some wonderful songs on this album that stand up with the best of Barry Andrew's songs from the last 30 years. Whether you liked the thrash of Nemesis or the quiet haunting melodies like Faded Flowers from the 80s, then you'll find comparisons and equals here. Amaryllis in the Sprawl and Bittersweet are so dark and beautiful and could only come from a British band steeped in the romantic traditions of the art and music of this country. It's the mix of dark and light, meditation and unhinged craziness that make them so brilliant. Hooray for everything...