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- Date Released: January 1, 1992
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Style: Rock
- Label: Cherry Red Records / IODA
Never mind the flute — this proto-shoegaze band lays on the heavy dream-pop sound
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We Say...
This Marlow, England, quintet were acquaintances of Slowdive (whose Neil Halstead wrote guitar parts for their early singles), and they had much of that hallowed shoegaze band’s faraway, knelling sense of mystery amid multiple layers of majesty and splendor. But on this, their 1992 debut, Blind Mr. Jones based their tunes on a much louder, more direct rock foundation. Tracks like “Spooky Vibes,” “Dolores" and the flute-ridden instrumental “Sisters” are so breathlessly fast, it’s like they’re dragging the whole shimmering-waves-of-dream-pop school from the back of a speeding bus. Maybe there’s a tad too much of the aforementioned flute, but overall this is compelling listening.
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They Say...
Tegner's flute leads off the opening notes of Stereo's first track, the instrumental "Sisters," a good way of demonstrating what helps them stand out from the early '90s U.K. shoegazing crowd. Blind Mr. Jones' fusion of fuzzblast and melancholy Cure-inspired undercurrents continues to serve them in good stead on the quintet's full debut record, and though the album is not a truly great one, it's definitely very good. Not much immediately distinguishes them from their contemporaries per se -- they lack the hushed gravitas of Slowdive or Chapterhouse's increasing embrace of technological means to achieve similar ends. But with what they've got, they know how to kick up a storm more often than not, while Tegner adds a lovely element of pastoralism and sweet performance to temper the din. James Franklin's lead and Richard Moore's rhythm guitars do the rest of the skybound business quite nicely, while Teversham's bass and John White's drums keep the pace going well enough (Teversham in particular betrays his Simon Gallup/Peter Hook playing roots more than once). If Teversham's lyrics aren't much beyond general blissout romance, they at least suit the songs, which often do more with the sentiments than the singing, which is not always as strong here as on the earlier EPs. Nearly everything on Stereo will be manna to shoegazing fanatics, but all-around standouts appear as well. "Regular Disease" has a particularly strong guitar line mixed with a lovely wash of effects, while the appropriately paced "Unforgettable Waltz" and the quietly triumphant feeling of the final, untitled bonus track. One interesting touch is the low-key but still striking cover version halfway through -- "Lonesome Boatman," a neo-Celtic folk classic from 1980 by the Furey Brothers. Tegner's flute perfectly suits its haunting feeling, while White's percussion further adds to the overall atmosphere.
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| 01. |  |
Sisters |
4:32 |
|
| 02. | |
Spooky Vibes |
6:13 |
|
| 03. | |
Regular Disease |
4:10 |
|
| 04. | |
Small Caravan |
5:13 |
|
| 05. | |
Flying With Lux |
1:58 |
|
| 06. | |
Henna and Swayed |
6:06 |
|
| 07. | |
Lonesome Boatman |
5:08 |
|
| 08. | |
Unforgettable Waltz |
2:18 |
|
| 09. | |
Going On Cold |
4:23 |
|
| 10. | |
Spook Easy |
1:35 |
|
| 11. | |
One Watt Above Darkness |
4:55 |
|
| 12. | |
Dolores |
4:45 |
|
| 13. | |
Against The Glass |
11:17 |
|
13 Total Tracks, 62:33 Total Length
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Credits
- Chris Hufford - Producer // Chris Hufford - Engineer // Richard Moore - Guitar // Richard Moore - Vocals // Blind Mr. Jones - Main Performer // Jamaal Franklin - Guitar // Jon Tegner - Flute // Will Teversham - Bass // Will Teversham - Vocals // Colin Bell - Photography // Jon White - Drums // John White - Drums // Richard More - Guitar // Richard More - Vocals
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