SILVER DAGGERS - NEW HIGH & ORD (LOAD 104)

A LONG TIME FAVOURITE OF MINE, I TELL YOU NOW IN THE OPENING PARAGRAPH THIS IS A CERTIFIED: GOOD RECORD. I GOT IT ON THE DAY IT DROPPED AS RECOMMENDED FROM AN OLD PAL OF MINE AND IT REMAINS FIRMLY ON MY PHONE AND ITS SONGS RARELY SKIPPED WHEN THEY POP UP ON SHUFFLE. IS THERE A HIGHER FORM OF RESPECT? I THINK NOT.

THERE IS SOME ADJACENCY TO LA VETERANS NO AGE AND THAT WHOLE SCENE AT "THE SMELL" IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA HERE BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT TOO MUCH. NEW HIGH AND ORD IS 14 NO WAVE PARTY ANTHEMS PLAYED BY A WHIP-TIGHT BAND WHO PUT FUN AND SONGCRAFT IN THE SAME BALLPARK. THERE'S THIS BIT AT THE END OF 'THE FIVE FOOD GROUPS' THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BITS OF MUSIC EVER. I JUST WANT TO TAKE ON THE WORLD WHEN I HEAR IT!

IF YOU LIKE THE CONTORTIONS AND THAT WHOLE NYC NO WAVE PUNK FUNK THING THEN I THINK THIS IS A GROUP THAT YOU SHOULD WAKE UP TO, PARTLY BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THAT SPIRIT WITHOUT APING THE MUSIC WILDLY. THE VOCALS CAN BE A BIT DIVISIVE AS THEY'RE QUITE HIGH AND YELPY. THE SONGS JUST FLOW INTO EACH OTHER WITH A MID-ALBUM BREAK FOR A SPECTRAL REVERBED SAX JAM BEFORE RESUMING FULL-SERVICE MAYHEM. THIS IS A GREAT RECORD AND I AM SAD THEY ENDED AFTER IT.

CERTIFIED: GOOD