‘Lost albums’ are things of musical myth and legend, so the launch of a new label dedicated to rediscovering and setting free such albums is to be very much welcomed and applauded.
The Lost Music Club’s much anticipated first release has been patiently waiting in the wings for 17 years and the new label describe Speedy’s News from Nowhere as a “glorious slice of joyful Britpop”.
1997 was the year that gave us Songs From Northern Britain by Teenage Fanclub, In it for the Money by Supergrass, Drawn to the Deep End by Gene, OK Computer by Radiohead and the twin great fading tail lights of the Britpop movement Be Here Now by Oasis and Blur by Blur. To attempt to place Speedy’s album within this historical musical context is not particularly fair to all parties because it’s a surprising and refreshing contemporary collection of tunes.
It’s bright and poppy but also gloriously dark in places (particularly on one of the album’s many high points, ‘I like you so much’ which is the most fun you can have while contemplating cannibalism). The album possesses a tremendous sense of humour too, name-checking, among others, Liam, Damon and Jarvis on the breakneck ‘Boy Wonder’ and sounding on the quirky ‘Karaoke King’ like a Britpop reincarnation of The Housemartins (which is no bad thing in my book!)
The album is released on Monday 7 April and, excitingly, the band are playing live to celebrate its belated release, when they may finally be able to count themselves a part of the massed ranks of Sheffield’s finest.
Words: Neil Pace
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