Emerging from Norwich in the early 80s, The Farmer's Boys were an unashamed indie-pop band. This album, their second and, sadly, last, came out in 1985 but its meld of Orange Juice/The Housemartins-type sounds is as fresh today as they ever were.
The album sets the scene by kicking off with a cover of the old Cliff Richard song "In The Country", up-tempo, jangling guitars to the fore and with enough verve and cheer to bring an immediate smile to your face. "I Built The World" keeps the pace up and bright and "Sport For All" manages to make miserablism chipper!
Next up "Art Gallery", with blasting horns and slightly harder guitars, is one of the album's highlights, "Something From Nothing" slows it down a bit before we're hit with "Phew Wow!" a bouncing romp of a song with Beach Boys harmonies, strings and the band's trademark cheeky grin stamped all over it. "All Of A Sudden" keeps the ball in the air then we're brought right back down to earth with "Heartache", a pastiche torch song. "Walkabout", with rabble rousing backing vocals is very redolent of its era with vaguely Spandau Ballet-ish vocalising. The album rounds off with "Whatever Is He Like?", a re-do of the band's first single.
I bought this album when it came out in 1985 and it pretty much had a permanent place on the stereo. I dug it out again when I heard the band were re-releasing their first album, "Get Out & Walk", and was astounded that I could remember every hook, chorus and lyric.
If you're feeling a bit glum or you've got a mate that wants cheering up, put this on. It should be prescribed by doctors for depression!
It's a truly great album, much more accomplished than Get out and walk, let's hope its reissued soon.
ReplyDeleteI agree! By the way, "Get Out And Walk" is re-issued this year!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments, Dorothy :-)
Rich