Shriekback: Oil And Gold (Island Records/1985)

Shriekback's third album finds ex-XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews, ex-Gang Of Four bassist Dave Allen and ex-Out On Blue Six guitarist Carl Marsh's collectively greatest vinyl moment. Oil And Gold is the perfect transition from quirky outsider minimalist funk band to alternative commercial band. The album is perhaps their most diverse offering. It contains their most well-known hit in “Nemesis”, which is something of a mid 80's classic. “Fish Below The Ice” is also a fairly-successful single.

“Faded Flowers”, “Only Thing That Shines”, The Big Hush” and “Coelcanth” form something of a quiet calm suite. “Malaria” (which came this close to being issued as a single) and “Everything That Rises Must Converge” are both winning songs.

This was the last album to feature Marsh as lead vocalist, before the role was taken by creative leader Andrews. His whispering vocals are effective within the context of the bands inner logic.

This is a very good album and something of a forgotten mini-classic.

Here's the video review:

Barry Andrews: Town And Country EP (Virgin/1979)

Barry Andrews was the keyboard player for XTC from 1976 to 1979. He appeared on one EP (The
3-D EP), two albums (White Music and Go 2) and four singles. He was largely responsible the band's whimsical funhouse sound. He quickly grew tired of being a third wheel to dominant composers Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. Virgin Records however loved his contributions to the band and upon leaving XTC released his first three solo singles. The first of these was the Town And Country EP which was released in May of 1979.

It contains some of Barry's whizzing organs and keyboards albeit in an understated way than on his records with XTC. Colin Moulding is the bassist on the EP which features an outtake from Go 2, “Sargasso Bar”. “Me And My Mate Can Sing” is perhaps the records' catchy stand-out track and appears to reference groupies or hanger-ons. “ Mousetrap” and “Bring On The Alligators” are measured, punky, cockney mini-rave-ups.

The EP was produced by Martin Rushent (who had produced XTC's “Are You Receiving Me” single) and engineered by Hugh Padgham (who later engineered XTC's Drums & Wires and Black Sea albums). I personally like it as it fills a gap between Barry in XTC and his time in the bands Resurant For Dogs, The League Of Gentleman and his formation of Shriekback with Dave Allen of Gang Of Four.

For fans of XTC and Shriekback or late 70's Post Punk.


Here's The Video Review: