Perhaps the longest title of any CD I have reviewed for Punktastic. Just worth noting. Anyway, this is the latest in an infinite release list from TV Smith, ex of the Adverts and stalwart of the Rebellion festival clique. As it says on the tin, we are talking tunes that are the best part of 3 decades old, so quite a time capsule.
The aim of this here compilation is clearly quantity over quality control; the word ‘notebooks’ in the sleeve notes speaks volumes. The first couple of tunes actually give quite a false impression of the rest of the later recordings – mainly because they really aren’t that good. They have a nasty psychedelic edge that wears thin way before the 4 minute opuses are up. It takes 4 or 5 tracks before some of the more trademark sounds come in (‘Impulse Buy’ is a good example) and the best part of half the record before you can hear an element of self assurance.
There are some great demos on here (mostly the stuff towards the end of the record) and it is quite a refreshingly stark approach to releasing music – hence the title! It’s definitely not the place to start with TV Smith‘s stuff, mainly because if you watch him play these days, there is very little resemblance to a lot of the songs on here (and the voice itself). It’s more one for the hardened Adverts fans. It’s an interesting hour or so of music, but without a lot of the staying power that the man has in abundance at gigs these days.
Mike