THE BATHERS-PANDEMONIA
THE BATHERS-PANDEMONIA.
The Bathers are one of these groups who never have received the acclaim that their wonderful music deserves. This demonstrates how unfair the music industry can be when, nowadays, made for television artists, receive publicity way beyond their talent, and sell huge quantities of mediocre music. Sadly, The Bathers meanwhile remain one of the music industries best kept secrets known about only be those who treasure their albums and await hungrily for news of their next album.
It is hard to believe that Pandemonia was released back in 1999,because the album still sounds as fresh as it did back then, as the album has a timeless quality about it. Back in 1999, on first listen I was smitten by the quality of the songwriting, musicianship and of course, Chris Thomson’s voice. There are fourteen songs on the album and remarkably, each one of those songs manages to keep up the same high quality. From the opening track Twenty Two until the final track, Pandemonia, each track fails to disappoint.
The lyrics to the opening track Twenty Two when read, may seem just examples of basic rhyming couplets, but Chris Thomson’s interpretation ensures they paint a picture in the listener’s mind that has the same effect as a good short story or mini-movie. Twenty Two is a tale of adoration and admiration, and yes love, but is it from afar? Dreamless is the second track and is easily one of the standout tracks on the album. The lyrics about love lost are both heartfelt and beautiful, and cannot fail to tug on the listener’s heartstrings.
My favourite track on Pandemonia is the fourth track The Belle Sisters. There is much to admire about this track, Callum McNairs’ guitar, Thomson’s vocal and the lyrics. The lyrics are both beautiful and surreal, after all, what could the lyric “when she held out her hands she was holding an accidental halo hunger and a horses head”. Whatever it means, it adds to the lyrics and makes it one of my favourite Bathers’ tracks.
Tequila Mockingbird is a beautiful song, where Catherine Leroy’s voice beautifully compliments Chris Thomson’s perfectly. Just when you think that the roller-coaster your emotions are experiencing on whilst listening to this album is slowing down, along comes Sundown and Longing, a song so hauntingly beautiful that the listener feels the hurt the subject of the song has experienced and longs to share it with them and take their hurt away.
The Captives is another song about relationships, deceit and love lost, and maybe even regret. Yes, songs about this subject matter may be ten-a-penny, but not many feature such powerful lyrics and have a band and vocalist at the top of their game, that we have here with The Bathers and The Captives. This is one of the faster songs on the album and shows that Thomson and the band are capable of delivering regardless of the tempo of the song.
Last Night I Loved You is a song that tells a story, once that at one time in our lives we have all experienced. When I listened to the lyrics I smiled, as I recognised the emotions that the writer is experiencing, the hurt and pain, just wanting as he says “the healing to begin”. The final track is Pandemonia and is the magnus opus of the album, lasting just over 13 minutes. Some people might believe this to be a mistake, an example of over-indulgence that could spoil the album. However, this is not the case, if anything, Pandemonia with the various parts to it, is the perfect way to finish this album, bringing to an end one hour of beautiful music by a band who sadly have never hit the commercial heights that their wonderful music deserves.
So if you happen to see a copy of Pandemonia, or any album by The Bathers, my advice is buy it, take it home and you will treasure it and want to hear more of The Bathers back catalogue. If you are lucky enough to find a copy of this album, don’t keep it to yourself, tell your friends, and get them to tell their friends, maybe then we can get The Bathers the commercial acclaim they deserve.
PRIMAL SCREAM-SCREAMADELICA 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET.
PRIMAL SCREAM-SCREAMADELICA 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET.
On 14th March the Screamadelica 20th Anniversary Box Set was released. Thank you! I had waited patiently since November when this was first announced. When I opened it, I was not disappointed. It truly is a thing of beauty. However, I am not just talking about the great music you will hear when you either put on the lovely double vinyl album or the four CDs within the box set. Also, to be found within this great box set are four pieces of the late and great Paul Cannel’s artwork, a book containing an interview of Bobby Gillespie by James Brown (no not that one, if it was a medium would be required) of Loaded fame/infamy a DVD of the Scream in concert, a T-shirt, and 
a DJ Slip Mat. There is also a DVD included in the Box Set which features the making of Screamadelica and fans will enjoy this I’m sure. The box everything is contained is almost like a piece of modern sculpture and has that wonderful logo on the front. It is well made and looks great.
The remastering of the original album really is fantastic. Listening to the Screamadelica disc I can hear things that I did not hear on the original album and other things much clearly. There is a real depth and clarity to the music and the album really comes alive. I can recommend this remaster to anyone, especially those who have neither heard of the album nor Primal Scream.
So getting to the music, what are the standout tracks. Well perm any one from eleven as there are no bad tracks on Screamadelica which can not be said about many albums. Personally, I love the contrast between the slower tracks Damaged and Higher Than the Sun, whereas tracks like Movin’ On Up and Don’t Fight It, Feel It are more uptempo. The lyrics to Damaged are beautiful and thoughtful and makes me wonder whether they are personal to Bobby or one of the band. This tenderness shows a different side to Primal Scream, whereas Movin’ On Up and Don’t Fight It, Feel It are feelgood tracks that make you happy and want to dance. When you listen to the whole album it is hard to believe that it is now twenty years old and, unlike many of us, it has aged better.
The Dixie Narco EP is the second disc and is well worth a listen and I love all the tracks. The two slow songs are Stone My Soul and Carry Me Home. Both songs show a different side of the band as both songs are slow and Bobby’s voice sounds world-weary and the lyrics sound personal especially on Carry Me Home. Screamadelica is the last of the four songs and at just under eleven minutes is an intriguing contrast to the slower songs on the EP, and is a joyous journey of sounds that life the spirits and massage the soul. This second CD is well worth a listen and those unfamiliar with the band will be surprised by variety and quality of the songs.
The third CD contains various remixes of the tracks on Screamadelica and like all remixes some work and others do not. The best of the remixes are the Farley Mix of Loaded, the 7″ mix of Come Together, Higher Than the Sun (Higher Than the Orb) and Don’t Fight It (High, High, High). The one that does not work for me is Come Together (Terry Farley 12′ Extended Mix) which has a somewhat frantic feel to it and the vocals seem to sit to far back in the mix and are overwhelmed by other elements of the mix. That said, there will be some people who love that mix and aren’t keen on the ones I prefer, so each to their own.
The fourth and final disc features the Scream live in LA and kicks off with Movin’ On Up and features amongst others Don’t Fight It, Feel It, I’m Losing More (Than I’ll Ever Have), Damaged and Screamadelica. The first nine tracks I enjoyed but the last two Cold Turkey and No Fun I did not. They to me, seemed out of place on this disc and waste precious space for better tracks. Again, personal opinion so make your own mind up.
So was the wait worth it? Definitely and in my opinion whether you are a Primal Scream fan of old, or a younger fan go out and buy this box set now. Although it’s a bit pricey it is well worth buying but, be quick there are only 5000 out there.
PRIMAL SCREAM-SCREAMADELICA 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET.
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