Spratley's Japs

[Scourage]

Yeah, this whole album is absolutely amazing.

I think the simplest, most explicable demonstration of Mr Smith's genius is the bassline in 'Pond'. Specifically the way it takes THE BLUES (first bar) and makes it CARDIACSY (second bar).

As for a comparison, obviously this album SOUNDS like Cardiacs, but it also sounds like nothing else ever. Maybe Sea Nymphs on a lot of steroids. But not really. It's got similarities to Guns, but it's less of a compact, *perfect* pop assault, more of a rambly rock adventure with ambient bits.

I'm not going to single out any more songs except to say that all the long ones are WUGSOME

[scott]

I'm a couple of listens in now. As expected, it is an animal of heart-stopping beauty.

Well done to Mutant Sounds for asuaging our greedy ears.

[Scourage]

Fanny is rapidly making an assault upon the title of my FAVOURITE SONG. It's kinda what my mind looks like on the inside, when I'm as happy as can be. Plus, it's the most epic loverocksunanthem ever composed by man.

[shiroihage]

Been listening to this album A LOT lately. Again, it sounds like nothing else ever and the songs eat their way inside you like the friendly parasites that Tim always creates.

[heroapolloman]

I played 'Don't You Ail...' over the weekend during a bit of DJing, joined up with the identical 'Rope & Sails' by me. Unfortunately everyone had gone outside to the BBQ

[Scourage]

That's POSSIBLY my second-favourite on the album (along with Oh and Vine) - I regard it as a dry run for Ditzy Scene, if anything. And yes, I WILL buy your album! Keep reminding me. Have liked the preview songs immensely and am enthused by reports of decreasing song-lengths. Sapphire bullets of pure joy, as John McLaughlin once put it.

Pony might be as good as any Cardiacs album proper.

[snowman]

I definitely reckon it's as good as cardiacs' albums! 'Don't you ail...' gives me the same kind of rush that 'A wooden fish...' does.

I've just got back off holiday, and due to slight mac/walkman incompatibilities and some long pre-holiday Cardiacs-abstinence, I played through all Cardiacs' tracks in alphabetical order regardless of the album they're on. Thusly, 'Don't you ail' surprised me when it arrived (well, all the tracks did really), and it considerably brightened up the departure lounge

[Batesy]

Pony might be as good as any Cardiacs album proper.

Definitely. I reckon I've played it more than I've played HBaEB and I bought the albums about 15 years apart!