the Hepburns ~ Champagne Reception
Jul 02 '01
The Bottom Line One of the most brilliant pop gems available. A must buy.
Another of those groups too hip before their time, the Hepburns saw the light of day in the late 80's and released a single and LP on Cherry Red before departing back into the Welsh mists whence they came.
This material left it's impact however and it's style was at the heart of those who were to start labels like Siesta and the label this group is now on, Radio Khartoum. Originally the "papers" were amiss at what these lads were trying to do, and when they cited their influences as soundtracks to movies and easy listening, eveyone thought they were just "taking the p!ss" as they say.
They weren't. And to our benefit the boys kept writing songs and kept the dream alive. Perhaps the sound isn't as driving today as the original material, but the sense of kitsch and whimsicalness is very present. This little 3" LP CD on Radio Khartoum (a RK oddity or novelty depending on how you look at it as this labels stuff is all on 3" CD that I know of) composed of 9 songs (3 of which are instrumentals) could very well be the soundtrack to a travellogue movie set in a garden shed, a sandbox and a jaunt round Europe with Jackie O thrown in for good measure. It is completely fab.
It starts with Jackio O, and the cute little sleeve has a Jackie-esque picture which is made of the lyrics from the song. The song begins with some light whistleing, and to my ear at least sounds remarkably like the Pale Fountains, which as their first LP was never released in the US you probably aren't helped by that comparison much, nevertheless, there it is. (it's a good comparison)
The song in question here is quite good, mellow with cutting and insightful lyrics;
"You're checking out the void
where all the others went.
The minted shipping magnate
and the murdered president.
There's nothing wrong with looking so
vicariously,.......you thrill.
I don't know how I'll make it,
but I know I somehow will......"
It is followed by the first instrumental, Bastinado, which really comes out of nowhere after the first song as it is almost like a soundclip from a Clint Eastwood western. However it is completely charming, and toe tapping with lots of humming and more whistling. It's one of my favorite clips on this LP. It's so great you can't sit still to it.
The next track shifts gears again, Beautiful Mover, a bare and laid back guitar number with sweet lryics and a gentle pace. The fourth track, Underneath the Giant Rhubarb is also one of my faves on the LP and a soundclip of it is available on my members page. Very ecclectic lryics come together seamlessly somehow and it's quite a treat.
"Underneath the giant rhubarb,
it's real name's gunnera.
At least that's what dad told me,
and he's a gardener.
I forgot refreshments,
you didn't seem to care.
There was Polish on the radio.
And the time flew by,
as it did with you and I.
The sun has gone, the moon has come.
As it did with you and I..."
Pure gold and a great song. The next track,"You'll Always Walk Alone" I like alot as well. This track almost is the epitome of this record as a whole. It's laid back, and bare boned with a light contemporary beat that is catchy as all hell.
We move on to the second instrumental, "Jet Age International" which is akin to Madness meets the Style Council. (and I mean it) And believe it or not it works. And again like the first one, it's too short but it's catchy as all get out.
Track seven is "I Am A Machine" which has an almost James Bond type guitar line in it and a bossa-nova groove. I'm sure Albert Broccoli would have loved it. That the song's apparently about an old soda machine lamenting it's fate makes it even more precious;
"This building gets so cold,
when all the workers have gone home.
Then it's just me and the moon.
I overheard the engineer say,
I belong in a museum.
I cried secret robot tears.
Dispensing drinks for strangers,
I should make a deal
with my friends the engine and the wheel,
and find a way out of here...."
Track eight, "After Hours & Tropical Flowers" is another beautiful song, this time dealing with urban decay. This brilliant LP ends with the final instrumental, "Llan Pop". It has a slight spanish feel, lots of ba ba badda bada ba bam ba ba's and some cool guitar lines.
To sum up, the hepburns are 3 Welshmen named Matt Jones, Mike Thomas and Pat Grover. The LP is called Champagne Reception. Unless your CD player is very old the 3" format will play in it. If I'm not mistaken this LP can be had at Twee Kitten (again see my epinions page for that link and the sound clip) for a measely $6.40. You heard me, six fourty. If all this isn't enough to motivate you to do something different and explore life and this wide wacky world, then you have my pity. Because this LP is the cats flarking pajamas, truly so.
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Epinions.com ID:
zoots
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