Description

ldquoOne of the vital pieces in the jigsaw puzzle of rsquo90s British rock music.rdquo Pat Gilbert, Mojo magazine. While his own name has yet to grace an album front cover, for more than a twenty years Gem Archer has been a key contributor to some of the UKrsquos highest profile guitar bands, beginning with Oasis in 2000, Beady Eye in 2009 and the touring version of Noel Gallagherrsquos High Flying Birds since 2015. Before all that there was Heavy Stereo, caught up in the mid lsquo90s music maelstrom where their only album lsquoDeacutejagrave Voodoorsquo took its place alongside Paul Wellerrsquos lsquoStanley Roadrsquo, The Charlatansrsquo lsquoTelling Storiesrsquo, Super Furry Animalsrsquo lsquoFuzzy Logicrsquo, Supergrassrsquos lsquoI Should Cocorsquo, The Boo Radleyrsquos lsquoGiant Stepsrsquo, Ridersquos lsquoCarnival Of Lightrsquo ndash and, of course, lsquoDefinitely Maybersquo and lsquoWhatrsquos The Story Morning Gloryrsquo by Oasis. It is easy to understand why any album could get overlooked in such exalted company. lsquoDeacutejagrave Voodoorsquo and the four singles ndash lsquoSleep Freakrsquo, lsquoSmilerrsquo, lsquoChinese Burnrsquo and lsquoMouse In A Holersquo ndash all display Gemrsquos deeply held affection for oldschool rockrsquonrsquoroll values. In 199495, the outside world came into sync with his fondness for The Jam, Sly Stone, Hendrix, The Beatles, the Stones, The Small Faces, Motown, Stax, glam rock, punk rock and all other points on the compass of rockrsquonrsquoroll cool, which coalesced into what became known as Britpop. And while those influences are in lsquoDeacutejagrave Voodoorsquo for all to hear, the album is far from derivative this is a collection of wellconstructed pop songs that still retain their swagger and zest. Unavailable since it was first released on Creation Records in 1996, this 2CD 25th Anniversary Edition set presented in an attractive A5 book includes the original 12 track album, plus a second CD of 15 BSides, bonus tracks and rarities, all previously unreissued, including a blistering version of The Jamrsquos lsquoThe Giftrsquo, recorded for the long out of print lsquoFire amp Skillrsquo tribute album. New sleeve notes are included from respected journalist, author, broadcaster and onetime Mojo editor Pat Gilbert from new interviews with Gem Archer, and the set also includes rarely seen photographs from acclaimed photographer Andy Willsher. Heavy Stereo CD is available for home delivery from Vinyl Records London, only £19