Description

BRITAIN in 1993 now seems like another time, another place. Paralysed into a state of torpor by 14 years of Tory government and cowed by Englands failure to qualify for the World Cup, the national mood was one of escapism. Pop music was also shortcircuiting, the charts full of manufactured boy bands Take That, East 17, inane electropop 2 Unlimiteds No Limits, Culture Beats Mr Vain and novelty records Mr Blobby. The independent sector, too, was entering its darkest hour. With Seattle’s nihilistic grunge scene mdashheaded by Nirvana mdash championed as the cure for rock’s ills. This lack of selfbelief was reflected in a cover story in rock bible NME on 30th October 1993 titled ’21st Century Joy’ , which suggested that the music scene in 2003 would be entirely electronic. Within a month, however, it was obvious to keen observers that a new sound and attitude was emerging from Britain’s satellite towns like the proverbial bat out of hell. At the inaugural ‘In The City’ event in Manchester in November 1993 mdash a music industry showcase organised by Factory Records boss Tony Wilson mdash a crop of spiky young bands shared a radical, backtobasics approach. Two in particular stood out mdash SMASH and These Animal Men. Angry, articulate and caustically tuneful, both bands would mdash over the course of 18 glorious months mdash light up the British music scene as spectacularly as a distress flare. Backed by electrifying live performances both bands would go to be heralded by the NME in January 1994 as part of the ‘New Wave Of New Wave’. Both signing record deals with Virgin offshoot HiRise Recordings, the bands would go onto to releases a string of EPs such as You’re Not My Babylon, Spring 1994, Too Sussed & I Want To Kill Somebody. Before debut albums SelfAbused and Come On, Join The High Society came out to respectable chart positions of 59 and 62. However, with both Blur and Oasis enjoying unprecedented chart success mdash Oasis’ Definitely Maybe, released in August 1994, sold 100,000 in four days mdash both were seen as disappointing. Internal divisions, too, were pushing both bands to breaking point. SMASH imploded and TAM would go onto release the criminally overlooked second album Accident & Emergency. This unique 6CD collection brings together both bands output from this short lived scene. All of the EPs and albums are here and ordered chronologically to give the listener the best possible perspective of the how the scene unfolded. Accompanying the 6CDs is a 32 page booklet featuring former NME journalist Paul Moody’s the man responsible for coining the phrase the New Wave of New Wave indepth essay depicting the rise and fall of the scene, along with interviews with members of both bands. The booklet also includes previously unseen photos by photographers Martyn Goodacre and Andy Wilshere and short essay’s from both Ed Borrie SMASH and members of These Animal Men. As the music and photographs compiled here illustrate, the look and sound of both bands remains timeless. Turn up the volume. SMASH and These Animal Men will see you in the speakers. These Animal Men Boxset is available for home delivery from Vinyl Records London, only £45