TODAY’S TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE ’80s (by Rob Cioffi) 1. The Mirror Test - Sad Lovers And Giants 2. What Does Anything Mean, Basically - The Chameleons 3. From The Lions Mouth - The Sound 4. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns - Killing Joke 5. Soul Mining - The The 6. Computer World - Kraftwerk 7. Primitive Man- Icehouse 8. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) - Simple Minds 9. The Pursuit Of Accidents - Level 42 10. Movement - New Order ‘Is it really viable to pick ten when there are so many that have earned much loved status over the years?’ says Rob Cioffi, a Californian who now lives in Melbourne. ‘The top five alone are interchangeable and I view these ten as really not in any order either. No room for Rio, Technique, Construction Time Again, Feline, Skylarking, Ghost In The Machine, Strangeways Here We Come, Nightime, Forever Now, Express, World Machine, The Head On The Door, Tin Drum, December, Pop!, etc? ‘Each of these Top Ten albums is haunting, atmospheric masterpieces that are designed to be listened to with headphones on in a dark room at night. Close your eyes and create the visions conveyed in these songs. Sad Lovers And Giants do this better than most - The Mirror Test reveals more and more with each listen. Just when you think you have it figured out, a new listen reveals another piece. They should have found greater success but instead remain a much loved cult band with an adoring fan base spread out around the world. The Mirror Test is their masterpiece - mysterious, atmospheric, haunting, timeless - it is the album I turn to when I want to escape. Flawless.’ Rob interviewed the band for a feature in The Big Takeover last year for those interested in knowing more about this wonderful band. bigtakeover ‘Ive always been a big supporter of the cult artists - Sad Lovers And Giants, Chameleons, The Sound, Comsat Angels, For Against, Abecedarians, The Wake (whos Here Comes Everybody could have easily made this list), Tones On Tail - alongside my beloved Killing Joke/New Order/Smiths/Cure/Kraftwerk/Bowie axis. ‘I was an ’80s kid who grew up with the New Wave sounds of KROQ and 91X on the radio. I remember staying up late to hear the new sounds - Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Visage, Kajagoogoo, A Flock Of Seagulls, Gary Numan - all this great synth music from England and knowing it was the greatest music I’d ever heard. I even remember the first two videos I ever saw - Ashes To Ashes & Fade To Grey - and was amazed how sound and vision could be so perfect. ‘I also remember seeing Flexipop! on newsstands when I was young in Southern California - but I was too young and didnt have my own money to buy mags with! I cant wait for the book!’ Nor can we, Rob. Rob nominates fellow musos The Big Takeover founder Jack Rabid, For Against founder Jeff Runnings, Eugene Sotela and Matthew Page. Dont forget to let em know, Rob! Sad Lovers & Giants were formed in 1980. The Mirror Test, released in 1987, is their third studio album. Trouser Press said: ‘This quintet, which originally came from Watford near London, but evidently insulated from that citys turbulent trendiness, resembles a cross between R.E.M. and a garage-spawned analogue of Dark Side Of The Moon. Tristan Garel-Funk plays jangly guitar, almost all of it arpeggio chorded (a la Byrds/Searchers), and David Woods adds texture and melody with sax and keyboards, eventually growing more sophisticated in sound and shading, if not technique. The songs canter at new wave up-tempo or a more brooding mid-speed, but the music is moody and contemplative. Vocals by one Garce Allard arent trendily emotive, instead possessing the kind of quiet gravity that makes overstatement unnecessary, even with lyrics of hurt or anger. ‘On The Mirror Test, Allard and original drummer Nigel Pollard are joined by a completely new guitar/bass/keyboards axis, not to mention new songwriting partners for Allard. Sad Lovers are a smoother crew this time around and, although the LP does resemble the bands previous sound, the music is pleasant without being quite so memorable; the lyrics are generally less poignant. Yet, as with all of their records, each listening reveals more.’ Tracklist: 1. Ours To Kill 2. White Russians 3. Take Seven 4. Seven Kinds Of Sin 5. The Green Years 6. A Map Of My World 7. The Outsider 8. Cuckooland 9. Return To Clocktower Lodge 10.Wire Lawn 11.House Of Clouds 12.Summer And Smoke 13.Life Under Glass Hows your Spanish? With golden wings of fire/He’s flown away across the fields…
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 14:54:10 +0000
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