Lucy Show - Mania

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 19 / 11 / 2005

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When a label embarks on a reissue project, it must feel a little like a time warp. Especially if the band is one that is not widely known. Words On Music are very daringly trying to sell an album by a largely unrecognised band, recorded close to two decades ago. Logic says that it will be difficult. But the music scene is not a logical one, and as today’s young guitar bands are so well schooled in 80's style rock music it makes sense to remind listeners about The Lucy Show. Like their fellow members of the Words On Music required listening list, For Against, The Lucy Show are a band whose sound is remarkably contemporary, but arguably an awful lot better than most genuine "modern" music. 'Mania' is of its time, but not quite a period piece. It may be a little unfair, but I can’t help but compare this album to its label mates offering, 'December', which I reviewed a few months back. It was the more successful of the two when released, but seems less likely to be as big a success today, not that it is a worse record really, but because For Against have released several other discs in recent years and because The Lucy Show’s sound requires a few listens for its warmth to radiate fully. The musicianship here is less immediately striking than that of For Against, granted, but with a fuller sound than For Against’s bleak edginess, it can still be engaging. Yet, it is the song craft which is put front and centre on 'Mania'. The Lucy Show had some very strong songs, and it is a surprise they didn’t endure in the popular memory. Perhaps they were just a little too bleak. Like REM’s Peter Buck, The Lucy Show were clearly well versed in post punk and 60's pop. The songs shine through well on these recordings, which isn’t a surprise because they were captured by the acclaimed John Leckie, who is still on the top of the producing hall of fame in 2005. For 80's archivists, pop historians, post punk junkies or just curious We Are Scientists fans, take note - The Lucy Show’s album is one to buy. Words On Music are crusading historical revisionists, and they should be praised for it.

Track Listing:-

1 Land And The Life
2 View From The Outside
3 Sojourn's End
4 Sad September
5 A Million Things
6 Sun And Moon
7 Shame
8 Melody
9 Part Of Me Now
10 New Message
11 Jam In E
12 Invitation
13 Civil Servant
14 Sun And Moon (Live)
15 View From The Outside (Live)
16 New Message (Basement Demo)
17 A Million Things (Original Mix)

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