Spearmint - A Week Away

by Dixie Ernill

published: 21 / 10 / 2009

Label: Hitback Records
Format: CD

Not entirely satisfactory reissue of under-rated London-based indie pop band Spearmint's 1999 debut album

Review

About this time ten years ago everyone seemed to be talking about how they were going to celebrate Millennium Eve without having to spend a small fortune. It is perhaps no wonder that the debut album proper (an early singles compilation, 'Songs for the Colour Yellow', had already been released) by a little known indie combo, Spearmint, who had formed from the ashes of an even lesser known indie combo, Flair, slipped by without too much notice. I bought the album at the time and have followed the band’s progress since, but in truth hadn’t really played it thereafter – preferring later offerings such as 'A Different Lifetime' and 'Paris in a Bottle' – until now. Whilst, according to some of their blogs, the band clearly hold it in high regard, it still doesn’t completely satisfy me, though I must admit it has stood the test of time and has grown on me. My main problem with it is not that there aren’t some great tracks on it – most bands would kill for the Northern Soul sampling gem that is 'Sweeping The Nation' or the indie disco anthem 'We’re Going Out' – it is that the tracks don’t hang together too well. The fact that the songs were recorded over a couple of years rather than in one spell is probably to blame, but maybe I am just being too picky and in light of some of (in my opinion) superior long players they have delivered since it is a little unfair to judge it now. I recall back in the late 90s 'A Trip into Space' being described in one of the music weekly as a brilliant single, but I didn’t quite see it then and I don’t now. In trying to create a dance-floor smash it, pardon the pun, rather tripped over its own toes. Another single, 'It Won’t be Long Now', also doesn’t hit the spot and is certainly the worse single of their career, but some of the album tracks are quite delightful such as the reflective 'A Third of My Life' and 'You sre Still My Brother'. Elsewhere 'Start Again' is another memorable song, though 'Isn’t It Great to be Alive?' suffers from average lyrics and the title track, whilst also Northern Soul flavoured, doesn’t come close to the heights scaled by the aforementioned 'Sweeping the Nation”'. The new seven track EP included with the edition, 'Life in Reverse', is fairly standard Spearmint fair with 'A Signal or a Sign' being the standout track, but certainly worth your attention. The four extra tracks are largely forgettable. Spearmint are a special band and definitely worthy of your investigation and now would have been a great time to put out a best of, rather than this re-release. An ideal starting point for the Spearmint virgin would be 'The Flaming Lips' off 'A Different Lifetime' or 'First Time Music' off 'Paris in a Bottle', rather than this album. As a collection completer, however, it is a reasonable buy.

Track Listing:-

1 a week away
2 isn't it great to be alive
3 sweeping the nation
4 a third of my life
5 we're going out
6 start again
7 best ballroom
8 you carry this with you
9 a trip into space
10 it won't be long now
11 making you laugh
12 you are still my brother
13 Saturday
14 absence greetings number one
15 a signal or a sign
16 life in reverse
17 my birthday present to myself
18 outside the roundhouse
19 come on feel the lemonheads
20 absence greetings number two
21 hair
22 lost on the way
23 the weather forecaster
24 the wilderness years