Inspiral Carpets - You're So Good For Me/Head For the Sun

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 17 / 2 / 2012

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Review

The Inspiral Carpets were formed originally in 1983 by guitarist Graham Lambert and vocalist Stephen Holt, and had various line-ups until in 1987 keyboardist Clint Boon and bass player David Swift joined the band. During this time they recorded two albums of demos, that were released, not that I or most people were aware of them, called ‘Waiting for Ours’ and ‘Songs of Shallow’. Stephen Holt sang on 1988’s ‘Plane Crash’ twelve inch EP, which was the first of their records to sell well, but he and David Swift left in 1989 and formed the Rainkings, who released just two twelve inch EPs, and three tracks on compilation albums. Tom Hingley joined on vocals from Too Much Texas and the rest, as they say, is history. Last year Tom announced that the Inspirals had split, but in actual fact they have since played shows in Argentina and Chile and also reunited with Stephen Holt. ‘You're So Good For Me/Head For the Sun’ is their new release, since 2003’s ‘Come Back Tomorrow’ although that track was actually recorded in 1995. With this line up the band have returned to the edgy sound of their early years. On ‘You’re So Good For Me’, which is a new song, the band have moved away from the baggy sound that they became famous for. It still sounds as if it was produced in Manchester, but now it sounds as if the Inspirals are paying credit to the city that produced them. Stephen’s vocals have more in kinship with Ian Curtis and Howard Devoto than Tom’s ever did. Musically it moves in a post punk style fashion too. Clint's organ take a while to join in the fun, but when it does it reminds you this is definitely the return of the Inspirals. ‘Head for the Sun’ on the B side is an old pre-fame number from 1985. It starts and ends with a needle being put on a vinyl record, and the familiar sounds of crackle. It is very fast, and has a thrashy garage sound. It is if the 13th Floor Elevators have moved countries, and, very uplifting, is like a psychedelic ‘Girls and Boys’ although it pre-dates that by 6 years. More new material is being worked on for a March headline tour. They will then support Happy Mondays on a bigger tour in May. If these two first-rate tracks are an indication of what is to come, then we have a lot to look forward to.

Track Listing:-

1 You're So Good For Me
2 Head For The Sun

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialInspi
http://www.inspiralcarpets.com/
https://twitter.com/inspiralsband

Label Links:-

http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/TownsendRecor
http://www.townsend-music.com/