Even As We Speak - A Three Minute Song is One Minute Too Long

  by Tommy Gunnarsson

published: 10 / 1 / 2009

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Review

Australian band Even As We Speak are, I suppose, most famous for their releases on the legendary Sarah Records label in the early 90's, but on this 17-track compilation, we get to hear the singles released in their home country before they hooked up with Matt Haynes and Clare Wadd in Bristol. And first of all, I think we need to thank Egg Records, who have released some really marvellous CDs in their "restoration programme" (among them the terrific This Poison! compilation 'Magazine'), this one being no exception at all. My previous experiences with the band weren't that many, even though I have their Sarah album 'Feral Pop Frenzy' and some of their singles on that label.I know them best from their nice cover version of New Order's classic 'Bizarre Love Triangle' (which is featured on this CD, by the way). So, I didn't know what to expect when I popped the CD into my stereo, but I was pleasantly surprised, I must say. The first couple of songs reminds me quite a bit of the good old the Haywains, a band from outside Bristol that released some fantastic albums and singles in the early 90's, especially in the girl-boy vocals by Matt Love and Mary Wyer. If you are one of those who just know Even As We Speak from their efforts on Sarah, you will still recognise some of the songs here, as at least a couple of them were later put on the aforementioned 'Feral Pop Frenzy' album ('Anybody Anyway' and 'Falling Down') and on some of the EPs. Not all the songs here are great, but most of them are, and that's good enough for me. It's always nice to hear some indiepop history! Finally, thumbs up for the great compilation title. I couldn't have said it better myself...

Track Listing:-

1 100
2 Pleasure Circles
3 Anybody Anyway
4 Brain
5 Outgrown This Town
6 Goes So Slow
7 Nothing Ever Happens
8 A Stranger Calls
9 Blue Suburban Skies
10 Bizarre Love Triangle
11 Looking Over Your Shoulder
12 By The Side Of The Road
13 I Can Do Without
14 Falling Down
15 I Won't Have To Think About You
16 Single To Central
17 Galveston