Pete Astor - Spilt Milk

by Anthony Strutt

published: 5 / 2 / 2016

Label: Fortuna POP!
Format: CD

Excellent sixth solo album from former Loft and Weather Prophets front man and veteran singer-songwriter, Pete Astor

Review

'Spilt Milk' is the latest offering from Pete Astor, who has been making music since 1982. His first name band, the Loft, only lasted for two singles 'Why Does the Rain' (1984) and 'Up the Hill and Down the Slope' (1985), but put Creation Records on the map before splitting up on stage in 1985. Astor carried on, stayed with Creation and formed the Weather Prophets, a band whose debut single, 'Almost Prayed', hit the top of the indie charts and were Janice Long favourites. The Weather Prophets stayed together for three years and recorded two full-length albums, 1987's ' Mayflower' and 1988's 'Judge, Juries and Horsemen'. After they also broke up, Pete Astor went solo, staying with Creation for two more albums, 'Submarine' and 'Zoo', before moving to the French label Danceteria where he recorded two other albums, 1992's 'Paradise' (as Peter Astor and The Holy Road,) and 1993's 'God and Other Stories'. Since taking a break from music in the late 90s, he has put out two other solo albums, 'Hal's Eggs' (Static Caravan, 2005) and 'Songbox' (Second Language, 2011), as well as released various albums and records with the Wisdom of Harry and Ellis Island Sound. The Loft have also reformed in recent years to play a lot of one off shows and released a third single, 'Model Village', on Static Caravan in 2006. ` 'Spilt Milk' has come out on Fortuna POP!, which makes Astor the most established artist on that label. A music lecturer by day at Westminster University and an indie underdog by night, Astor is often overlooked by people reflecting on English independent music. Often branded deadpan for his English dry delivery, he was in some people's eyes the Leonard Cohen of Creation Records. 'Spilt Milk' was recorded at the home studio of James Hoare, who has played a lot of the backing music on the album. It is a mature album, which is not trendy or follows any fashion, and is a soundtrack to getting older, getting wiser and carrying on your craft. Less has always been more with Astor. The Loft's earlier style was like an English Velvet underground combined with the New York punky roots of Television. Here the delivery, however, is much slower. There is no rush to complete painting the picture, which doesn't have to be in bright colour, but with enough light to shade the black and white. 'My Right Hand' gives credit to your stronger other half, while 'Good Enough' shows the influence and dry wit delivery that Astor has given Darren Hayman of Hefner a career. 'There It Goes' goes off into country territory, and, darker and more reflective, is a sad lament for the doomed and lonely. 'A Sleeping Tiger' is pleasantly paced, but remains a million years away from 'Why Does the Rain?' but yet still the music returns to shine brightly into the English cold night. A pleasant delight from Creation's finest writer, Pete Astor.

Track Listing:-

1 Really Something
2 Mr. Music
3 My Right Hand
4 Perfect Life
5 The Getting There
6 Very Good Lock
7 Good Enough
8 There It Goes
9 Sleeping Tiger
10 Oh You