I don’t know where to start…
Ok, so TTS are BM’s favourite Scottish band, so a new release is anticipated with rabid salivation in this house; although some time since the last one, am still digesting it.
And now there is another, a guided missile of self-confessed miserablism, like another ten episodes of Taggart directed by David Lynch, if you can excuse the rubbish analogy, guys – just getting fired up here, in first gear.
BM is reviewing this one as she hears it, the high heels have been kicked off( an absolute bitch now the nights are drawing in and you cannae see the potholes) and the feather boa has been discarded, the end of another long day.
Album four (this one, keep up) adds more layers to the schtick, and it is nothing short of magnificent – this will be on the BM turntable (it’s a pretty shit CD player actually…) for the next six months and then some.
BM thinks (ibid review of Last Big Weekend) that they played a couple of tracks from this at the Chem event at Richmond Park (gig of the year overall despite beer issues, but won’t talk about that) – but on this record there are new depths of darkness. Someone called them Scotland’s Joy Division but that is too cheap, no offence to JD but TTS have now made four albums so go figure which guys have a better track record (MES bad quote-ish).
Every single track that BM is hearing has something truly surprising, not going to quote too much but “I’ve put you through hell, but you’ve carried it oh so well”: James you are surpassing yourself.
We are now half way through this live review experiment, is it working for you, dear readers? Well, BM is enjoying it anyway, so stop reading if you don’t like it, oh, was it something I said, does my bum look big in this, well piss off then…
The instrumentation is more sophisticated, not checked who was producing (Fourteen Autumns producer Peter Katis – Ed) – there are controlled guitars, controlled feedback, controlled synths, controlled lyrics, is this record about control, not sure… BM is not Paul Morley but hope he hears this and weeps into his zip-up black top, (will give you my number Paul if you are reading this, you’d complete the set).
But seriously, oh my goodness me, it is like sampling a fine wine… oh, too fucking pretentious Betty, it’s just yr favourite groop doing something even better than they have done before, and you cannae say that about too many acts. Joy Division (nul points), Genesis (said too much) jury’s oot, Huey and Cry nul points, Lloyd Cole didnae show up, the Mode, well ok, and remixes galore, don’t get BM started on BM remixes, keeps her alive.
Last track could be an Xmas no 1 contender, a la Malky M’s’We’re All Going To Die’, can see the video with snowflakes as we speak: Throw me on the fire” – cracking, James again you surpass yourself!
Ok so now that Betty has got all that off her not inconsiderably sized chest, just go out and buy it on Monday, or from the authz website and earn these people some money, they do deserve it.
So it is still October, likely album of the year (not “bum of year” as spellcheck says, that would be BM anyway, after the diet…)
But yes, just on first listening it probably is – BM has said it and any detractors can meet BM round the back – if you are fit you might get a hearing but if you disagree the stiletto will be activated and the ambulance will be called. Goodnight.