Immense
Exquisite soundboard capture of an early 1981 gig with Smith in fine form spitting out pithy commentaries about piss-stones, students, and referencing his environs in "Leave the Capitol" with some interesting lyrical variations.
The band plays "Slates" in its entireity at various points throughout the set with references forwards with "Jawbone" but concentrating on "Grotesque" and extant singles for the majority of the set. An interesting opener with the rare "Your Heart Out" which would not appear again until May this year.
Everything is spot on here apart from some slight tuning problems on "An Older Lover". There is an exemplary reading of "New Face in Hill" which is lip-smackingly good with some intense word play. More so with a subtly funky "Middle Mass" at the start of which Mark sets up a tension between the "locals" and the "students" and towards the end reflects on revenge and the lie dream of Wigan soul.
Interesting take on Crap Rap (which starts off as 13 and turns into 19 in a matter of seconds) appears to be a variation on S.Mithering with a vituperative attack on music journalist Dave McCullough and some interesting bass riffs. Prior to this Mark lays into the denizens of this institution with some venom. There is an interesting cack handed keyboard solo on "Jack" I assume from Riley.
That the band can move from the intense ranting of "Slates" to the bubbling psychedelia of "Fit and Working" is a testament to their skill. The variety in this set list is amazing in fact.
An excellent record of this band in its pomp this deserves an official release.