Reviewed by MacArthur Antigua
Released: 1980 The Room Bitter Reaction Genre: Garage Math Rock / "Rue Britannia" Rating: 3 out of 5 Highlights: Lost Horizons Factory At the time of this indie-released “cassette album”, Liverpool’s The Room was starting to generate some heat in the music press being compared to Joy Division - perhaps for its dour, spartan arrangements. Dave Jackson’s assertive, yet sad vocals tango with Becky Stringer’s ever present basslines. On “Factory,” The guitar scritch suggests punk, but overall it’s still rather poppy and I can’t help but bob my head to the beat. Even though it’s a collection of singles, The Room does a decent job of offering a variety of pacing - “Early Warning” is a dirge, but it doesn’t ponder, and evokes the bleak state of economic affairs in Thatcher’s UK. Given the punk roots of this band, it stands to reason that their work reflects a sensibility of “Rue Britannia.” In my mind’s eye, I’m seeing rows upon rows of smokestacks. While this cassette album suggests that there’s more to come, but The Room never was able to break through and would fold in 1985. However, given the bleak times we’re in now, it makes sense that they have re-formed and released a new album a few months ago and are about to hit the concert circuit. Perhaps the world is ready (again) for The Room?
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