The 1986 Listening Post - Shriekback - Big Night Music

Shriekback - Big Night Music

#76/1243

1986 Housekeeping

Shriekback

Big Night Music

Genre: Pop

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Black Light Trap

Running on the Rocks

Pretty Little Things

Sticky Jazz

I really like Shriekback. They have been one of the more interesting discoveries of this project. 

As opposed to some groups who arrived fully formed and then couldn’t last (as so many bands seem to) Shriekback has gotten better with each record. In this one they are shooting for commercial success and, dammit, I am there for it. 

A very rewarding spin that calls to mind Erasure at their most capable. Years later artists like Mika will mainstream stuff like “Cradle Song”.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1LJXQ8h8ls2MaEFauL608z?si=IK9wzxi1Q9SOy56txRA3cg

The 1985 Listening Post - Shriekback - Oil & Gold

Shriekback - Oil & Gold

#3 

January 1985

Shriekback

Oil & Gold

4.25 out of 5

Highlights: 

Everything that Rises Must Converge

Nemesis

The Only Thing That Shines

As much as I enjoyed the disco-synth of their last record...I love O&G more. 

They are unabashed and unapologetic about their love of this sound. 

When it’s big like “everything that rises must come down” and “Nemesis” it’s a blast, when it shifts gears like it does on the haunting “The Big Hush” and “Faded Flowers” and “The Only Thing That Shines” it’s so assured and hypnotic that I buy in. 

And the double shot ending of “Hammerheads” and “Coelocanth” elevate this record in unexpected ways. 

Oil & Gold is more assured than Jam Science, and because of that it also sounds like an album they are making for themselves. It almost works the entire time. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/oil-gold/347092

The 1984 Listening Post - Shriekback - Oil & Gold

Shriekback - Oil & Gold

January 1985
Shriekback
Oil & Gold


Highlights:
Nemesis

As much as I enjoyed the disco-synth of their last record...I love O&G more.
They are unabashed and unapologetic about their love of this sound.
When it’s big like “everything that rises must come down” and “Nemesis” it’s a blast, when it shifts gears like it does on the haunting “The Big Hush” and “Faded Flowers” and “The Only Thing That Shines” it’s so assured and hypnotic that I buy in.
And the double shot ending of “Hammerheads” and “Coelocanth” elevate this record in unexpected ways.
Oil & Gold is more assured than ______, and because of that it also sounds like an album they are making for themselves. It almost works the entire time.

The 1984 Listening Post - Shriekback - Jam Science

Shriekback - Jam Science

#361
1984 Housekeeping
Shriekback
Jam Science
4 out of 5

Highlights:
Hand on My Heart
Mercy Dash
Suck

So,I was worried that this was screamo death metal. It's not.
It's soft-synth-pop. Basically it's disco. In fact, I would say that this is the pathway to Big Audio Dynamite.
It's not as inventive or sampled as that but I feel like this is what happens when a punk aesthetic moves to the dance floor.
Also, the keyboardist is an ex-XTC member and that might account for the accessibility.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6SPnpuqrMY