Thrashing
Doves – Bedrock Vice (Cherry Red)
CD
19 January
2015
A re-release
of the London based quartet’s 1986 album.
Like it or
not, there can be little argument that the early 80s spawned an unprecedented
number of what are now termed ‘classic’ singles. Take a look at the charts from 1980 to 1984
and it will guarantee at least one such track on every week of the Top 40. It was in the late 80s that this changed, the
amount of lesser known but critically acclaimed acts who failed to whet the
appetites of the UK public were many – The Bible and The Big Dish were prime
examples as were Thrashing Doves.
Thrashing
Doves (in)famously signed for A&M after a flurry of activity involving many
of the majors to obtain their signatures.
Not unheard of, but the group hadn’t even recorded a demo at that stage
and the interest was purely based on their ever growing reputation as a live band. Recording the promised two albums for the
label of which Bedrock Vice was the first, they had just one sniff of chart
success when third single Beautiful Imbalance reached the dizzy heights of number
50. The single brought about the phrase
‘the curse of the Thrashing Doves’ after a certain Margaret Thatcher expressed
a liking for the song on Saturday Superstore and has been used ever since to
indicate a turn in fortunes for any band endorsed by politicians.
Containing
five singles, the bands debut album somehow managed to attract the talents of
the eras most in demand producers and remixers – Chris Thomas, Bruce Lampcov,
Jimmy Iovine and Bob Clearmountain – who between them had the likes of The Sex
Pistols, Bruce Springsteen, Tears For Fears and Simple Minds on their CVs.
So what of
Bedrock Vice? The stark truth is that it
was a stunning album. Coarse but clinical
drums, sumptuous jangly guitars and unforgettable keyboard hooks with the
semi-punk vocals of Ken Foreman, coupled with impressive quiffs and highlighted
cheekbones were a perfect combination.
Album opener, Beautiful Imbalance despite its ‘fan’ provides one of the
finest alternative singles of the 80s.
Thrashing
Doves weren’t airy-fairy lyrically either.
Listen to Matchstick Flotilla and its veiled comments on immigration or
Rochdale House with references to drug abuse. The thing with The Doves (as they
were named for their USA only album Affinity) is that they were probably ahead
of their time. Like On-U Sound, they
turned regular sounds on their heads and pumped out something that absconded
fans of the early 80s charts craved.
Despite
supporting the likes of the Ramones, Big Audio Dynamite and Squeeze the UK’s
loss was the USA’s gain as the band embarked on a headline tour as Je$u$ On The
Payroll entered the Top 20 of the Billboard Dance Chart. The remaining singles The Grinding Stone and
Biba’s Basement (ironically referencing the Iron Lady) provided further
evidence of the bands prowess.
Admittedly,
the album isn’t all killer, as Rochdale House demonstrates, but it’s far from
filler too. Northern Civil War Party was
another track screaming for single release.
Giving way to Balearic beats and loops, Bedrock Vice is a largely
undiscovered gem. Has it aged well? Perhaps, but that’s mainly down to the fact
that the 80s weren’t ready for it.
The bonus
tracks include remixes and stunning b-sides (check out Self Infliction Crew)
together with a superb live version of The Rolling Stones’ Sympathy for the
Devil making the cd an essential addition to any music collection.
8/10
Links
Cherry Red Records
Thrashing Doves website
Thrashing Doves on Twitter
Thrashing Doves on Facebook
Published on Louder Than War 14/01/15 - here
8/10
Links
Cherry Red Records
Thrashing Doves website
Thrashing Doves on Twitter
Thrashing Doves on Facebook
Published on Louder Than War 14/01/15 - here
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