(Big Pink Cake Records) CD
Back at the end part of 1986 The Groove Farm sprang into life with their self released EP 'Sore Heads & Happy Hearts'. It sounded thin, no bass, scratchy, it was a real lo-fi affair. Photocopied inserts, cheapy printed sleeves. But this didn't stop it becoming a firm favourite with the night time Radio One crew (Peel & Long). The band always claimed they were a garage band, who got tangled up with the 'tweepop' scene. Listening to this new CD, remixed and remastered (by Rocker (The Flatmates)) which contains twenty odd choice cuts, I'd have to agree with them. Yes even 'The Legend' (AKA Everett True) said in the NME that they were 'a garage band who forgot to be twee' . Sure, they had their twee-ish moments (It Always Rains On Sunday, Captain Fantastic), but even those are not sickly twee, 'The sun is shining , the sky is blue, I love you, you love me' type nonsense. No, there's always a hint of sadness or longing, of despair or anger, keeping them the right side of 'wet'. (Something many of the C86 crew slipped into quite easily). As the band progressed they ended up on Subway records, and although they were apparently unhappy with the more polished recordings, they also released at least three bona fide indie classics with 'The Big Black Plastic Explosion', (an even better mix is featured here) 'Surfin' Into Your Heart' (ditto) & 'Driving In Your New Car'. Hearing these old songs (25 years since Heaven Is Blue!) now is quite a joy. For, what at the time was written off by 'serious' music bores as disposable pop, they have actually stood the test of time remarkably well, and to be honest there's more than a handful of the current crop of indiepop bands out there who could do a lot for themselves by listening to this and learning from it. The Groove Farm were, as guitarist and singer Andrew Arthur Jarrett admits in the brilliantly amusing sleeve notes: 'Absolute beginners' and as true as that might well have been, they still aimed high. You can hear it in the songs. The Groove Farm don't get anywhere near as much recognition from the indiepop scene as they really deserve. Let's hope this CD changes that. Matt & Clare from Sarah Records were big fans, and if they thought this band were the bees knees, surely the indiekids must agree.
Do yourself a favour, buy this and play it loud!
Get it from the Big Pink Cake website.
Roger C.
