411) Howard Devoto - Jerky Versions of the Dream

So, you have arranged for the Sex Pistols to come to Manchester for a still talked about gig, and you have put a band together to support them, you release a legendary EP with that band and then quit. 

You come back with another band and release four albums (and a fifth when you return thirty years later), the band now recognised as an influential post punk band. You then release one solo record then disappear for a bit release two albums with another band that never crack the mainstream so go and work doing admin in a photography agency for sixteen years before returning to do an album with an old mate and doing the reunion album. Then seemingly settling into the quiet life in Yorkshire.

Imagine doing admin getting John Lydon to do the photocopying , sending Joe Strummer for the coffees or asking Dave Vanian to open the mail well someone would have done exactly that sitting next to Howard Devoto ex lead singer of The Buzzcocks, Magazine and Luxuria. He would have hit me if I had sat next to him as everyday there would have been a question about a world he clearly can take or leave.

Howard had quit Magazine and spent a couple of years working on this solo record with fellow ex Magazine mates Barry Adamson and Dave Formula and future Spear of Destiny guitarist Alan St Clair helping, the record only made number fifty-seven, but Jerky Versions of the Dream is certainly worth people’s time.

As he shouts “Hey,” on the opener Cold Imagination that distinctive voice is like an old friend and over a juddering beat and added female backing vocalists it’s a good introduction.

Topless has a nagging guitar and keyboard throughout and Rainy Season starts like The Cure but develops into the best song, Formula’s piano distinctive and the chorus is genuinely uplifting, only made number ninety seven in the singles chart which is a disgrace.

I Admire You is a song you can tell was recorded in the 80s, it’s not bad just has a few annoying 80’s ticks in it. With a funky bass and then a nice, distorted guitar we have Way Out Of Shape which gets us back on track, he kind of revisits this on Out of Shape With Me which has a more laidback approach.

Saxophonist Gary Barnacle who played with The Clash and Ruts appears on Some Will Pay and Waiting for a Train the former not for me, but the latter has appeal.

Taking Over Heaven has post punk slashing guitar and Penelope Houston provides an imaginative second vocal. The record ends with Seeing Is Believing which has only the three former members of Magazine on it which shows the magic was still there.

This is not essential, it’s interesting (Devoto is always interesting) but is worth a listen for a unique artist that we probably won’t hear from again.

7/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Rainy Season