420) Darling Buds - Pop Said

I have Apple Music and it recommends new release to you based on what you have been listening to, sure Spotify is the same, and the other day it recommended the new single by The Darling Buds called Intruder.

I was a big fan of bands with females in them back in the 80’s, all of We’ve Got A Fuzzbox & We’re Gonna Use it were in your face, Shirley and Rona had a detached coolness about them in Goodbye Mr MacKenzie, Tracy Tracy of The Primitives led the band with glamour and defiance and Voice of the Beehive had two sisters who knew how to rock and pop and Siouxsie was still enchanting us.

The Darling Buds came onto Top of the Pops a guitar band led by a blonde lead singer performing their song Hit the Ground and their debut album Pop Said was purchased, it’s really that simple.

All the previous bands I have mentioned above I have always gone back to but after hearing Intruder (good song have a listen) I decided to reacquaint myself with Pop Said.

Formed in Newport in 1986 lead singer Andrea Lewis (still leading the band) co-wrote all the songs on this record with guitarist Harley Farr and were ably backed by Chris McDonogh on bass and Richard Gray "Bloss" on drums. Although they initially released three albums in their first incantation between 86 – 93 each record was to diminishing returns with this, their debut, peaking at number twenty-three.

We start with Hit the Ground which has one of those juddery guitars that I always fall for and there is a heavier start to Burst which relies on the rhythm section with funnily enough bursts of guitar.

Big Head I really like with the line “you need your ego fed,”  and a nice almost sitar like guitar moment before She’s Not Crying arrive and the backing vocals enhance the chorus.

Shame on You opens like Pixies Debaser before thrashing along for two minutes, fun.

Things We Do for Love is an upbeat frantic finish with buzz guitars and a steady beat and Andrea giving it all, not so sure about the laughter at the end.

Not a great deal of variety but this is jangly pop, very similar to The Primitives, no complaints from me there, and the band are tight and Andrea’s voice is controlled and fits around the tunes. No one is going to say it’s changing the world but so what, it’s enjoyable guitar pop to bounce along to for half an hour, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

6/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Hit the Ground