Impact Music #12: Fear Of Music

Fear of Music by Talking Heads

Difficult one to photograph due to its shiny sleeve.

I first heard this in London in 1985, staying at a friend's relatives house They also had My Life In The Bush of Ghosts and Music For Knee Plays, which intrigued, but this was the one with the unique songs and sound.

Shortly after I nearly fell out with my chemistry teacher over this album. Trying to impress him and show off I told him I'd heard it and really liked it, but he said it was a disappointment and their worst album. He didn't like the songs or sound. At the end of the day I was still happy to have to have someone else to talk about different music (even if we disagreed, he was still interested) and the realisation that adults can occasionally border on being cool.

Impact Music #11: Substance

Substance by New Order

Another iconic "best of" album, and a double cassette of their singles (in their 12" form) and B-Sides. It works so well because (a) most of the songs never appeared on an album, so it all sounds so fresh and (b) the ones that do are presented in their far superior versions (hello Bizarre Love Triangle). This was another of those albums that got played on repeat. I'll even forgive them the rerecording of a couple of tracks as *whispers* the version of Temptation is better than the original.

Most significantly, the opening notes of Ceremony are still my go to place whenever I pick up a guitar or bass.

Impact Music #10: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles

"But *insert other Beatles album*is much better".

An obvious record, but it's obvious for a reason. I could have easily chosen a so called "cooler" Beatles album, but why pretend?  This is the one that had the biggest impact on me.

I started listening to this about a year before the 20th anniversary in 1987. The BBC devoted a lot of airtime to the album for it's anniversary - the backstory, how it was recorded and the impact that it had on music and culture. Very soon I knew the album inside out and I could pinpoint every instrument, lyric, effect, tape loop and squeaking chair. I was amazed that pop music could be so experimental.

Most surprising was to discover that the tape I had was clearly recorded on a tape deck that was slightly slower than mine, so when I heard radio one playing the album I realised that I had been listening to a sped up version of the album for the last couple of years.

Impact Music #9: Shhh

Shhh by Chumbawamba

I was fairly apolitical at university, but then I started paying attention to the world around me. 

Chumbawamba took things to extremes with their occasionally clumsy anarchistic approach to the world, but they at least pushed me in the right direction and taught me how to get angry with society's injustices. This album was as all about censorship, after their intended album Jesus H Christ was pulled from release due to sample clearance issues. Influenced by The Pet Shop Boys as much as by Crass, they wrapped the politics in some great pop tunes and threw a load of samples into the mix. Their albums always came with essential and educational sleeve notes and the tour on the back of this album produced one of the best gigs I've ever seen.

Impact Music #8: Rage In Eden

Rage in Eden by Ultravox.

Not only was this my main introduction to Ultravox, but it also introduced me to the sleeve designs of Peter Saville and the production of Conny Plank.

I got it as part of an introductory offer to an album club that resulted in me (or often my mum bailing me out) having to then buy at least one overly priced album a month for a year. Not the best financial decision I've made but I'd gladly pay all that money to hear this album again for the first time.

It was pop music apparently, but it wasn't very poppy - it seemed quite sophisticated, being recorded in Köln (not Cologne) and with its long songs, pretentious lyrics, biblical references and stunning sleeve design. A few years later i started getting into Krautrock because of albums like this - listen the motorik beat that drives the songs and you'll see what I mean.

Impact Music #7: Selected Ambient Works Volume ll

Selected Ambient Works Volume ll by Aphex Twin.

This, or his debut? His debut or this? Tough call and they both tower above most music made during that time. Certainly electronic music would be a much duller place without them - after this album people even started calling him the Mozart of electronic music.

SAWll was not what I expected, but it turned out to be everything that I wanted. An intimidating 2¾ hour long triple album of beatless music, Richard D James came good on the "ambient" promise of his debut in style. This isn't ambient music to be played as part of the background, this is music that demands your attention and creates its own ambience. Listened to in one go can leave you quite disorientated when you try to reconnect with the real world, but it also has some of the most beautiful melodies known to mankind that will have you close to tears. Or is that just me? 

I don't think i listened to music in the same way after this.

PS Some people will think this album is quite dull.

Impact Music #6: Giant Steps

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys

Once upon a time The Boo Radleys were just another noisy indie band that I put in the "not bad" category. Then in 1993 they sprung this sprawling masterpiece of a double album on the world.

It's the album that is influenced by everything, but sounds like nothing else. It made total sense even though it shouldn't have. I love it all and twenty seven years on, the moment where, just as you think the album might be winding down, THAT brass riff kicks in at the start of Lazarus still stops me in my tracks.

It should have been massive, but it didn't sell so Martin Carr allegedly wrote Wake Up Boo to make a point that the band COULD have a hit single if they tried. They did and it resulted in a lot of people knowing and hating them for that one song. The irony is that the feelgood hit of the summer was under the surface an incredibly melancholy one.