Jammed Science

 

Shriekback - Jam Science [206 416 UK 1984 24-Bit FLAC]

It has been nearly ten years since I last ripped this album, so about time I check out how good it sounds on a better deck. The band did eventually release a very limited compact disc of 200 with messy loud mastering using a vinyl source (lost masters?). The results of this rip easily surpass that version, so here is Jam Science as it should sound.

Strangely deleted and never properly reissued, Jam Science was Shriekback reaching their peak - the early singles were superior work, but I always found the first two albums a tad fiddly & unnecessary in places. The importance of a good producer is also evident when comparing the rushed 'unofficial' Y Records release with this, the Arista (RCA distributed at the time) release. Paul Groucho Smykle has coated everything in a smooth adhesive-like production which bonds ten very different tracks into a highly cohesive and enjoyable listen. It is funky in all the right places, soft and gentle in others, the lyrics, as always, mean little with Carl Marsh and Barry Andrews sharing the vocal roles with great effect.

The band went on to break America with the Oil & Gold album but silliness began to creep in with big bad nemesii and silly songs about fish & ice isolating their original audience, so Suck on this. Shriekback were never to survive the departure of Dave Allen and his bass guitar.

A1 Hand On My Heart

A2 Newhome

A3 Achtung

A4 Partyline

A5 Midnight Maps

B1 Mercy Dash

B2 Under The Lights

B3 My Careful Hands

B4 Suck

B5 Hubris