release date: Sep. 21, 1984
format: vinyl (WX8) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Mark Knopfler
label: WEA international - nationality: Scotland, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Still on Fire" (4 / 5) - 2. "Just Like the USA" - 5. "All I Need Is Everything" (4 / 5) - 7. "The Birth of the True" (Roddy Frame live) - 8. "Knife" (4 / 5)
2nd studio album by Aztec Camera following 1½ years after High Land, Hard Rain (Apr. 1983) introduces a new sound, which may or may not be the result of working with Mark Knopfler as producer. Certainly, the frontman of Dire Straits signalled something completely different than one would - given the time of the release - normally, associate with Aztec Camera. The band was seen as a folk rock and jazz rock band emerging out of post punk, which was anything but mainstream, and with Knopfler... that didn't bring about big cheers amongst critics and fans - or, at least they were mildly bewildered by this unusual cocktail. Yes, the style is more embracing in terms of mainstream styles with a noticeable r&b and soul pop introduction to the bands' repertoire, but its still genuine jangle pop at the core, and Frame croons as good as ever. The members list has changed in so far that keyboardist Guy Fletcher has replaced Bernie Clark, who took part in the band on the debut, and Malcolm Ross has entered on guitar replacing Craig Gannon who joined the band after the debut, but who should go on to play with The Smiths. Several others contribute on the album and at times it seems difficult to pin out exactly who's in the band and who's just in a supporting role, but with Frame as the only consistent member. Also, Roddy Frame is here credited all songs and music. In fact, one could argue that Aztec Camera alone is his project. The inner sleeve of the vinyl issue reveals some of this ambiguity, with Frame (credited vocals, guitar) in a sole photo on one side featuring three band members blurred in the background, and then on the other page of the sleeve: three smaller photos showing these individually: David Ruffy (drums, backing vocals), Campbell Owens (bass, backing vocals), and Malcolm Ross (guitar, backing vocals). This gives you the impression that these four constitute the band - then what about Guy Fletcher, you may ask? He is mentioned by name in the credit list playing keyboards and for backing vocals, but with smaller letters indicating he's not in the band after all.
I think, many critics couldn't help noticing what they found as Knopfler's fingerprints, instead of accepting this as new pastures without compromising. Anyway, I found it (and still do) somewhat mixed, too unfocused, like without a clear direction, as in search of (and without a clear idea of) where to go next. Some songs are potent pop songs but others sound misplaced or perhaps unfinished. The sound, however, is nicely shaped - it's a well-crafted production. I just don't like the bold use of keyboards and brass on tracks like "Head Is Happy (Heart's Insane)", and "The Back Door to Heaven", although, that works more than just fine on the title track.
The album contains three great compositions (tracks #1, #5, and #8), some really fine ones, but it also contains a few fillers, which in the end makes it a bit incoherent. The album received mixed reviews but still reached position #14 on the national albums chart list, and it's nevertheless an album I always return to and consider a classic Aztec Camera album.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 2 / 5 stars ]
