Home

A gathering is an assembly or meeting for a get-together or to summon up to prepare (as oneself) by mustering strength; and it is also to congregate in sequence of binding. In the case of Terry Hall, the mad-hatter of pop was able to conjure up a spell that would gather the perfect line up for his first solo attempt that would later on turn out to be the perfect pop album of his career. Home is Hall's shining masterpiece that boasts the musical seeds that he has planted and blossomed it to a dream come true. Normally I don't go to name the who's who or where he came from or the history or background of each band or member. I try to avoid that situation knowing and feeling that nowadays everyone is already oriented with that genre. Besides I'll leave that to somebody else who's more authorative and reliable (at least) in the music and "social" scene. A guy whom we gladly love to hate because of his arrogant claimings of "know-it-all." I'm sure you know who I'm talking about (Vernida 1*cough*Amorsolo St.*cough cough*mid-90's*cough cough cough*excuse me there's something in my throat). Anyway going back......

How can I pass such a magnificent album and not talk about the wonderful people who made it into a realization. Home prides some of if not most of New Wave's who's who along with a touch of modern alternativism. Produced by the brilliant scouse Ian Broudie of the Lightning Seeds and just recently a solo album, he co-wrote 2 of the 11 songs in the album (Sense and You) and also played guitars on both tracks. Terry has always enjoyed working with Ian explaining "I get to do what I love doing, which is writing songs, but then hand the responsibility of promoting it to someone else." Spearheading for engineering is Cenzo Townshend also known for his works with Ian McCulloch, Echo & the Bunnymen, Alison Moyet, Lloyd Cole, The Stranglers, New Order, The Wedding Present, The Fall, The Lightning Seeds and a lot more to mention.

Now, this time for Terry Hall. The band members recruited here are no strangers in the New Wave scene as well. Playing on acoustic/electric guitars is Craig Gannon formerly of Aztec Camera and the Bluebells. He gained his fame when he became a brief bass player then later moved to rhythm guitar for the Smiths, playing on the Panic and Ask singles. He also co-wrote most of the songs with Hall in the album. On drums is Chris Sharrock who started off with the La's then the Icicle Works and later on the Lightning Seeds which he would leave in mid-97 to join World Party. Currently, he is a member of Robbie Williams' (yes that guy!) band. Lastly, playing bass is the only person with the shortest list of credentials. One to be exact.

But in my opinion, his former band is the most influential that ever came out from the Liverpool scene since the Beatles and if it weren't for their "Fuck the World ego" attitude they would've given U2 a good arse kicking back in the day. His name is Les Pattinson and he used to play bass for Echo & the Bunnymen. Plain and simple. Rounding up the crew are Simon Rogers who played for the Fall ('85-'86), Ministry of Sound and Boy George. He also fluttered the keyboards on the 1992 Lightning Seeds album "Sense". Angie Pollock who also provides backing vocals on this album also joined the Lightning Seeds (during the Dizzy Heights tour) as the permanent keyboard player.

In more ways than one is nearly a Lightning Seeds album than a solo-project with the crew (most of them) having a significant inclination with Broudie's band. Still, Terry Hall made it a point that his long face ang subttle sarcasm will be etched in every song delivered by a melodic sadness that you can laugh and smile along with. Aside from Broudie and Gannon, the album also features songwriting contributions from other friends and contemporaries (from the 80's and early 90's) that he has kept a close knit relationship throughout the years making it easier for him to work with. Among them are Nick Heyward, formerly of Haircut 100 (Favourite Shirt, Love Plus One) then leaving the band to pursue (also) a solo-career 1983. Leaving his teen gloss, he diverted into a much adult and introspective music (Whistle Down the Wind, Blue Hat for a Blue Day); and Andy Partridge, guitarist, singer, prolific songwriter and public persona of XTC (Dear God, Generals and Majors, King for a Day and the double LP "Oranges and Lemons" [yes I know but I wont get into that]). He also suffers from acute stage fright.

Together, they teamed up with Hall to move in a continous stream that'll perfectly fit into this forty-two minute pop gem. The latter co-writing with I drew a lemon and Moon on your dress, showcases how heartache and day-to-day life can be faced with a shrug of a shoulder and a few drinks while considering with continued attention on how to win the girl of your dreams back "I'll iron a shirt choose a tie and drink until that well is dry" or " Who holds out a flower when your life's in a mess who takes you for granted and you couldn't care less". It may not be the best advise in town but one day you'll wake up and say to yourself "I should've done that."
Meanwhile, the duo Hall and Hayward also talks about love and life but in a more different perspective which is growing old and what's next. In their song, What's wrong with me?, they pictured romance as a big question even though the answers are right in front of you. Contemplating the fact that love is still the very essence "Love me although I'm fat and almost thirty-three, what's wrong with me?/Hey iwth the help of God and a few marines I'll get there someday all I want to do is make your dreams come true."

Lyrically, Home is an exhibit of pop-words and harmonic melodies where the bottom line is all about love and its pains. I won't even try to highlight the rest of it but in No, No, No and The first attack of love, the arrangements were cleverly twisted even though the message is common giving you that sound of lush "(Lets call it love) Oh no not love (Sealed with a kiss) Oh no not a kiss (It must be love) Oh no not again/"Attack of love turns into the first attack of pain It's all or nothing we'll fall as sure as apples fall." Another trademark of Hall that's very prominent in his profession is his ingenious versions of songs that he has co-written with. Here he did his own rendition of Sense which first appeared in the 1992 album of the same title and took a more delicate and gentler synth driven adaptation - lessening the anxiety and adding up more affection. But still both versions doesn't need any comparison.

Making a surprise significant part on this album also is Damon Albarn, frontman of brit-pop champions Blur and the cartoon hip-hop group Gorillaz this creative popstar co-wrote with Hall Chasing a Rainbow which was originally released as a double EP only. Having a depressing christmas feel to it the expresses regrets affected with grief or unhappiness "A summer breeze is set to blow the cobwebs from my mistletoe hohoho/Chasing raindrops to the sill an open fire might beat that chill/You know I tried (to make it right) But oh to fly (were sorry to lose you now)." Unfortunately the single did not get much airplay and failed to make the TOP 40. But if there's one song that really stood out and signalled a great start to Terry's solo career is the first track Forever J. Named after his then wife, Jeanette, Forever J is by far one of Hall's best songs with great thriving lyrics "Like a bee with honeyed thighs a living hell of slice....of Heaven/She holds a candle to my shame I take everything but blame when it comes to naming names I'll name J." It bursts about love and his ardent dedication of fidelity. I couldn't imagine anyone singing this.

However you want to describe it, Home is a commonplace of airy-pop, sensible music and real emotions expressing the very detail of love and its misery. No song is shallow nor complicated thus making it very easy for us to grow into it. The album may have not received the airplay that would've made it a huge hit but I'm very thankful that he has given us a small slice of heaven through his music which is Home.

The laughing devil has chased the angels away.

Sorry for the very late post, work has been MORE than just a four-letter word

'til next time