Smothered In Love By My Nanny

Another piece of East London charity shop treasure exhumed at last...

The cover already had me beguiled, intrigued and yes, very, very excited. Any record that has

"Dedicated in Honour of the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana" written on the cover, has to be a sign of something rather special. So too, does any album that has telephone numbers of the band printed on the back cover.

The band "Sound Ceremony." The album "Precious as England." Early 80s.

Ahh, and then there's the song titles, here's some of my personal favourites

"Nanny," "Giggle Amidst The Tears," and "Smothered In Love."

How to describe the music.

Track 1 (the afore mentioned "Giggle") reveals lead singer Ron Warren Ganderton's Lou Reed overtones. The track is a hearty slab of electric guitars and reasonably understated synths. And a weird rhythm change/ break down part, that has this listener squirming every time it occurs, convinced that the rhythm section will never make it through intact. But somehow they keep it together on a wing and a prayer.

Track 2 "Shame On You" adds a considerably more shambolic feel to the proceedings. It kicks off like a pub band version of John Lennon's "Whatever Gets U Thru The Night" and quirky yet spirited female backing vocals adding a touch of mayhem to the experience. Ron's voice goes a bit Dylan-esque on this jerky sermon on infidelity. We hear you Ron, "Shame On You."

Track 3 has a really cool electric guitar riff, with atmospheric moog and various other synths wailing all theremin- like over the track. Ron moans "got to find the way out somehow.." It hangs together, just.

That brings us to "Smothered In Love." Oh god, it sounds like he's having a wet dream at the opening of this track, or worse, maybe he's wide awake. "Does it bother you that I stare?" Oh shit he's definitely awake. "I can't get my breath..." Listening to this is a bit like receiving an obscene phone call. And for all that it's absolutely glorious. The guitars and synths have switched their instruments to the "porn setting."

"Nanny," has to be heard to be believed. Boy, he loves his Nanny. I'd love to hear this tune played in a really rough bar in Stevenage or somewhere, and just watch the reaction of the audience. With a Keith Richards style guitar figure, tight bass and more sci- fi synth work, this one is a 'left of field' gem.

"You're Breaking My Heart" features a truly dreadful mix, horrifying synth stings constantly undermining any virtues the song may feature. Which aren't many...

"Precious As England." Imagine Phil Lynott, Lou Reed and add a bit of Timmy Mallet extolling the glories of living in England. More of those peculiar female harmonies give the title track of the album a celebratory feel, and every now and then, they nail maybe one note, and then go awol again.

Side 2 kicks off with the rockier "On Broadway." I like it, I'm beginning to warm to the 'recorded live in a practice room' sound of this lp. I hope they didn't spend too much money on this work. The frenzied chromatic guitar and synth riff, loony drum rolls and those girls voices again. Great drumming on the fade.

"Rock You To Sleep."

"I'm gonna rock you to sleep, rock rock rock " Not the strongest moment on the record. With a bizarre, seemingly never ending intro. Oh gawd, just when I thought the track was just a minor let down, one of the female voices comes on, trying to be suggestive, sighing and groaning in a really bored fashion. Imagine a sex scene in a Radio 4 afternoon play, but so much worse.

"Whisper" an acid- country; Joe Meek producing Charles Manson extravaganza. I wonder if I'm the only person who has listened to this track this year.. oh quick, the bass player and drummer get jazzy at the end.

"What Time Is It"

"Hours, minutes, seconds!" The percussion cupboard raided for this one, this is Sound Ceremony stretching their sonic palette and boring the world in the process.

"Father Grandmother Brother Uncle" Ron returns to his family theme explored with such memorable results on "Nanny." Actually this one is quite restrained; cool bass and drum interplay, and naff synth doing cool "Yes"-like things. I liked it.

"Memories" Moments of this sound rehearsed. Moments don't. A neat chorus, and the harmonies cook pretty good here.

And the last track. "London Paris Rome New York New York" Kicks off like a school band playing "Not Fade Away." An underwhelming end to an overwhelming album.

Details:

Artist: Sound Ceremony

Album: Precious As England

Label: Celestial Sound Production Rwg 0123

year: don't know!