Twitter/X is, for want of a better word, an absolute cesspit these days. Vile people paying to get their vile opinions promoted, threads littered with adverts for cheap Chinese shite that no one wants or needs and good accounts disappearing by the day. I only keep returning because I follow a few people who love their vinyl.
One of these accounts regularly posts' Now Playing' messages, the majority of which I enjoy, and every now and then, they post an album I've either forgotten about or is on my wishlist; this record is both.
Released in 1983, this is the band's second album and spawned the monster single 'Wishful Thinking'; I vividly remember being in awe that a couple of lads from my town were all over the TV and radio. The song instantly whisks me back to that summer, watching the world go by on a sunny day from Stephen Graham's mum's flat (that Stephen Graham, the film star guy, my mate from school).
Also released were the singles' Tragedy And Mystery', 'Working With Fire And Steel' and 'Hanna Hanna'. The album is worth taking a punt on for those songs alone. Still, as with the last China Crisis album I discovered, the album tracks are almost as good as the tracks that made it to Top Of The Pops.
Songs like 'When The Piper Calls', 'Animals In Jungles' and 'The Soul Awakening' could easily have been released, as too could the beautiful 'Here Comes A Raincloud', probably my favourite album track. There isn't a bad song on the whole record.
I'm almost ashamed that it has taken me 40 years to discover this, especially as it was available on Discogs for a wallet-friendly £8 delivered. I now need to do a shootout with this and 'Flaunt The Imperfection' to see which is my favourite Chinz Crisis album; playing them back-to-back will be an absolute pleasure.
If you fancy a copy, there are plenty of good copies on Discogs and eBay at reasonable prices.
Tracks To Try: Any of them.
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