Album, Single and EP Reviews


 

 

  Little Sparta b/w P.S. Scotland by St Jude's Infirmary


Little Sparta b/w P.S. Scotland cover art

Artist: St Jude's Infirmary
Title: Little Sparta b/w P.S. Scotland
Catalogue Number: Mrs Jarvis Recordings
Review Format: 45
Release Year: 2009



There's a timeless quality to vinyl. As a format for the reproduction of music, the damn thing just won't die. Of course there has been no shortage of vinyl wasted on uninspired music but it remains the superlative means of delivering grungy little pop songs to the listener.

Murky and grungy pretty much describes St Jude's Infirmary on this single. Determinedly lo-fi might be another description. As musical references go, this one is garage rock meets Spector on a very low budget. I suppose you could call it a sonic homage to that sound of Scotland born out of that curious version of punk that lived in Glasgow circa 1977 before it got sent on a Postcard and coloured in Pastels.

In addition to the above, "Little Sparta" is enlivened by dual female vocals while the flipside rant "P.S. Scotland" manages to name check Arthur Scargill in something of a cod American accent.

I'm not sure that I really like these songs. They work fine but there seems to be a certain lack of sparkle. Maybe I'm doing the band injustice here as they are perhaps a serious bunch making a point about the struggles of the working class. Or maybe not.

 


www.stjudesinfirmary.com
Reviewer:
Review Date: August 12 2009