The Communards – Red

“There’s More To Love Than Boy Meets Girl” should be considered one of the most political songs of the 1980’s. Written at a bleak time for gay men (clause 28, media hysteria about AIDS, family values being pushed..), Jimmy Sommerville is suffocating inside with his emotions aching for freedom..wanting to shout from the highest mountain but admitting “All around there’s violence and laws to make me think again..maybe one day they will understand”. The chorus is an assualt on the ears of those who were deaf to all gay men during that era. And the theme of hurt and being seen as an outsider in the 1980’s is constant thoughout. The Communards were not taken terribly seriously at the time..partly due to Jimmy’s falsetto vocals and strong political views, but it’s easy to forget just what a good band they were. The delightful HI-NRG version of “Never Can Say Goodbye” treads similar ground to the huge smash hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way” but there’s more to them than catchy dancefloor hits. “For A Friend” still sounds heartbreaking and tender tracks like “If I Could Tell You” and “Lovers and Friends” melt with sensitivity and quiet reflection. A wonderful album that has dated remarkably well. 8/10

Terence Trent D’arby – Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D’arby

This is one of the finest debut albums of the 1980’s. Cocky young singer Terence Trent D’arby burst on to the scene with an album that brought us one of the finest soul and pop voices in years. His big voice was matched by a gigantic ego that rubbed people up the wrong way but gave the media great value. Big hit single “Sign Your Name” is perhaps slightly twee now but the wonderful cover of Smokey Robinson’s “Who’s Lovin’ You” is still wonderful. The brilliant funky pop of “If You Let Me Stay” is infectious and joyous, “Rain” is still slightly bonkers and “I’ll Never Turn My Back On You” is cute and soulful. You can’t help listening to this and thinking that D’arby should have been a huge international star and every bit as big as the soul greats who inspired him. He could never quite shake off the ‘poor man’s Prince’ tag. 8/10

Happy Mondays – Pills, Thrills ‘n’ Bellyaches

The Mondays were perhaps the most loveable of all the Madchester rogues and ‘Pills, Thrills ‘n’ Bellyaches’ is the sound of a band having the time of their lives. The indie/pop smash “Step On” still raises a smile with its glorious “call the cops” lyric and tuneless whistling. The epic “kinky Afro” is still ace and has that wonderful “I only went with yer mother cos she’s dirty” line. Elsewhere and there’s no shortage of great tracks on offer. “God’s Cop” is a brilliantly sneering attack on ex Manchester Police Chief James Anderton and “bob’s Yer Uncle” manages to find Shaun Ryder actually sounding quite sultry and seductive. The equally chilled out “Harmony” and “Donavon” chill pleasantly in the background offering some rest after the party. And the party never got better than this for the Mondays. “pills..” is a great rock n roll moment. 10/10

The Beloved – Happiness

Happiness is a warm bed of synths that sparkle gently like crystals, all warm, soothing and delicate. Who said electronic music lacks feeling? What “Happiness” by The Beloved does in the mood and tone of this glorious album is paint a permanent picture of that exciting and carefree period. Aside from the fantastically atmospheric chill out anthem “The Sun Rising”, The Beloved themselves were always too poppy to make a defiant and significant impression on the rave scene itself but what they did manage to do was broaden its appeal and give their own take on that summer with a blend of highly infectious, dreamy pop/dance tunes. “Hello” is busy name checking the sad, the glorious and the surreal – zippy from rainbow to Jeffrey Archer and even cult ex Crystal Palace footballer Vince Hilaire. It’s beautifully enchanting and Marsh even cheekily throws in a bit of eco-politics into the mix by asking “Can you spot the difference that lies between the colour blue and the colour green?” before realising we are very much in the middle of a Tory grip and a lack of action on environmental issues and thus the line soon after of “Sometimes I feel that the whole world’s going mad!”. The music, the gentle whispery vocals, the melodies..they all convey the feeling that everything is fine, if you allow it to be. “Wake Up soon” is a cry for individuality, for example. The lyrics expressing the need to live your life with you being the ultimate responsibly “Oh, so many people tell you what to do/ And you believe them, that’s the trouble with you/ Just think for yourself!” before perhaps being aware that beyond the raves, behind the partying and the dreams is a reality we all must face – “There’s a whole world out there waiting for you/ if you’ll just stop dreaming”. “I love you more” could even qualify as the most tuneful joyous pop song ever written! no mean feat. It literally bounces around the speakers with excitement and joy and the lyrics – just as the title implies – look at the state of feeling intense happiness but never quite being able to communicate it to a partner. “Up Up and Away” takes the whole party vibe that one step further with such utter devotion that it will make hippies and pacifists of us all yet. It is hugely infectious and rather like “wake up soon” before it, displays messages of realising full spiritual contentment. “Happiness” is wise enough to know that the best drug of all is love. An album made to be loved and one that offers many soothing cuddles in return. 10/10