I bought this on Tuesday from my local record retailer. Ever since, it's been on constant rotation here at Trisectorman Towers. It's a very good album, stronger than 2005's "Days Run Away." They should have called this one "More Songs About Eyes And Guns", as lyrically there's nothing new here. It's the singing and guitar from the Bickers/Chadwick axis that makes this album so very special.
There are twelve fine songs here. The album kicks off with "A Baby Got Back On Its Feet", familiar as a single and video release. The video omits the band's fantastic rhythm section of Matt Jury and Pete Evans, which seems a shame as they are well worth watching.
Favourite tracks are closing track "Eye Dream", "Money Man", "Sunshine Out Of The Rain", the title track and the aforementioned "Baby". It's hard to imagine the band without prodigal psychedelic guitarist Terry Bickers as he is once again fully integrated into the sound. The production is by the band and ex-Vibrator and Boyfriend Pat Collier. It seems that every album he is involved with is a true gem. This album is very easy to listen to, with no modern digital abrasiveness. The album's not long at just 39 minutes or so. This does mean you can burn both it and the even shorter predecessor album "Days Run Away" onto one CD-R for in-car listening!
The album is available on CD, limited edition red vinyl and download. The recording is owned by the band, but licensed to the Cherry Red label. I chose the CD which comes in one of those vastly-overrated digipacks and with childish artwork. My copy was torn around the area where the booklet is inserted. I suspect that this will affect other copies, as the fit is too tight. Frankly, for the £11 I paid, I would have hoped for something a bit more robust and with more collector appeal. Don't let that put you off buying a copy, as this album is a keeper and really rather special.
The band are doing a short British tour next month. Unfortunately, domestic issues may mean I have to miss out, but hopefully the momentum from the release of this album and the re-issue of their Creation debut will last and lead to a further tour. A couple of festival dates have also been announced, so maybe the band will have a higher profile than of late. Keep up with the band at their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheHouseOfLoveOFFICIAL
