Give My Regards To Manchester…

ukevents · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 1980

Give My Regards To Manchester…

A five or so album journey through music’s richest genre.

Jay Morey

Talk of a Happy Mondays reunion prompted me to dig out a few artefacts of my music collection. Being a Britpop/rock kinda girl, I’ve always leant towards the earthier working class roots of the genus. The sort of music that can make Shaun Ryder a lyrical genius and be uncompromisingly straight-faced about it.

The few C.D’s I picked out turned into somewhat of a timeline. Success, critical adoration and commercial failure pick at the music here sharing that common undying theme. Manchester. The Stone Roses self –titled debut could do nothing but succeed. An ape-like front man in the shape of Ian Brown and devilish honestly in rich lyrics. How can stating categorically that ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ lead to anything but that? Smooth guitar styling and a heady mix of percussion make it seem a much more joyful affair than it is. The male Manchester accent drenches each word, even bringing a gentle tingle to the spine if delivered by the right singer. Browns talent for song writing and vocals and stagesmanship were the inspiration for a group of impressionable young men during the classic Spike Island gig of 1992.

Puressence, a band fronted by half Hungarian Salford born James Mudriczki were all feted for glory in 1998. Their self-titled debut of 1996 competed with the bigger success of Shaun Ryders strangely addictive vanity project of Black Grape. It’s Great when You’re Straight, Yeah, drank up the limelight and refused to pass on the Mancunian torch. The unending drive of Oasis probing and saturating each corner of the tabloid and commercial market also helped in Puressence being shamefully ignored.

Only Forever of 1998 had space to breathe and airplay behind it. Mike Hedges and Ian Grimble, the men behind the awesome comeback of the Manic Street Preachers two years before were hired to produce and sound mix the album. Mani, of Stone Roses fame guest produced a Stone Roses tribute track, Standing In Your Shadow, homage to the Spike Island gig. All is geared towards Mudriczki’s amazing vocal range and the beautiful guitar work beats your heart to the rhythm of rainy nights and frank depression of lost partners and remembered agonies.

Three top forty entries weren’t enough, and they parted with Island soon after. Planet Helpless was released in 2002, but still commercial success eluded them. Everywhere except Greece. (!)

Into the fresh millennium the music world still listened to the whining of the depleting Gallagher’s and tried to find insight in the staid lyrics. It appeared that Manchester’s legacy was to be dominated by the formidable figures of Noel and Liam for evermore. Until Doves, a band born from mid-nineties dance combo Sub Sub released Lost Souls. Nominated for the Mercury Music prize, it appeared to take risks with those Manchester features. Honest writing, a richness of accent and accomplished guitar playing. Also, the largest factor, the essence of the county itself. Grey skies are being relentlessly beaten against by Jimmy Goodwin’s lispy yet tender voice. But Manchester will always win.

Their last offering, Some Cites, was a more upbeat affair, yet still they recalled and remembered their roots in Shadows Of Salford, Black and White Town and Snowden. A quaint dig to say we never left, bought a Chocolate Brown Bentley or moved to North London. That’s why Some Cities topped the album charts, and Oasis have to rely on Rhys Ifans funnies to get a good track noticed.