Blue Eyed Boy '80- '84

Description

Limited to 200 copies on black vinyl. The name of Neil Davidge is more familiar for his seminal work with Massive Attack, the link with the dance grooves and adjustments of DNA and for film and TV music credits. By contrast the first half of the 1980's Bristol band Big Outdoor Type was an earlier pop-tinged project with a planet of rhythm thrown in. Neil and his writing partner, vocalist Tracey Fuller, had managed to come up with something a little more sophisticated than much of the local fare usually on offer. Music journalist Dave Massey picked up on the band and reviewed them to a national readership for Sounds. After that, well nothing much happened. Fast forward some four decades and Massey was able to compile the 'Blue Eyed Boy' album for Bristol Archive Records, saying: 'I was hearing terrific tracks I'd not come across before. The overall quality was so high it was too good not to see the light of day. These tracks, along with a whole mass of home, four-track and Bristol demo studio produced works, have come together in a rather wonderful collection that was a delight to compile.' Opening track 'Don't be a Stranger' is a beautiful blast of summery warmth. The next tracks are a blissful cross between Swing Out Sister's 'Breakout' and the woozy sway of Associates in 'Sulk' mode on 'Winters Cold', the jive swing of 'The Spell', while the haunting 'Incredible Shrinking Girl' and the later 'Follow Love' are songs that echo the classic Postcard era of Sound of Young Scotland with some southern sweetening. The more jangly angles of 'City of Hell' and spacious, sub psychedelic Latin lusciousness of 'Our Last Man in Brazil' take that process several dance steps further. There is also a hint of the filmic element that would later inform Neil Davidge's future career. This album collection was for so long a lost possible classic that never was. That's not the case any longer. Dive right in, breathe the refreshing air, enjoy the view and feel the benefit of the great outdoors.