Worthy introduction to former greats of uk indie music scene
richard johns | new zealand | 10/24/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Some ten years later than anticipated a fine compilation appears by these former regulars of the UK indie chart.What you get here is 7 tracks from the 1st album and a 7 assorted singles. It makes for slightly uneasy listening: the tracks from Taste are mostly satisfyingly brutal chunks of raw noise. I particularly enjoyed the howling guitar sound of I Fall She Screams and the swirling noise of Anticipating Nowhere.The remaining tracks come from the Creation singles and the change in direction is stark. On the sleeve notes of The House of Love's Creation compilation, label boss Alan McGee writes how everyone had been doing lots of LSD around the recording of their first album and I wonder if perhaps he had fed the Telescopes some kind of hallucinogen as the remaining tracks have a more psychedelic feel, complete with flower-power inspired lines like "Fill my soul with love" and various ohhs and ahhs. These songs range from the mediocre (Never Learn Not To Love) to the inspirational (Celeste). Overall though it's a very worthwhile purchase, especially as Taste is once again unavailable. However, it could have been better. To Kill A Slow Girl Walking is excluded while the rather ordinary b-side Pure Sweetest Ocean, complete with very long sample of whale music is included. A further compilation including the early singles, plus Peel Sessions would be an ideal follow-up."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1