It would be easy to say that The 1981 are very 1981 and to some extent that is true, but there is much more on show here. But let's talk about 1981 first. There is a common consent that the year signalled the end of New Wave and the scene was dominated by either Electro Pop or heavens above, the raiding the clothes box that was the New Romantic scene.
Those from the Indie Scene know that this was never the case, the guitar never died and Revisionists seem to catching up on this now. Indie wasn't necessarily on Top Of The Pops, but it was a thriving thing and there was a thriving live scene.
It mixed the Dream Pop of say a Candy Opera, the fuzz of The Jesus And Mary Chain and the Dream and Jangle Pop of the Glasgow scene, particularly the Postcard label. All of that appears here, but there are also further distractions.
Easy is one of the best Power Pop songs that you will hear from any generation and Notebox wouldn't be out of place on Blur's self titled album. Expiration Date even has big hints of Psych Pop and particularly, lit up my eyes.
Breathing Room starts like something played by Bolan and Took and then breaks into a wonderful Indie anthem with a wonderful organ run included. It is splendid Lo-Fi attitude. The Bassline on I Love You (But I Hate You) is absolutely killer complementing the mournful vocal.
The album does feel very UK, marvellously so. I don't see anyone approaching this period with the same intelligence and love. Move On is a corker of an album that gets better and better on repeated listens and will also fill a large gap in your collection.
You can listen to and buy the album here.
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