![]() ![]() ‘Don’t Stand Me Down’ offers a collection of eclectic and innovative material – showcasing Dexys at their most comprehensive – exploring funk, spoken-word and folk – while still honouring their soul influences – adhering to Rowland’s Irish roots and rounding it off with a polished indie rock finesse. It’s unequivocally Rowland’s finest hour – regularly cited as a neglected masterpiece, a lost treasure – and a GOAT – that’s “Greatest of A ll- T ime”. Once described by Melody Maker’s Colin Irwin as “ the most challenging, absorbing, moving, uplifting and ultimately triumphant album“, ‘ Don’t Stand Me Down’ survives as frontman Kevin Rowland’s “pièce de résistance” – a subversive and satirical commentary – a wallflower that refused to satiate commercial expectations by ingratiating into the party and announcing itself on the scene in 1985. ![]() Treated like a collector’s item, I hadn’t actually spun it that much since the day of my purchase, but inspired by the two gushing radio hosts, I carefully dusted it off and sank the needle down into its first groove. Why serendipitous? Well, a few months ago I’d actually paid around 40 euros to import a Japanese pressing of that very same album from a Discogs retailer based in some industrial suburb of Moscow, Russia. After station-surfing for a few minutes, I serendipitously stumbled upon an impassioned discussion regarding an LP they were referring to as “ one of the 80s lost masterpieces” – ‘ Don’t Stand Me Down’ by Dexys Midnight Runners. The reason I decided to open my article with that lyric – other than the fact it’s relative – is that I myself decided to switch on the radio in search of music. “…one the greatest albums you likely haven’t heard” Since most homes in the UK aren’t fitted with air-conditioning, I’ve actually had to relocate my entire vinyl collection to a cooler spot in the house to avoid liquefaction – though I’m not one to complain about the arrival heat – for it means summer is finally upon us and I get to dust-off all those LPs that are best-saved for sunshine accompaniment. ![]() Nonetheless, climate has been consistently hot, culminating this week in the witnessing of a new record temperature of 38.7℃ being established – or was it? Yes, it was – we think. Since my last post, we’ve unexpectedly enjoyed some rather clement weather here in the north of England – albeit inconsistent and interspersed with thunderstorms, flash-flooding and the usual drabness of overcast skies. It occurred to me I’d switch on the radio – ya know? I just wanted to hear some music.ĭon’t worry – I haven’t suffered a recent blow to the head – as what you’ve just read is actually a line of awkwardly premeditated dialogue lifted from the rather unusual LP I’ve been spinning this month. Uh, you know recently – you know recently? Yeah, I was just thinking about uh, one thing and the other and um, well you know music crossed my mind. ![]()
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