CD: CDM RED185
RELEASE DATE: 2001
LABEL: Cherry Red

01. Out on Your Own
02. Whistling in the Dark
03. Nineteen Sixty Nine
04. Cargo of Souls
05. Lenin in Europe
06. Get Back to Russia
07. To Live Like This
08. The Boy Can Sing
09. Estates
10. Inspiration
11. Johnny I Hardly Knew You
12. Easter Rising
13. Ain't That Always the Way

Formed in Manchester by the Perry Brothers in the mid-80's they first came to prominence after being championed by Morrisey. They signed to Rough Trade Records and the singles 'Whistling In The Dark' and 'Inspiration' were both Top 5 independent chart hits. The singles were both convincing accommodations between music and politics, the band being deeply affected by the betrayal of the working class by the labour Movement. Coming across as a mixture of Johnny Marr's guitar heroics and the anthemic rock mastered by The Chameleons, 'Contenders' is a pretty decent album. There's much to enjoy here with 'Out On Your Own' serving as an explosive opener that possesses urgency and intensity in spades; the relentless 'Get Back To Russia' is a simple tune forced home with similar conviction. The second half of the album has more clarity and has dated better; there are some great moments of Chameleon-like intensity matched with beautiful transcendental passages of guitar as on 'Estates'. As with the Chameleons, Easterhouse likes to set a mood, Andy Perry's dour vocals and his brother, Ivor Perry's driving, shimmering riffs summarize the golden years of English post-punk; the moody atmospherics of the Chameleons, the angry folk-rock of New Model Army, the summery jangle of the Smiths — they're all here.