In Praise Of...Shriekback's "Oil and Gold"

Ok, so I just did some quick A/Bing of the new deluxe version of "Oil And Gold" with the original, as well as the bonus tracks. My conclusions:

- The new version of the album is a bit 'hotter', i.e. compressed and loud, but otherwise sounds good. Nothing revelatory, mind you.
- Of the bonus tracks, the only rare item is "Fish Below The Ice (Dance mix)" which has never been on CD before. The extended version of "Nemesis", the one with the "Apocalypse Now" sample, was on a Richard Blade compilation and the live tracks were on a fanclub CDR so they're nice to have here. All the other O&G-era tracks have been on Shriekback compilations.
- Why did they include "Lined Up" and "My Spine"? And "Lined Up" is CLEARLY from vinyl! Wtf?!

All in all, a nice expansion of the album, but nothing that should make you run out and upgrade your copy.

any advise in sleevenotes re jam science reissue ?

cos that would be the one for me ..

Why did they include "Lined Up"

'Cos it rules so hard! Dave Allen absolutely on fire here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-R4XKuI7rA&feature=related

No argument there but it's not from the "Oil & Gold" period!

guess its being included on this reissue as the track was dropped onto an extra 12" with the 12" of 'below the ice' (oh the days when labels gave away free 7"/12" singles - the double pack !) that came out during O&G campaign.
embossed cover as well - hold the cover at an angle, and you can see some secret fish

http://www.discogs.com/Shriekback-Fish-Below-The-Ice/release/535819

The backing vocals/shrieks on Nemesis are possessed. Redonk. Incredible song.

I really liked Big Night Music too -- no big reissue of that yet eh?

BNM : a perfect album.
i love it.
very different to the earlier material, yet still, very much in line with the shriekback story.
would like to think if there is a reissue, then this could be a digitally sourced remaster/reissue.

They never really put a foot wrong until go bang and even then they made up for it in short order with the v underrated Sacred City

There is nothing I love more than the shriek vibe

They never really put a foot wrong until go bang

this. otm.

The extended version of "Nemesis", the one with the "Apocalypse Now" sample,

This makes so much sense that they would sample this, since Oil & Gold pretty much feels like sailing up the river to find Col. Kurtz.

Good essay on "Nemesis" here:

http://marchvladness.com/#/round2-siouxsievsshriekback/

Huh, thanks for the link, that was an interesting read.

that was unexpectedly excellent! also i can confirm that in minnesota too, c.1985, i never heard the term 'goth' and 'batcaver' was the closest equivalent i heard at the time

"Death rock" was what I heard in Massachusetts, but with "goth" spreading around 1986.

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