Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 26/09/05
Label: Rev-Ola

Those who were there will tell you that The Loft was a band on the brink of greatness when they imploded in a bitter, bilious cloud in June 1985. It had all been going so well. Years before Primal Scream, ten or more before Alan McGee discovered Oasis at King Tut's, The Loft and the Jesus & Mary Chain were the first great bands signed to Creation Records.

The indie quartet of music journalists Peter Astor (vocals/guitar), Andy Strickland (guitar), Bill Prince (bass) plus Dave Morgan (drums) brought wondrous, much needed jangly melancholia to the post punk, new romantic years. Indeed so impressed was McGee by the band's song writing prowess, that he famously hailed them as "the only group I know with the potential to have a hit as big as 'Mull Of Kintyre'."

The Loft's first singles, "Why Does The Rain" and "Up The Hill & Down The Slope" were both huge indie hits. Their mixture of sparkling guitar, Astor's deadpan vocals and poetic lyrics, all harnessed to irresistible melodies was championed by Radio One's Janice Long and prompted comparisons to The Byrds, The Velvet Underground and Television.

On the threshold of mighty things, The Loft then conspired against themselves and ruined everything. One night, while supporting Terry Hall's band The Colourfield at London's Hammersmith Palais, months of ego clashes culminated in an acrimonious mid-gig split.

Now with "Magpie Eyes", those of us who weren't there can imagine what might have been. Released to coincide with the band's first gigs in twenty years, this compilation brings together all the songs on the band's first two singles, plus studio out-takes, Radio One sessions and live tracks. There's also an in-depth booklet featuring thoughts from each band member, along with contributions from Loft fans such as Manic Street Preacher James Dean Bradfield, The Wedding Present's Dave Gedge, Janice Long and Alan McGee.

Nothing positive can be achieved by wondering "what if?" A listen to "Magpie Eyes", however, reveals a great lost British indie band. There are hints of The House Of Love here, along with shades of The Smiths, Orange Juice and Echo & The Bunnymen. Yeah, they were that good.

    by Gary Crossing