This album is briliiant. I cannot praise it enough. (I've got it on as I type this on media player.) Very, very organic, laidback for the most part (apart from 'Desire' the end of which always evokes the end of 'There Goes The Fear' by Doves to me). It's mainly a mellow jam, pieced together from ad-libbed fragments. It opens with a strange sound similar to whales, with someone rubbing two pebbles together. Don't let that put you off! It's also definitely a far cry from their synth pop days.
It works so well as a whole album with the first three songs segueing into one another creating a blissful 22 minute odd piece (It was side 1 of the vinyl so I've been told but the guy who suggested it to me). I'm having to buy my third copy due to the fact I keep giving it to friends for birthdays (& they do thank me for it!).
What still surprises me is the fact it came out in 1988, purely down to the production. It doesn't sound dated due to sounds used. No terrible eighties drum machines or synths, just mainly acoustic instruments apart from a little distorted guitar (& a crazy, dirty sounding harmonica) here & there. Apparently their record company at the time, just couldn't market it. Nothing here that instantly (or ever...) shouts single. Just a great piece of music as a whole. It opens up your ears to what is doable as a musician. About being sparing. Allowing moments of silence. Keeping it simple but sounding fantastic. If you end up buying this & liking it, check out their follow up, Laughing stock (talking about silences, the first sixteen seconds of this album are the vague hum of a guitar amp before a fractured chord kicks in.) & lead singer Mark Hollis's solo eponymous album for more minimalist (miserablist) delights.
I could gush on & on about this emotive, wonderful album but I must sleep.
Please buy it.