The Fatima Mansions took their name from a crumbling Rialto, Dublin
housing estate. They were formed in London
in 1989 by the acerbic Cathal Coughlan, who had recently emerged from
the demise of Microdisney, & he teamed up with guitarist Andrias O'Gruama, bassist Hugh
Bunker, drummer Nick Allum & keyboardist Zac Woolhouse.
Viva Dead Ponies was released in 1990, when TFM’s
sound was transitioning from a more synthy sound to a more guitar driven style.
Their musick has been described as ‘Vitriol delivered in a smooth package with
a poisonous soft centre’. Cathal Coughlan’s singing is unique & he's a
clever songwriter as well, with more than a touch of Scott Walker.
VDP starts off with “Angels Delight”, whose light poppy
intro lulls you in, then kicks you in the head with some absolutely vicious
lyrics. Then the band comes in with musick that knocks you backwards onto your
angelic ass. The album continues from here, alternating between dark &
darker bitter pop. This is a high point
for the edgy, assaultive Fatima
Mansions.
Viva Dead Ponies was re-released under a short-lived
reissue program by Kitchenware Records/Warner Music (UK) under exclusive
license of Sony/BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. in the UK & Europe
in 2007. It is once again out of print, but you never know about corporate
greed, so you better get it while you can.
The Fatima Mansions on Viva Dead Ponies are:
Cathal Coughlan - vocals & keyboards; Andrias Ó Grúam - guitar;
Hugh Bunker - bass; Nick Bunker - keyboards; Nick Allum - drums
& guitar; with Kenny Davis - accordion & Dame Alison Jiear - additional vocals.
The Fatima Mansions - Viva Dead Ponies, Kitchenware Records– KWLP 15, 1990.
decryption code in comments
Side A:
Angel’s Delight
Concrete Block
Mr. Baby
The Door-to-Door Inspector
Start the Week
You’re a Rose
Legoland 3
Thursday
Ceausescu Flashback
Broken Radio No. 1
Concrete Block
Side B:
Look What I Stole for Us, Darling
Farewell Ontario
The White Knuckle Express
Chemical Cosh
Tima Mansio Speaks
A Pack of Lies
Viva Dead Ponies
More Smack, Vicar
The tracklist on the back cover of the album is different
from the tracklisting on the record. Above is the order the songs actually
appear on the record..
Enjoy,
NØ
BP3MghsuOz6IU1PFJBJaJXgDX0gYe7m20jJ6YBkueDU
ReplyDelete