An assured, relatively loose follow-up to the fraught and
frayed Jeopardy, From the Lion's Mouth entrenched the Sound's stature as no
mere flash in the pan. It should have shot them directly between spots occupied
by the like-minded Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen as post-punk
legends, but the Fates had something else in mind, and so the quartet took
their place right next to touring mates the Comsat Angels in the section marked
"Deserved Better." With some semblance of a recording budget, the
Sound went into the studio with talented producer Hugh Jones on board to
accentuate the band's winning atmospherics. As a result, the sound is fuller,
less pungent. And speaking of winning, the snake-charming opener
"Winning" is like a dash of cold water in the faces of all the bands
that were wallowing and withering away at the weeping well: "I was going
to drown/Then I started swimming/I was going down/then I started winning."
This, in a sense, exemplifies the point that the Sound were not mopes. They had
their problems with life, but rather than just vent or escape from them, they
confront them and ask questions and attempt to sort it all out. Most of the
record has an effortless thrust to it, and only occasionally -- for maximum
effect -- does the Sound whip out the heavy artillery. If "The Fire"
sounds too bombastic and pummelling, listen closer. The bass is the lead
instrument, the keyboards are just as prominent as the guitars, and it only
sounds like chest beating compared to the rest of the songs. From the Lion's
Mouth shifts, glides, winds, accelerates, and decelerates with all the grace
and precision of an Olympic downhill skier. And what a great record it is.
Ripped from the Sound ….Plus box set to a Winning FLAC
The Sound; From The Lions Mouth …Plus
1. Winning
2. Sense
Of Purpose
3. Contact
The Fact
4. Skeletons
5. Judgement
6. Fatal
Flaw
7. Possession
8. The
Fire
9. Silent
Air
10. New
Dark Age
11. Point
Of No Return (B-Side)
12. Hothouse
(A-Side)
13. Coldbeat
(B-Side)
14. New
Dark Age [Live] (B-Side)
15. Fatal
Flaw (Peel Session16-11-81)
16. Skeletons
(Peel Session16-11-81)
17. Hothouse
(Peel Session16-11-81)
18. New
Dark Age (Peel Session16-11-81)
Follow the link for more from Adrian Borland / The Sound here

A Great record indeed!
ReplyDeleteI love Jeopardy... But this is my fave.
I stilo remember the first listen many Yeats ago.
I remember my first time as well Fabio. Thanks for your comment
DeleteAdmire your musical taste - great album thanks :) D
ReplyDeleteThank you Anon
DeleteCould from the lions mouth be re-upped in future, please AJ.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely zenfly. Thanks for asking
DeleteEver and ever amongst the Greats
ReplyDeleteA little free download from Into Grey:
https://intogrey.bandcamp.com/album/into-grey
An oldie from Sensorium has just been put on bandcamp for free download...
Deletehttps://sensoriumuk.bandcamp.com/album/jahazralah
Thank you AJ, just made my day.Stay safe
ReplyDelete