I've been listening to the new Wendy James album for almost 14 days now. I had preordered it on March 19, 2021. All good things come to those who wait though, and it's really been worth the wait. Wendy has once again produced an album of high quality and she's taken the time to get things done right.
The 3 preceding online singles hinted that we should expect lots of variation on the new album.
First single "Freedomsville" is electronic and reminds me a lot of Wendy's first "Racine" [2004] album. I think it is one of the best tracks on the album and I loved it from the first second I heard it. I love how she mentioned Sigue Sigue Sputnik when she posted it online. I would very much love a 15 minutes 12" remix of "Freedomsville" done in total Giorgio Moroder style.
Second single "Everything Is Magic" is a more typical and slower Wendy James song. It may be slower but it's also a grower. I've come to like it a lot after many replays.
"If you say too much
You lose some of that mystery
A history which is no history at all"
Third single "Do You Dig It? Do You Love It? Is It Groovy?" is very catchy and groovy and very easy to like. It came with a fantastic video of older Transvision Vamp video clips. Fuck, I would have loved to be there.
"I took my risks, I took my chances
One last cry from the heart of the artist
That's old hat jack, that's for squares
Never meant nothing to nobody
No to the duh, big surprise!"
The sound quality is amazing on the vinyl records. You can hear that it is real musicians playing real music and it has a great production too. You'll find all kinds of up-tempo, slower, groovy, rocking, electronic, you name it songs here. This album has room for anything and everything. Wendy sounds like we know and love her. She is so much more than people may think and this album once again proves it.
The vinyl release has been split as a 9 track LP and a 4 track 10" EP. 13 songs is a lot and you can always question if it wouldn't have been better to skip a few of them and tighten up the album. Well, probably yes, but I can always do that later on a Mini-Disc.
There are no complete fillers or bad songs on here. 2 of them are a bit too sugar-coated for me: "Sweet Like Love", "May I Kiss You? (Just Enough To Get Us Into Trouble)". 2 of them are perhaps not that interesting in my opinion: "This Declaration Of Love", "Thank You For The Time We Shared".
The song "Don't Let Daylight Into Magic" actually annoyed me a bit in the beginning. Something about the singing got on my nerves but at the same time it's a really good song. I love the title line "Don't Let Daylight Into Magic" and the guitar bits are brilliant. I just had to listen to it enough times to really appreciate the song.
"The Crack And The Boom Of The Creeps And The Goons" is a rival to "Do You Dig It? Do You Love It? Is It Groovy?" if you want a more rocking tune. They both kick a lot of ass. "Some tits here, a little ass there."
The title song "The Shape Of History" comes last on the album/EP and it is a fantastic up-tempo party song that reminds me a lot of The B-52's. It is very groovy and a really great way to end the album.
If I should pick the best Wendy James solo album I'd probably still say "I Came Here to Blow Minds" [2010], but this new album is not far behind. I hope to hear it live sometime next year. Time will tell, I haven't been lucky with UK trips these last years, I think it's a curse or something.
My trimmed down, tightened up album version would look something like this:
- A Happy Life
- Everything Is Magic
- The Crack And The Boom Of The Creeps And The Goons
- A Big Vicious Rumble
- Do You Dig It? Do You Love It? Is It Groovy?
- Don't Let Daylight Into Magic
- Freedomsville
- Step Aside Roadkill
- The Shape Of History
Rating: 
Band: Wendy James
Record Title: The Shape Of History
This Release: 2024
Record Format: LP
Extra Info:
- LP comes with a 10" EP and a lyrics booklet. Preorders were autographed by Wendy.
- CD comes with a lyrics booklet. Preorders were autographed by Wendy.
TrackList:
LP:
- Sweet Like Love
- A Happy Life
- Everything Is Magic
- May I Kiss You? (Just Enough To Get Us Into Trouble)
- The Crack And The Boom Of The Creeps And The Goons
- A Big Vicious Rumble
- Do You Dig It? Do You Love It? Is It Groovy?
- Don't Let Daylight Into Magic
- This Declaration Of Love
10" EP:
- Freedomsville
- Step Aside Roadkill
- Thank You For The Time We Shared
- The Shape Of History
Content Type: Record Review
Language: 
Updated: 2024-11-07 21:40
Created: 2024-11-07 21:17
