Saturday 25 June 2016

It's Immaterial Life's Hard And Then You Die



Get It At Discogs
It's Immaterial has qualities that can't be discerned from one listen, at least on the band's debut LP, Life's Hard and Then You Die. Patience is really needed to let this record's oddball hooks kick in. The opening track, "Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune)," is its most accessible. "Driving Away From Home" is a moody travelogue wherein John Campbell's half-spoken, half-sung vocals and Jarvis Whitehead's locomotive beat capture both the weariness and sense of wonder of being on a long road trip. Musically, the LP is all over the place -- new wave, country, blues, folk, and synth pop. Somehow the smorgasbord of styles works, because the bandmembers aren't being eclectic just for the sake of it; they simply have a wide canvas, keeping the album fresh from beginning to end. When Campbell talks, it isn't because he can't sing; the man has a lovely voice, especially during the transcendent chorus of "Space." On "Better Idea" and "Hang on Sleepy Town," Campbell creates an air of sadness that is felt more deeply with each listen. It's Immaterial manages to stay focused, never allowing its genre-bending to veer out of control. "Sweet Life" takes a bite out of Echo & the Bunnymen's brittle, psychedelic riffs and provides a Spanish flavor. Like much of Life's Hard and Then You Die, it grows on the listener. When "Festival Time" erupts into total chaos -- pulsating keyboards, brazen horns, samples of horses, operatic voices -- it sounds like a mess at first, but repeated spins reveal how well crafted it is. The CD version of Life's Hard and Then You Die is the one to search for. The CD adds three bonus cuts -- the gripping "Washing the Air" (with ghostly singing from Campbell and reptilian guitars that recall James Bond's instrumental theme) and different versions of "Ed's Funky Diner" and "Driving Away From Home."

24 comments:

RA Feutz said...

Thanks Aid00! I know that this release is about to be re-released as a 2 CD Super Deluxe version!

Mikey B. said...

Thank you! Do you have the album "Song" by It's Immaterial?

Aid00 said...

Hello Mikey B Here's It's Immaterial Song
https://www.sendspace.com/file/lhagid

Mikey B. said...

Thank you so much! I first heard It's Immaterial through a defunct blog that posted "Song" and albums from Winter Hours, The Field Mice, and oddly enough Rhino records handmade limited edition compilation of songs from the cartoon Josie & The Pussycats. Ever since, I have been searching for decent rips of Winter Hours (especially Wait Till the Morning) and the "Stop, Look & Listen: The Capitol Recordings." Cheers...

Aid00 said...

Hello Mikey B Here's Winter Hours Wait Till the Morning US Comp
https://www.sendspace.com/file/2dmw29

Mikey B. said...

Thank you so much! I cannot believe how rare these albums have become...

Mikey B. said...

You wouldn't happen to have that Josie & the Pussycats Rhino records Handmade compilation that is impossible to find?

Anonymous said...

Hello! Thank you so much for making this effort on It's Immaterial.

Can you please reupload the album 'Song', because I can't find it anywhere. :(

Aid00 said...

Hello Anonymous Here's It's Immaterial Song https://www.sendspace.com/file/ch8hqd

chespo said...

Hello! Apologies for being the third person to request it, but if you're willing to repost a link to the album SONG I'd be very grateful. It's criminally hard to find. I didn't even know it existed until yesterday. Thank you.

Aid00 said...

Hello chespo Here's It's Immaterial Song https://www.sendspace.com/file/rimlaq

Kev said...

Hi Aid. Can you re-up this one please? Thanks Kev

Aid00 said...

Hello Kev New Link Up & Running

Kev said...

Many thanks Aid. YNWA :-)

Anonymous said...

Great blog! Can you re-up this as the link is dead.

Aid00 said...

Hello Anonymous New Link Up & Running

Anonymous said...

Nice one! Thanks

Andrew said...

Hi! Any chance of a new link? Are you sick of people asking?

Aid00 said...

Hello Andrew New Link Up & Running

Andrew said...

Oh I’m sorry! I was hoping for Song!

Aid00 said...

OK Andrew Here's Song https://www.sendspace.com/file/oe3a24

Andrew said...

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Do you have House For Sale?

Aid00 said...

Hello Anonymous Here's It's Immaterial House For Sale https://gofile.io/d/wj87Dd

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