The Wedding Present – Seamonsters (1991)
#15. Not too bad for an album that nearly didn’t make the cut. But then again, Take Fountain, the ‘comeback’ album in 2005 from The Wedding Present, would likely have occupied as lofty a position.
I’ve never shied away from the fact that I was late to The Wedding Present. By 1991, I did have a lot of what they had released, all bought in something of a hurry to make up for being so late – it was hearing Kennedy in a record shop that had finally got me hooked.
Seamonsters was to be their third studio album, but it was one that I knew was going to be totally different from what had come before, thanks to hearing songs they had played in session for John Peel in October 1990. It was one of those occasions when I later regretted not taping anything at the time- it just wasn’t something I was in the habit of doing – and furthermore this was a period when I wasn’t an avid listener to the show as I wasn’t long after moving into a flat with Rachel, and we were in those first throes of love where you seemed to be constantly joined at the hip – she must have been out visiting some of her friends that night as there would be no other reason as to why I could have been tuning into Radio 1 late in the evening.
Anyways, the noises which came out of the radio during the latter half of a song called Dalliance seemed to come from a completely different planet. It very much stayed with me, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it when It was finally put on the next album, which turned out to be May 1991.
I wrote about Dalliance when I pulled together ICA 7, describing it as a stunning and unexpected wall of sound that took the band to a whole new level in terms of fanbase and out of the realms of mere indie-pop.
But the very same words could be written about any of the ten tracks on the two sides of the vinyl. It is up there with as perfect an album as I have in my collection – which is not something I’ll be readily able to claim with some of the remaining 14 in this rundown.
mp3: The Wedding Present – Heather
Choosing to work with Steve Albini in a remotely located studio in rural Minnesota was a major gamble on everyone’s part, and it has to be admitted that the experience would lead to the fracturing of relationships and later changes in band personnel. The musicians clearly suffered quite a bit for their art, but from a purely selfish perspective, I’ll say it was a price well worth paying.
I’ll make no apologies for foisting two very intense and dark albums on you over consecutive days. I promise that tomorrow, the start of a new month and the actual one in which I will celebrate my 60th birthday, will have something a bit easier on the soul.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
I’m not sure if Seamonsters or Bizarro is my favourite LP. I guess it changes based on how I feel and the wonderful memories both evoke. Dalliance was a staple request at indie discos and I wasn’t the one requesting it – one who walks these halls and his best chum did. Corduroy was another pop pick for the dance floor.
I wash so immersed in the Wedding Present and Teenage Fanclub at this time and while I own a fair bit of The Wedding Present I own nowt by Teenage Fanclub.
The last time I saw The Wedding Present live was at the QMU Glasgow, 2004/5 (I think?) they did not disappoint.
I’ve heard very good things about Take Fountain and one day I’ll definitely have a listen.
Interesting choice. There would definitely be a Wedding Present album in my top twenty, but not sure about Seamonsters. I like it – it’s got great stuff on it. But what one person views as consistency, another can see as lack of variation. No, not “all the songs sound the same”, but the I think I prefer the variety on Watusi, Take Fountain, or even Bizarre.
Well. today anyway. Tomorrow is another day.
For me nothing tops Bizarro but this record is indeed fantastic. This series just keeps getting better and better (which is I guess what it says on the tin?)