From the Scared To Get Happy booklet:-
Despite being extremely prolific, this Liverpool band remained a best-kept secret, overshadowed by the city’s more visible cousins Echo & The Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes. Fronted by Dave Jackson, they made two moody homegrown singles for own label Box in 1980/81, ‘Waiting Room’ and ‘Bated Breath’, plus a cassette album ‘Bitter Reaction’, attracting comparisons with Joy Division.
By 1982 a move to Red Flame coincided with more melodic songs, epitomised by the epic, uplifting tones of ‘Things Have Learned To Walk That Ought To Crawl’ and album ‘Indoor Fireworks’. After mini-LP ‘Clear! (1983), The Room collaborated with Tom Verlaine on final album ‘In Evil Hour’.
Jackson later founded Benny Profane with Room bassist Becky Stringer before playing with Dust and The Dead Cowboys. His 2010 solo album, ‘Cathedral Mountain’ was recorded with John Head (Pale Fountains, Shack) and Tim O’Shea (Send No Flowers).
mp3: The Room – Things Have Learnt To Walk That Ought To Crawl
This is another great find from the boxset. Dave Jackson has the sort of voice that makes my ears prick up and the song bounces along at a great pace. It’s not ground-breaking or anything, but it’s a fine example of the stuff I was dancing to in the students union back in 1982 – and what about those wonderful ‘la-la-la-las’ just before the instrumental break which is Bunnyesque in so many ways.
I’ve dug deep to come up with the b-side.
mp3: The Room – Dream Of Flying
I was listening to a great deal of fine music in 1982 and by the sounds of it, The Room should have found their way into the collection. It just goes to show how much stuff is still out there lying undiscovered.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 