JUDY NYLON little-known LP very great "PAL JUDY" 1982 Snatch UK vinyl John Cale
$
88
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Description
As we passed through the punk era, which was over pretty fast, there were performers at the fringes who never got the attention they deserved. One of the slightly obscure acts was a seemingly comedy-oriented duo called "Snatch," which was Judy Nylon and Patti Palladin...they did one single for BOMP (the very funny Brooklyn-inflected song "Stanley"), a cool Eno b-side ("R.A.F.") and that was it. A few years later there was a compilation album of various tracks, and I've yet to hear it although it never came out on CD it did get reissued on vinyl about five years back, which is a sign that it has a fan base, so that's good!
But here is the one and only pressing of the one and only Judy Nylon solo album, on the most obscure UK label, and it's actually a revelation, and nobody seems to know. The songs and arrangements are beautiful, dark, atmospheric & unexpected post-punk, more to do with dub styling than with anything else 1980's, but it's not really dubstep either...just moody, accomplished, understated, and unique stuff.
It's a great favorite around here, but I've gotten to where it's time to let some of these well-cared-for LPs go. Can I say that although you won't find this streaming anywhere probably, you can believe me that you won't be disapppointed with it. Or, maybe there are cuts on Youtube you can try out. The sound of the vinyl is gorgeous, like the whole album is.
And, oh, sorry, I didn't mention why I put John Cale in the title--Judy Nylon worked with Cale a few times, including on his Fear album, and she also helped Brian Eno create ambient music one day when she came over to bring him an LP of Pachelbel when he was in bed injured by getting hit by a taxi in New York, and after she put on the LP for him and left, she'd unintentionally left the volume much too low, and he was forced to listen to the whole album at this very low volume, which made him realize there could be music that barely impinged on the consciousness, and that led to Discreet Music and a whole industry of ambient new age stuff.
I've just found a review by a person smarter than me, and I'll copypaste it below.
Just will add that the cover and vinyl are in beautiful near-mint shape, only flawed by a little ringwear on the sleeve and the price sticker from Saint Marks Sounds Records, documenting the price I paid for it in 1982...
Free shipping and insurance cos you're brave to take a chance.
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Review by Livingsamely on Rate Your Music:
Post-punk and dub often marry like the happiest couple, but it’s rare for the two to be equal instead of simply equating to a more vibrant style of dance-punk. Here’s an example: the dreamiest, most psychedelic reggae I’ve ever come across.
The atmosphere of this album is captivating; it envelopes all of life in its quirky simplicity. Some of the songs instantly made me feel as though I were locked in a dark room with nothing else between us - even when listening to many of my favourite atmospheric rock albums I’ve never felt that way. Pal Judy is just tailor-made for that sort of vibe, and it doesn’t even need a depressive aura to achieve it which just makes it even more amazing.
The most atmospheric and best songs are “Live in a Lift”, “Sleepless Nights”, and “Room Without a View” (this one especially!!!). They are all some of the best dub-adjacent tracks I’ve ever heard; Nylon’s quiet charisma, catchy hooks, some of the best drumming on tape, weird synth chords that sound unnerving but beautiful - it all slots together perfectly. It’s like the weirdest music that absolutely no one would hate - or perhaps an essential “good trip” soundtrack, the perfect sort to make private memories to.
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