THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - DARKLANDS UK 1987 1st PRESS LP BLANCO Y NEGRO EX/EX
£
33
$
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Description
You are bidding on a first pressing of "Darklands" the 2nd studio album by The Jesus and Mary Chain, which was released Europe-wide on the Blanco Y Negro record label in August 1987. This, the follow up album to their breakthrough debut "Pyschocandy" saw the Glaswegian Reid brothers take a more measured approach, both in terms of songwriting and production. The songs were often longer and the "walls of sound" were often stripped back in favor of a calmer classic rock twang and groove. In addition, William Reid took the lead vocal at points, showing he had a slightly sweeter, wistful tone in comparison to his brother. The basic formula at the heart of the band (inspired plagiarism of melodies and lyrics alike, plenty of reverb, etc.) stayed pretty much the same, even if the mixes were cleaned up -- compare "Down on Me" to any Psychocandy track for a good example of the difference. The use of drum machines in place of Bobby Gillespie's rumble tended to enforce the newer focus, but at the album's best, such a seeming dichotomy didn't cause too much worry. "April Skies" made for a great single, while the soaring-in-spite-of-itself "Happy When It Rains" was another winner, William's singing turns made for other highlights as well, notably "Nine Million Rainy Days," the overt misery of the title suiting the dark crawl of the song, and the lengthy lament "On the Wall."
BARCODE 0 22924 21801 9 (printed see photo 3) MATRICES R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-A (Stamped) X VERFAILLIE (Etched) (Side A), UK (Etched) R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-B (Stamped) X WILLIAM RONA AND THE BABY CATS (Etched) (Side B).
CONDITION:- SLEEVE Single sleeve, unlaminated semi gloss as issued and with the spine text reproduced along the top edge. Front and back panels clean, unworn and bright. Unflattened spine with all text clear and legible (see photos 1- 3). Conservatively graded as EX. Card picture inner also in EX condition as issued (see photos 4 and 5). I have placed the record inside a Nagoaka anti static liner to protect the record after cleaning.
RECORD (Visual) Both labels appear clean and clear. (see photos 6 and 7 and detailed play-grade notes below).
PLAY-GRADE I have cleaned this record using a state of the art Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Machine (The "Degritter Mark 11). The record has then been play-graded in it's entirety and not just sampled. The detailed notes are:
Side 1- Plays through with no jumps or skips. Track 1. Plays through with no issues. Track 2. Plays through with no Issues. Track 3. Plays through with no Issues. Track 4. Plays through with no Issues. Track 5. Plays through with no Issues.
Side 2- Plays through with no jumps or skips. Track 1. Plays through with no issues. Track 2. Plays through with no issues. Track 3. Plays through with no Issues. Track 4. Plays through with no Issues. Track 5. Plays through with no Issues.
Overall this now 39-year old album plays though very clearly without any issues whatsoever. The sound-stage has depth and the music shines though with real impact. Furthermore, the pressing is excellent, with almost no background noise apparent even in the inter track intervals Conservatively graded as EX. A classic 80/s alternative rock album and an essential addition to any serious collection of contemporary music.
Low starting price and no reserve. The record will be shipped by Royal Mail Tracked 48h service in a stout cardboard mailer. This is a UK only sale, I will not post overseas.
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