Singles Anthology

パンク・バンド、サブウェイ・セクトのリーダーを務めつつも突然スウィンギーなジャズ・アルバムを発表したりと相当オリジナルな活動をしているヴィック・ゴダード氏。その「やりたい事をやっているだけ」な姿勢はパンクでありアートでありオシャレ。

A slight stop-gap measure to cover the period between the out of print status of 20 Odd Years and a planned new 30 Odd Years overview, Singles Anthology serves as its main goal -- keeping the idiosyncratic work of Vic Godard available in some form of official release, specifically his irregular output of singles over the years, both A-sides and B-sides. Kicking off with "Nobody's Scared" and its nervous, intense delivery, both vocal and instrumental, almost essentially inventing post-punk and indie rock in one stroke, Singles Anthology efficiently tracks Godard's wayward muse, from oblique rabble-rouser to winsome continental balladeer to slick retro crooner to reflective older singer, working with everyone from the Black Arabs to Dennis Bovell and Edwyn Collins along the way. The way the early Subway Sect tracks in particular sound like several bands and ideas fighting within a crisp pop/rock arrangement for dominance is some kind of strange genius, particularly on the anthemic "Ambition," but slightly more breezy songs like "Split Up the Money" are no less bursting with ideas. His finger-snapping incarnation progresses quite readily from it all, and "Stamp of a Vamp" and "Holiday Hymn" are merry winners that are still soundtracking an alternate world Vegas somewhere, while the later, more straight-up indie numbers as such (though Bovell's remix of "Won't Turn Back" is a lovely tweaking) are less immediate but still enjoyable thanks to Collins and his backing band's participation. B-sides like "Different Story" and "Vertical Integration" are no less strong than their A-sides at many points, and the overall feeling is of a recovered Holy Grail for a first time listener. Liner notes are direct but informative, reproducing single sleeves, group lineups and occasional reviews. ~ Ned Raggett|