The World Won't Listen

Favourite Artists (No.2) - The Beloved

I was recently reading Dylan Jones rather interesting account of his re-discovery of his record collection in 'iPod, Therefore I Am'. In it Jones insists there are very few albums that have more than three or four tracks worth keeping on an mp3 player. Although not exactly revolutionary, it is a point well made and one I largely agree with. There are exceptions however, and 'Happiness' by The Beloved is a case in point.

The band began life in the early to mid-eighties and were a favourite of John Peel, performing a session for him in early 1985. There are obvious comparisons to be made to New Order, and this probably explains my early fondness for their efforts; but despite the indie sound they never featured too highly in my listening habits. That is until 1990 and the release of 'Happiness'. For a couple of years this was my saturday night record and an anthem for the time. I still cannot understand why it never makes these lists of 'best albums' that make the rounds of the music press. The band (by this time only Marsh and Waddington) had adopted the dance flavours of the time, and the poppy sound was an instant hit.

After 'Happiness' and the accompanying mix album 'Blissed out', Jon Marsh and Steve Waddington parted company. Marsh and his wife Helena then continued to DJ, write songs and release a couple of further albums but with only patchy success. So the story of The Beloved is only a brief one, but when their star shone it burned very brightly.

Tracks to savour:

This Means War (mp3)
The Sun Rising (mp3)
A Hundred Words (mp3)