women & children ~ Paralyzed Dance, Tonight

OK, shoot me....

" I hardly need to remind you all about Women & Children, I’m sure all of you with turntable equipment on hand managed to bag a copy of the band’s quite incredible 10” boxset last year which made it to the coveted number one spot in our ‘best of 2005’ chart. Blending the homespun loveliness of the free(k)-folk scene with the rock ‘n roll excess and grit of late 1960s New York the band burrowed deep into our hearts, refusing to let go and that gorgeously packaged box has been a staple of our office life ever since. What to do for those without access to a deck or unwilling to spend the hefty pricetag on a box of wax then? Well rumour has it that that album is being prepared for deluxe cd issue as I write this, but before that we have the band’s follow-up album, released on New York’s influential Narnack imprint. You’ll be pleased to know too that this actually is on cd, and is housed in a beautiful digipak for those that care about that stuff, but of course it’s the music that counts, and I’m happy to announce that the band still has it. Spreading their number across Europe and the USA ‘Paralyzed Dance, Tonight’ came from various recording sessions sandwiched in between endless touring and travelling, which gives it an edgy feel quite removed from the focus we hear on Hallso’s box. Luckily this works in the band’s favour and the schizophrenia is harnessed magically; one moment we might be having our ears tickled by Cheryl June Serwa’s silky Nico-esque vocals, and the next we could be being treated to a pub-style sing-along, creaking chairs and all. There’s something about the recording that makes you feel like you’re part of the band, that makes you feel like they could be playing on the other side of the room, or possibly in the shed next door. I half expect Kevin Lasting to be sat at a piano behind me tapping his foot as I listen, and that’s the band’s ultimate weapon. They bring you into their music, making it personal and real and while they might take you on a quirky journey, mis-stepping occasionally, they retain a gorgeous warmth and personality unmatched by so many of their peers. Fantstically unique and the perfect record for those deep winter nights at the log-cabin, Women and Children have reminded us why we all fell in love with them in the first place. Highly recommended."

...from boomkat

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, but this is a wonderful record!

bang

yes, s/t and boxset are both wonderful. too.

ima gonna track a listen on doon yesh

it can be too british for you now days.

can it

Good music. More polite than their previous efforts.

So gutted the box set sold out before i could get it... the s/t album is great though.