Search - Mekons :: Mekons Story

Aka The Mekons Story

David Hughes | Denver, CO USA | 02/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't be confused by the title Amazon assigns, mystifyingly, to this "EP." It is not a reissue of the 1986 four-song vinyl EP, "Crime and Punishment" (three songs from which appear on the "Original Sin" compilation CD).



In actuality this CD is "It Falleth Like the Gentle Rain from Heaven - The Mekons Story," the CD reissue of the band's third LP from 1982. (The title picks up from that of their first LP, "The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen.") Apparently the only difference is the substitution of "Byron" (featuring Sally Timms) for the mistakenly included demo of same on the vinyl version.



This is vintage Mekons, displaying the range of their abilities, from hard-edged live tunes to dub-tinged studio treats. Some cuts have appeared in the same or different forms on 12"s/LPs/CDs before and since, but why not hear them in this particular context, strung together with David Spencer's apparently unrehearsed reading of a fanciful narration? The LP cover declared: "20 Great Songs/ Over 60 Minutes Playing Time!" -- actually 61:37, including narration -- so there's bound to be something here for every taste.



In addition to its sonic delights, this CD includes the LP's original essay by Lester Bangs, which also was reprinted in the still-available book "Mekons United" as well as on mekons.com."