| Since their slightly disappointing debut
album, People, the Hothouse Flowers have
been somewhat less than prolific in the vinyl
output department and instead have concentrated
on establishing themselves with tours of
America, Europe and Japan. This suggests
that they're happier and best appreciated
within the sweatily atmospheric surroundings
of a concert, in pub, stadium or club, then
they are on record. Their second offering,
featuring a squad of producers, including
Langer and Winstanley, Daniel Lanois and
Paul Barrett (who worked with U2 on the Clockwork
Orange soundtrack) seems to confirm that
view. Despite some strong material, notably
the swaggering barrelhouse gait of Hardstone
City, impassioned new single Give It Up,
Shut Up and Listen's poignant lyricism and
silken slide guitar and the tear-stained
balladry of Sweet Marie, plus a typically
passionate and gutsy performance from frontman
Liam O'Maonlai, whose vocals and keyboard
work get better by the minute, Home lacks
that indefinable quality that transforms
the good into the great. Maybe next time.
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