The Durutti Column - Fidelity (vinyl release) - Les Disques du Crepuscule - Out Now
Recorded in the mid-'90s and released after a string of celebrated albums, including The Guitar and Other Machines, Fidelity is something of an underdog when compared to some of The Durutti Column's canon.
Released on CD only in 1996, this forgotten album continues the electronic theme of the outift's final Factory album Obey The Time. However whereas the former reflected the acid-house era, Fidelity occasionally recalls the likes of Carl Craig, Richie Hawtin's F.U.S.E. project or Ultramarine, particularly on the giddy minimal techno of Sanko, the dreamy Grace or sample-driven house sounds of Abstract of Expression.
In truth, there isn't a great deal of Vini Reilly's guitar work on here - again as with Obey The Time, there are the merest hints of him riffing on the more upbeat pieces, but thankfully plenty to digest on the chilled-out and glorious Guitar For Mother, the melancholy Storm For Steve and short and sweet vignette G&T. Taking centre-stage across most of the album is Vini and Laurie Lexicon's other machines with beats coming from computers rather than drumming stalwart Bruce Mitchell who was notably absent from these sessions. No matter - it's a consistent album nonetheless.
With the exception of the misplaced Remember Me, Fidelity makes for pleasing listening on this re-ordered coloured double-vinyl update, completed with the addition of two bonus tracks and a much improved new sleeve courtesy of Crepuscule's in-house artist and designed Benoit Hennebert. Somewhat surprisingly there's little in the way of sleeve-notes but then there's little in the way of a back-story to an album that dipped under the radar 20-plus years ago. Well worth your time.
8/10
Released on CD only in 1996, this forgotten album continues the electronic theme of the outift's final Factory album Obey The Time. However whereas the former reflected the acid-house era, Fidelity occasionally recalls the likes of Carl Craig, Richie Hawtin's F.U.S.E. project or Ultramarine, particularly on the giddy minimal techno of Sanko, the dreamy Grace or sample-driven house sounds of Abstract of Expression.
In truth, there isn't a great deal of Vini Reilly's guitar work on here - again as with Obey The Time, there are the merest hints of him riffing on the more upbeat pieces, but thankfully plenty to digest on the chilled-out and glorious Guitar For Mother, the melancholy Storm For Steve and short and sweet vignette G&T. Taking centre-stage across most of the album is Vini and Laurie Lexicon's other machines with beats coming from computers rather than drumming stalwart Bruce Mitchell who was notably absent from these sessions. No matter - it's a consistent album nonetheless.
With the exception of the misplaced Remember Me, Fidelity makes for pleasing listening on this re-ordered coloured double-vinyl update, completed with the addition of two bonus tracks and a much improved new sleeve courtesy of Crepuscule's in-house artist and designed Benoit Hennebert. Somewhat surprisingly there's little in the way of sleeve-notes but then there's little in the way of a back-story to an album that dipped under the radar 20-plus years ago. Well worth your time.
8/10