Shack: HMS Fable

The next album up for review, is one of my favourite and one of the most underrated albums ever written and recorded by a British band. Released on vinyl for the first time this year to celebrate its 25 year anniversary. It is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Heartfelt, harrowing, bleak and beautiful. These are masterfully crafted songs that take the listener through the darkest places and yet find beauty.

Written by one of this countries greatest songwriters Michael Head and his brother John. There is not a weak song on this record.

‘Pull Together' has all the anthemic qualities we have come to expect from Britpop bands, such as 'Oasis' or 'Blur' its singalong chorus, is as good as anything those two bands did.' Streets of Kenny' is one of the most beautiful yet raw pieces of music. The song talks about heroin, for those who know anything about Michael Head you will know substance abuse, was prevalent. The drug use did not hinder the making of this album, but it also didn't cause the band to become extra creative in the way LSD helped bands like 'The Beatles' the drug use does help the songs though 'Streets of Kenny' and 'Lend Some Dough' are truthful documents about the trials and tribulations faced by members of the band, the listener believes what they are saying because a lot of it is true. It does not for one second romanticise drug use, it simply paints a picture of what its really like.

'Comedy' arguably the albums most famous song takes elements of the very best bands to come from Liverpool and combines them into a cult classic. It's moving, soulful and really beautiful. The song is one of the best Britpop songs too, combining the distant past and the more recent past. HMS Fable was released just a little to late. Blur and Oasis Britpop bubbles had burst and Pulp had but the final coffin in the genre a year previously. However, you cannot take anyway from Shack, and their songwriting genius. 

The songs on this album are special pieces of music, but it also isn't shy at nodding to other bands and the past. You can hear sea shanties 'Captains Table', The Beatles, of course you can hear The Beatles, and of course 'Love' and 'Arthur Lee' especially in 'Daniella'. Its a brilliant nod to the bands heroes, but the songs stand up in their own right.

Shacks' story is one frought with bad timing, bad luck and self sabotage due to addiction, studio fires and rental cars. Having recorded their brilliant second album Waterpistol in 1991, a fire torched the masters and producer Chris Allison left the only surviving copy in a hire car; by the time it had been rediscovered their label had folded

The stories do not take anything away from the songs though. In fact they add to the myth and mystery around the Scouse geniuses. 

HMS Fable is one of the very best collections of songs ever put onto a record. This release to vinyl is long over due. It will take pride of place in my collection for a very long time. 

I urge you all to give it a listen. It has something for all music fans. Especially fans of Britpop, The Beatles, The La's, Echo & the Bunnymen, Love, The Byrds. An album for the ages, and fingers crossed it will finally get its flowers albeit 25 years to late. 

Thank you for reading 

Jack