Fools Gold

from the 7” single, Silvertone Records, 1989



The UK is well-known for cultivating musical trends, often to the point of complete hysteria, that never fully translate across the pond here in the States---case in point: the mash-up of musical influences that came to be known as “Brit-Pop”. With the glaring (and I don’t necessarily mean that in a good way) exception of Oasis later on, the so-called ‘Madchester’ scene and trends linked to it never got big over here; this band stands right at the center of any dialogue on that commotion. Starting their career with a sound much more indebted to the mid ‘60s, by the time this single was dropped they had adopted influences stemming from the rave scene, with a pronounced focus on all things beats-related. The guitar riff which loops throughout the song is irresistible, and matched with the tambourine and bongos it all compels you to get down. Great line, “…these boots were made for walking, the Marquis de Sade never made no boots like these…”