Liquid Gold by Shed Seven – Album Review
For three decades, York’s finest indie-rockers Shed Seven have been a cornerstone of the British indie-music scene.
They’ve given a devoted fanbase 30 years of timeless tunes and anthems that just never date. And now, in celebration of this milestone, they’re back with something truly special: an orchestral reimagining of their greatest hits.
Liquid Gold. It’s a bold move, but one that has paid off…
“A beautiful, beautiful record”
As a proud owner Going For Gold, their first greatest hits compilation from 1999, I was looking forward to giving this one its first play a mere 25 years later. Liquid Gold gives you a modest 12 songs. And, if you grab yourself one of the vinyl versions, you’ve got something that looks as special as the album sounds.
The record opens up with all-kinds of strings and brass on a new version of ‘Getting Better’. It’s different, but the track maintains its bouncy see-you-down-the-front feel, with added drama to the chorus. It’s a great start, and the record just…gets better. Pun absolutely not intended.
We get a lovely mix of delicate strings and rich brass on ‘Devil In Your Shoes’, and ‘On Standby’ doesn’t lose an inch of its indie rock roots, with subtle violins making their mark throughout each chorus.
There is a really nice uplift on this album, but there was one song I couldn’t imagine being “orchestralised” (I know, there’s no such word, but I like it), and that’s ‘Disco Down’. Perhaps my favourite Shed’s track. I feared they might completely spoil this one, but how wrong could I be? The new version retains all its indie-funk, and if anything it’s lifted. Could it be an even better version than the original?
On first listen, you know Liquid Gold is a masterful reworking of their iconic catalogue. It’s a beautiful, beautiful record.
“Stronger and smoother”
I’ve seen Shed Seven nine times over the years. The first time was in Halifax in 2001, and I loved them back then. I think they’re a band that have got stronger and smoother as time has ticked by, and this album probably puts a crown on that claim.
For instance, how could you take a classic such as the formidable ‘Going For Gold’ and change it up to be just as impressive as the original? Well, they’ve ticked that box. This re-working is just lovely and I like how it takes an unexpected turn with an almost Bond-esque, tension-laden string arrangement at the bridge.
Some of the newer songs make the record too. The Liquid Gold version of ‘Waiting For The Catch’ was released earlier in the year, and bringing Issy Ferris in to perform on the vocal has been a masterstroke. It’s an effortless tune, and I think it could be up there with one of the best Shed Seven songs, in my humblest of opinions.
We even get a brand new track in ‘All Roads Lead To You’. A song that’s Shed Seven down to a tee, and worth a notable mention.
“You don’t lose any Shed Seven-ness”
Witter, Banks, and the boys aren’t the first band to release an orchestral version of their music. But here, where the Sheds out-do others is the refusal to just do the typical ‘vocals over an orchestra’ kind of thing. The full band came together to re-record these tracks alongside the orchestra, so there’s a fusion. You don’t lose any of that Shed Seven-ness – it’s still them, just wonderfully taken in another direction.
Almost too soon, the album finishes with a stunning rendition of ‘Chasing Rainbows’. Now, when you play the record, I know you’ll be tempted to skip ahead to this one, but trust me – don’t. Just wait. If you’ve been a fan of Shed Seven since the Britpop days, this anthem will mean something deeper when you hear it in this form. The first 90 seconds of the Liquid Gold version feels incredibly emotive, and then it kicks in with that familiar, uplifting energy. It’s wholesome and it’s heartfelt. It’s everything you’d want from this band.
I’m not sure how many times I’ve listened to the album now but it gets a couple of plays a day, at least. I couldn’t be more impressed with the record, and I think it could well be my album of the year. What a way to celebrate 30 years of Shed Seven, with a greatest hits album that’s unlike anything we’ve had from them before.
