I initially gave this album a miss, but after enjoying "True", Spandau Ballet's third album, I took the plunge when I saw it was only £1.99 in the bargain bins. I think I hardly played it though, and looking at the track-listing now I couldn't remember any of side two, nor "Coffee Club" on side one.
After their first album, Spandau's main contemporaries were Duran Duran. For their second release it was more like Earth, Wind And Fire or maybe Level 42 or even Haircut 100 on a bad day for side one, and David Bowie and Japan for side two.
I remember radio DJ Danny Baker telling a story of when there was a a serious injury at a Millwall game, and some of the crowd spontaneously burst into "We don't need this stretcher on" to the tune of Chant No 1.
The funky "Chant No 1 ( I Don't Need This Pressure On )" is the highlight of the album. The horns, conga like bass and the laddish chanting of the chorus are superb, as is the trumpet solo. There is also a tiny bit of rap near the end.
"Instinction" has more funky bass, synthesized brass, call and respond vocals for the verse and a rising chorus. I didn't like it much at the time as it sounded like Level 42, but I thought it was better now, although I could have done without the short bongo drum section in the middle.
"Paint Me Down" was a song that I quite liked when it came out, and despite it not having much of a tune I found it quite hypnotic, with a strong bass line, a toe-tapping guitar riff and some snippets of sax. In parts it reminded me of The Smiths' "Handsome Devil", which came a year later, so perhaps Johnny Marr had been listening to Spandau Ballet ?!
"Coffee Club" has more funky staccato bass but the song is terrible until it briefly bursts into a Haircut 100 style chant. I could have done without the extended brass solos.
Side two begins with "She Loved Like Diamond", a single I had totally forgotten about, which straight away moves away from the funk inspired side one. It has a poppy intro and a slow verse, but melody is fairly weak although saved by a tremendous vocal from Tony Hadley. Listening to it made me think of Duran Duran's "Rio". However, in truth it sounds like an out-take from True, but it is the only track under three minutes.
"Pharoah" is six and a half minutes with a lot of heavy drums and a slight middle-eastern feel, but it is fairly tuneless and goes on way too long. It is over two minutes before the vocals join the fray. The occasional piano lines are quite nice though and the backing vocals are decent.
"Innocence And Science" has sounds of water at the start then just slow oriental music played by just one instrument, which apparently is a guzheng. Hadley's vocal is unusually soft and the water sounds at the end made me think of Pink Floyd's "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast". Spandau had probably been listening to David Bowie in his "Low/Heroes" era. The track closes with a slow pounding drum which continues into the seven minute long "Missionary" and initially I thought is was still "Innocence And Science" but with a clearer vocal. There are synths, some guitar and again the guzheng but it is very dull.
Listening to Diamond again after nearly forty years hasn't changed my opinion and I have already again forgotten all of side two and "Coffee Club". The only tracks worth listening to are the three funky singles.
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Chant No 1 ( I Don't Need This Pressure On )
2. Instinction
3. Paint Me Down
4. Coffee Club
1. She Loved Like Diamond
2. Pharoah
3. Innocence and Science
4. Missionary
Released 1982
UK Chart Position : 15
Singles :
Chant No 1 ( I Don't Need This Pressure On ) ( No 3 - 1981 )
Paint Me Down ( No 30 - 1981 )
She Loved Like Diamond ( No 49 - 1982 )
Instinction ( No 10 - 1982 )
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