Spoonfed Hybrid - 1936 (Guernica/4AD, 1993)

Spoonfed Hybrid was yet another outlet for the talents of Ian Masters (late of Pale Saints, ESP Summer, Friendly Science Orchestra and an array of other projects). This time he's in cahoots with Chris Trout (AC Temple, Bear and Kilgore Trout) and producer Duncan Wheat.

'1936' opens with the sound of some weird clicking, ticking machine before an elegant piano marks out a stately pace over which Masters delivers choirboy vocals along to a strangely (a)rhythmic rim-shot (it's probably perfectly in-time, it's just that I can't count in 17/14 or something).

The chorus delivers a break from the martial pace, bursting into a gamboling procession of tribal drums, synth strings and a synthetic choir. Towards the end we get a lovely, rich double-bass and piano section which is reminiscent of David Sylvian's 'Blue Of Noon'. It gives way to an angelic choir then melds into a clatter of insistent drums before exiting on a rushing, euphoric high.

'Spoonfed Hybrid' is a great album that marries elegant songwriting with vaulting ambition on the arrangement front. Out of print I believe but a sound ebay investment.

Download Spoonfed Hybrid '1936' (mp3) (Mediafire)