Oval 'Photograph' (Icerink, 1992) (mp3)

More Saint Etienne-sponsored pop from the Icerink label, the short-lived experiment in A&R that probably dug a big hole in Messrs. Stanley and Wiggs' pension pot in the early 90s.

Icerink delivered some top quality pop in the shape of singles by Golden, Earl Brutus, Melody Dog, Shampoo and the peculiar vocoder pop of Supermarket amongst others.

Bizarrely, 'Photograph' is a Def Leppard cover. It throbs along on sequenced bass and puttering percussion, the breathless female vocal barely keeping up with the song. Rudimentary but thrilling guitar riffing gives way to an Italo House piano breakdown at the bridge before then giving way to a thrilling, ascending chorus.

An utter treat.

Download Oval 'Photograph' (mp3) (Mediafire)