Pop Will Eat Itself - "Now For A Feast (Remastered and Expanded)”

Publisher: Cherry Red Records (UK)
Format: Compact Disc
Length: 62:18
Production Date: 1985 – 1987 (2011 reissue of Chapter 22’s 1988 compilation album)
Currently in Print (as of writing): Yes

I’ve been a fan of Pop Will Eat Itself since I heard “Can U Dig It” on a video show (think it was Countdown Revolution, the “hipper” successor to Countdown). Certainly this kind of music wasn’t getting played on any radio stations near me (stuck out in western New South Wales, out in the boonies). This is was the second PWEI release in Australia after “Def Con One” which was released with no fanfare, the video didn’t even get an airing on Rage. I didn’t even realise it was released here until only a couple of months ago. It wasn’t until 1991 that I discovered that the Poppies had released two albums prior to their “This is the Day”. On a trip to Canberra I went to the biggest record shop in the city which also happened to be the largest independent and imported a ton of rare and unusual records. I found the re-releases of PWEI’s debut LP, “Box Frenzy” on CD, the expanded CD single of “There Is No Love Between Us Anymore” and this compilation “Now For A Feast”.

The original compilation came out in 1988 (issued by their original record label Chapter 22), but features their first two EPs released in 1986, two tracks from a three track 1987 single and two tracks from what is dubbed “the covers EP”. The material is quite different from the latter hip-hop/dance inspired punk rock stuff. It’s three chord one and a half minute pop punk delivered with a large slice of humour. The Chapter 22 version of this record left out three songs issued on the original singles. An expanded version of the compilation released by Castle Music in 2003 (which was deleted only a couple of years latter) fixed this problem and also included a smattering of other PWEI music recorded in the “Box Frenzy” period and after which didn’t really fit on the album. In July this year, Cherry Red reissued the album for a third time with a bunch of unreleased tracks. I really can’t believe I’ve bought this album three times now...

Tracklisting;

1.I’m Sniffin’ With You Hoo (0:53)
2.Sick Little Girl (2:29)
3.Mesmerized (1:27)
4.Theresapsychopathin My Soup (1:05)
5.Candydiosis (1:00)

The first five tracks on this reissue are from their “The Poppies Say GRRrrr!” debut EP from 1986. This was a self-produced and released EP they sold for £1 each at gigs in brown paper bag sleeve on their own label, appropriately called Desperate Records. It’s short post punk/pop dopey fun. “Sick Little Girl” is rather misogynistic with lyrics like “She’s a real dumb bitch/a waste of good skin”. Seriously, what’s up with that? I could never work out if “Candydiosis” was dig at the Jesus and Mary Chain as the lyrics mention “Candy Talking”. My favourites off this EP are “Mesmerized” and “Theresapsychopathin My Soup”.

6.The Black Country Chainstore Massacree (1:42)
7.Monogamy (1:39)
8.Oh Grebo, I Think I Love You (1:53)
9.Titanic Clown (1:24)
10.B-B-B-Breakdown (1:37)

The next five are from their “Poppiecock” EP which was released in lateish 1986, which by this time they were signed to Chapter 22 records. A 12” version of this EP included the “The Poppies Say GRRrrr!” on the flipside. The 12” was also repressed as “The Poppies Play Five A Side” I think. On the original Chapter 22 compilation album, this EP was first on the tracklisting, then “The Poppies Say GRRrrr!”. I think the five tracks here are much better than their first EP. It’s the same formula for sure, but the song writing is much better.

11.Sweet Sweet Pie (2:12)
12.The Devil Inside (1:46)
13.Runaround (2:05)

The three songs from the “Sweet Sweet Pie” single released in early 1987. This a much more poppy PWEI and perhaps a lot more commercial and in line with what was being released on indie labels in the UK at the time. PWEI were to ignore the trends of the UK indie scene forever after this release. The original Chapter 22 compilation didn’t include “Runaround”. In fact the song didn’t appear on CD until the 2003 Castle Music version of this album.

14.Love Missile F1-11 (2:48)
15.Orgone Accumulator (1:58)
16.Everything That Rises (2:31)
17.Like An Angel (2:30)

This is the infamous 1987 “Love Missile F1-11” EP otherwise known as the Covers EP. The story goes that when the Run DMC/Beastie Boys tour came to town, PWEI went and where inspired by what they saw and changed their musical direction. Drummer Graham decided to get on the mic and they brought in a drum machine. However when you listen to “Love Missile F1-11” (a cover of Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s only hit), it’s not that much different from what they were doing before. The Poppies were obviously taking the piss out of Sputnik with terribly juvenile lyrics replacing a lot of the original lyrics, however in hindsight, didn’t PWEI become a more interesting Sputnik? Take away Sputnik’s glam image and dub effects, and well, it’s sampling and guitars. A bit like PWEI, no? Also featured on this EP is covers of Hawkwind’s “Orgone Accumulator” and the Mighty Lemon Drops’ “Like An Angel” which previously appeared on the compilation album “Take The Subway To Your Suburb” the previous year. Shriekback’s “Everything That Rises (Must Converge)” rounds out the EP. This last song wasn’t included on the original compilation nor “Love Missile F1-11”. At least Chapter 22 managed to stick “Love Missile F1-11” on the expanded version of the 1991 reissue of the “There Is No Love Between Us Anymore” single. “Everything That Rises” didn’t make it to CD until the 2003 Castle Music version of this album.

18.Dust Me Down (Wild and Wandering Demo) (2:52)
19.Johnny Ray (Wild and Wandering Demo) (5:19)
20.Apple Tree (Wild and Wandering Demo) (3:06)

From these track onwards, Cherry Red has labelled these tracks a as bonus tracks, even though some of the tracks prior didn’t feature on the original compilation. Anyway before PWEI the band called itself Wild and Wandering, and they released a very out of print EP called “2000 Light Ales From Home”. According to the liner notes of this compilation album, the members of PWEI preferred these three demos (circa 1985 I believe) rather than the actual commercial release they put out. It’s very different to the two EPs and singles which followed. It’s much more prog rock really. The songs sound a bit wanky to be honest. I’m glad they chose a different musical direction after this EP. It’s interesting to hear it though. Apparently they sold less than a 100 copies of the EP.

21.Summer Girl (Live at Birmingham Uni, 1986) (2:31)

An audience recording of a live PWEI song. It’s kind of a forgettable song really. Sounds a bit like “Picnic in the Sky”.

22.Inside You (Pre-Beat Box Demo) (2:26)
23.Picnic In The Sky (Pre-Beat Box Demo) (2:38)
24.Theresapsychopathin My Soup (Early Version) (1:10)

According to the liner notes, they recorded a heap of songs that were never released, but all the masters are missing. In fact all of their Chapter 22 stuff is long gone, except for the post “Box Frenzy” sessions. I wonder if the rest of Chapter 22’s masters for their catalogue has vanished as well? Anyway if they hadn’t gone to that Beastie Boys/Run DMC concert, I guess this is the direction they would have gone it. It’s not too different from the released versions really, except live drums.

25.Everything That Rises (New Version) (2:34)

From the “Love Missile F1-11 (Designer Grebo! Megamix)” 12”. Doesn’t really sound all that different from the original. Why it was rerecorded and released remains a bit of a mystery to me. Perhaps it was for their debut album before they decided to go the “Box Frenzy” route.

26.Oh Grebo, I Think I Love You (New Version) (3:32)
27.Bubbles (3:10)
28.Ugly (1:35)

All three are taken from the 12” version of “Beaver Patrol” (“Bubbles” also appears on the 7” version). According to the liner notes, these three tracks were recorded pre-“Box Frenzy”, hence their inclusion on this album, so are probably indicative of what a PWEI album would have sounded like before they decided on the sample and beatbox route. I think they’re fun songs. The extensions to “Grebo, I Think I Love You” sort of drag it out for a little too long though. Still, it’s a kind of fun version.

Missing Stuff

I think Cherry Red has done a pretty good job on this release considering the lack of master tapes. The only track with dodgy sound is the audience recording which pretty forgivable. The liner notes make special mention of the “Designer Grebo! Megamix” for “Love Missile F1-11”, but for some reason fails to include it. The biggie though is non-inclusion of the “2000 Light Ales From Home” EP. In particular the two tracks “Stand By Me” and “Real Cool Time” on the EP aren’t included in this compilation. Maybe the members of PWEI were too embarrassed by it? While the 12” of the “Designer Grebo! Megamix” of “Love Missile F1-11” is relatively easy to come by, the Wild and Wandering is much more difficult to obtain.

While this is my third purchase of this compilation, I think was worth it. But then again I’m a big PWEI fan. It was well worth it for the Wild and Wandering demos and unreleased PWEI stuff. The liners notes are rather informative and fun too (especially those from guitarist Adam Mole). Certainly the collection of songs here are a lot more coherent and less scattershot than Castle Music’s version (the audio’s better too). All the songs belong together, while Castle bizarrely included live tracks from “Box Frenzy” and even “Def Con One”. I’ll have a look PWEI’s first album, “Box Frenzy”, next time.