Perhaps it was the fish on top of Shandon who swore he was Elvis, but Cork
bands have historically been quirky, strangely odd and refreshingly
unselfconscious, especially when compared with some their deadly earnest Dublin
counterparts. Think Five Go Down To The Sea, Nun Attax and Sultans of Ping FC
to name but a handful of Leeside loonies. Coming from nowhere in the early
'90s straight to the front cover of the UK inkies, The Frank & Walters
distilled this zaniness better than most and for a brief period released one
sublime pop gem after another.
This overdue collection gathers together the singles, some EP tracks and a
smattering of album favourites. A fair chunk of the tracks is taken from their
debut long player, Trains, Boats And Planes, including two of their
greatest moments, ‘This Is Not A Song’ and ‘After All’
along with ‘Fashion Crisis Hits New York’, and ‘Walters
Trip’. They were well served by producers over the years, including such
notables as Edwyn Collins and Ian Broudie, but the Dave Couse-produced
‘Colours’ remains one of their best along with ‘Indian
Ocean’ also produced by the Houseman. Sadly missing here is their
hilarious b-side version of Tone Loc's ‘Funky Cold Medina’ or any
of their other suitably off-the-wall covers.
It wasn't all madcap fun and frolics with the Munster Monkees either.
‘How Can I Exist’ is as serious as it gets while ‘New
York’ betrays an introspective side. Other highlights include
‘Underground’ and ‘Tony Cochrane’ but the crowning
glory and their one true shot at brilliance has to be the aforementioned
‘After All’ a truly monumental pop song and and one that should be
up there with the LA's ‘There She Goes’ as a '90s classic.
Colm O Hare
Rating: 9 / 12
