Hefner Gives A History Lesson

Remember what you were doing in 1999? Likely you were all premature ejaculation (either giving or receiving) and angst-ridden emotional ineptitude. God, it was shit wasn't it? The one saving grace of that torturous time was probably the music you were living out your humiliations to, unless of course you enjoyed a bit of vocal-tastic 90s dance, in which case you can sling your hook now for crimes against your earholes.

Unlike the rest of us, 1999 was an excellent year for Hefner. The album Fidelity Wars reached number one in the independent album charts, they were John Peel's favourites du jour and the cult track Hymn For The Cigarettes hit the top spot in the independent singles chart.

In tribute to such exciting times and the raw songwriting talent of Hefner vocalist Darren Hayman, Fidelity Wars is on re-release as of now.

If ever there was a soundtrack to lost love, this is it. Every song tells of a separation, heartache or emotional fuckwittery of some kind. Sometimes it's relationships, sometimes it's friendships, but it's all powerful stuff treated with a delicate melancholy.

This is amplified by the slightly off-key vocals of Hayman, which rather than detracting from the melodic strains, instead adds a certain emotional quiver, as if he were about to burst into tears at any moment. It even tugged at our frosty heart strings.

Far from being depressing, there are redemptive elements and an observational style to the lyrics. With an additional 29 rare and unheard tracks, including deleted EPs, b-sides and alternate versions this is a double CD corker of an opus.

Armed with a copy, we suggest you yell at your Mum, lock yourself away in your bedroom and write bollocks poetry about heartbreak to get the most out of it.

Hefner - The Fidelity Wars - out now on Belka Records.

Image courtesy of mutante-inc.

Written by Ria on 5 Jun 2008 5:33 PM. Permalink