The First EP

Description

The First EP is a four-track EP by the British indie rock band Calvin’s Dream, independently released on Sticky Music in 1992. The EP was recorded and mixed in Heaven, Scotland. Produced by RIB.

Despite the uninspiring album title this four piece outfit from north of the border pleasantly surprised this reviewer. Expecting dodgy pitching, biscuit tin snare drums and the like, I was instead greeted by vibrant swirling guitars and a nonchalant yet inspiring set of vocal chords producing a sound in the vein of The Wedding Present or Ride. However, Calvin’s Dream are by no means your run of the mill fringe swinging indie rock group. Each of the four tracks on this album is distinct from each other in style and mood. The bright opener «Guilty» is in stark contrast to the track which follows, «Come Down Love» – a sinister piece which has vocalist Dougie Guy sounding a bit like a raised Lloyd Cole. As you come to expect from alternative CCM artists the band’s lyrics move away from “God loves you and I love you and that’s the way it should be” type cliches. Instead Calvin’s Dream give quite a quirky reflection on the world (one which occasionally puzzled this reviewer) typified in the chorus line of the final track: “The waiting room gets cold and quiet with no smoking, no talking”. So if you need spiritual refreshment then look elsewhere, but otherwise this tape is highly recommended, the band are both original and able – whatever Mr Calvin would have thought of it. [Peter Bate, Cross Rhythms, April 1993]

I previously covered these songs when I converted a compilation called Heaven. Now I get to see the real First EP by Calvin’s Dream. The weird thing is that the songs are not near as clear here as they are on Heaven. Maybe this copy of the EP is worn out, or the songs were remixed for the comp. Anyways, here is what I wrote then: I have been looking for this demo for a while, as I have their Fanatical CD and really like it… The sound is basically high quality alternative rock with a late 80s roots rock influence as well as an early 90s college rock influence. A lot of bands were doing this sound, just few were this good. [Christian Tape Underground, October 25, 2020]

Cassette tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Guilty”
A2. “Come Down Love”

Side Two
B1. “Struggle”
B2. “The Waiting Room”

Note: Released both on cassette and 12-inch vinyl EP by Sticky Music.