Description
Loud Symbols is an album by the British singer and songwriter Geoff Mann (on this album credited A Geoff Mann Band), released on Food For Thought Records in May 1990, a sub-label of Music for Nations. The album was recorded February 12-17, 1990 at Cavalier Sound Studios in Stockport, England.
Seventy-eight saw the release of TRB’s “Power in the Darkness”. Its razor-sharp dissection of the political and social climate of the time left this then student wanting to join the picket lines and do my share of stone-throwing. Not until now has another album managed to capture the essence of the malaise in society at the grass roots level. Its diagnosis of the problems of moral decay, confusion and helplessness facing so many is unerringly accurate. Unlike Tom Robinson and Co., Geoff Mann delivers a solution to the problem. Using his trademark ‘wobbly and non-wobbly guitars’ as a base he builds portraits of the try-anything-once-then-once-again brigade («Try Again»), the unloved («Worthless Song»), the selfish livers («Never Mind»). The media’s responsibilities are clearly stated. “Newspapers throwing stones about moral decay/ You turn the page there’s the thin end of the wedge/ smiling for the circulation./ What in the world are we doing? ” Hopefully you won’t be provoked into stone throwing, only into supporting the Church Urban Fund to whom the profits of this album will go! Do your bit – buy it! [Jonathan Priday, Cross Rhythms, November 1990]
Excerpt from the album’s liner notes (cassette version):
Side1 – There’s no point in getting OBSESSED with the outward trappings of life; THE KINGDOM IS COMING for sure. SERIOUSLY SIBLINGS, there’s MORE TO THIS business of living than looking after No 1. It won’t do to take the easy way out, thinking “NEVER MIND”, and waiting for God to TRY AGAIN.
Side2 – WHAT IN THE WORLD are we doing to each other, turning life from a hymn of wonder into A WORTHLESS SONG? Any fool can see enough SIGNS OF WAR to leave them CRYING INSIDE. So where’s God in the whole mess? Listen: there’s His voice in the heart of our times, calling us … “FIND YOUR FEET in me; there’s a great DANCE of love to be learned, and everyone’s invited!”
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Obsessed”
A2. “The Kingdom Is Coming”
A3. “More To This”
A4. “Never Mind”
A5. “Crying Inside”
Side Two
B1. “What In The World”
B2. “Signs Of War”
B3. “Try Again”
B4. “Find Your Feet”
B5. “Dance”
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Food For Thought Records. The CD version features the following three bonus tracks: “Seriously Siblings”, “I’m Still Human”, “A Worthless Song?”. Available at Bandcamp: https://twelfthnightuk.bandcamp.com/album/loud-symbols
CREDITS. Recorded at Cavalier Sound Studios, Stockport, 12-17th Feb. 1990
Musicians: Geoff Mann (guitars, percussion, vocals), John Maycraft (lead guitar), Paul Keeble (bass, keyboards, backing vocals), Gary Mitchell (drums).
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