Seriously undervalued in relation to his contemporary countrymen Nick Cave and Michael Hutchence, the sadly late David McComb’s lack of recognition continues to mystify.
Actually, considering the unadulterated quality of their entire output, that McComb’s band THE TRIFFIDS scarcely bothered the "proper" charts or left a large, influential shadow to cast damn near beggars belief, as Western Australia’s finest 1980’s troupe exuded edgy pop brilliance from the cut’ n’ thrust flair of their 1983 debut LP, "Treeless Plain", through the quasi-psychedelic menace of the 1984 John Peel Session EP, "Field Of Glass" and all the way to the lavish, major label sponsored final albums, "Calenture" (1987) and 1989’s "The Black Swan.". They’re vivid, widescreen creations to a fault.
However, hindsight suggests THE TRIFFIDS’ absolute eureka moment arrived with the release of the group’s third album proper, "Born Sandy Devotional" late in 1985.
Opting to record in London after acquiring a sizeable UK college following, THE TRIFFIDS hooked up with Bunnymen (and future Pixies) producer Gil Norton to lay down their first full-length opus with their newly-expanded six-piece line up, bringing in pedal steel & guitar man "Evil" Graham Lee.
Certainly, the end results suggest it was a marriage forged in some far-off heaven, with THE TRIFFIDS emerging clutching an album as expansive and steeped in gorgeous mystery as the aerial view of the Western Australian coastline that graces the cover.
It’s no overstatement to say "Born Sandy Devotional" is every bit as resonant and finely-honed as Norton’s recent Bunymen masterpiece, "Ocean Rain": McComb’s songs of loss and redemption realised as beautifully as any of Nick Cave’s superbly affecting later work.
I suppose the LP’s one major commercial shortcoming was probably its’ lack of anything much that slips into comfortable, radio-friendly mode. "Chicken Killer" is truly the only chorus and hook upbeat candidate, whilst the fabulous, forgotten single "Wide Open Space" may be anthemic, but it’s ultimately too ponderous and weather – beaten for mass consumption.
The gripes stop there though, ‘cos in virtually every other sense, "Born Sandy Devotional" is flawless, not least in emotional impact. Indeed, from the off we’re pitched into McComb’s turmoil with the tender majesty of "The Seabirds" – a tale of betrayal and regret ending with the song’s protagonist lying dead on a beach.
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Not surprisingly, death’s shadow hovers ominously over most of these songs, not least "Tarrilup Bridge" (sung by organist Jill Birt) – "I packed my bags, left a note on the fridge/ and drove off the end of the Tarrilup Bridge" – whilst even in the less obviously resolved songs, like "Life Of Crime" and "Personal Things" those involved usually end up scarred and/ or broken.
Significantly, though, the album ends (relatively) optimistically via the gentle "Tender Is The Night"; Birt and McComb tremulously emoting: "…it will all turn out all right, I’m sure."
Sonically, the lengthy lysergic rush of the LP’s centrepiece, "Lonely Stretch" and the loping, blasted blues of "Life Of Crime" form the bridging point from the band’s previous prowling psych intensity, but it’s the epic strings (partly arranged by another Bunnymen collaborator, Adam Peters) and burgeoning maturity (a compliment) of ballads like "Stolen Property" and "Estuary Bed" that remain as lusciously affecting today.
Crucially, THE TRIFFIDS’ key elements have remained instantly recognisable to this day, from McComb’s rich croon to Jill Birt’s nervy, Mo Tucker warble; from Evil’s delicious curls of pedal steel to the none-more brooding rhythms laid down by Martyn Casey and Alsy MacDonald.
Strangely, only Casey has truly cemented his reputation since , as bassist with Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds, while David McComb’s one solo LP, "Love Of Will" and his tragically early demise in a car crash in 1998 only tease us with what should have been.
Nevertheless, most of us would sell our families and close friends for what THE TRIFFIDS achieved, artistically at least. Potential new pilgrims should make straight for "Born Sandy Devotional"; still the most wonderfully potent station beyond the Southern Cross.
(Domino re-issue The Triffids back catalogue starting with "Born Sandy Devotional" on June 12th 2006)
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