Often unfairly derided during their seven year lifespan, Manchester’s STOCKHOLM MONSTERS actually reaped quite a rich harvest, as evinced by LTM’s comprehensive new re-issue programme.
“All At Once (The Singles 1981-1987)” is as good a place as any to start for the uninitiated, collecting 17 tracks – including the odd B side and an unreleased, rejected “Shake It To The Bank” – in an extensive overview of the band’s FACTORY/ FACTORY BENELUX campaign, plus the bonus of three tracks from an Italian import 12inch from 1987.
Actually, one fact that emerges immediately is that THE STOCKHOLM MONSTERS really did improve with age. Although they opened their account in fine style with the Martin Hannett-produced “Fairy Tales” in early 1982 – showing off their naturally melancholic knack en route – it’s difficult to raise enthusiasm for most of their early output now, with songs like “Death Is Coming Slowly”, “Happy Ever After” and “Soft Babies” coming across as feeble and directionless and in the latter’s case little more than an annoying tone poem.
In this correspondent’s view, it’s really 1983’s “Lafayette” before they start to hit their stride, with spangly guitar riffs and that curiously Mancunian staple, the swirly fairground organ, kicking in with Shan Hira’s crisp drumming to let the sun in for the first time.
From there onwards, we’re cooking with gas. The percussive “All At Once” benefits no end from Lindsay Anderson’s trumpet blasts and shows the MONSTERS had happily mastered the pop hook despite their (misplaced) “dour” Factory tag. By the summer of 1984, they’d gone on to release arguably their finest five minutes in the shape of the controversial “How Corrupt Is Rough Trade?” Presented here in its’ full 12-inch form, it’s quite phenomenal, veering from a gentle keyboard undertone via some loudhailer vitriol (you can clearly discern “You Bastards!” amongst the melee) through to a nagging upbeat groover drenched in atmosphere.
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Tracks like “Kan Kill!” and the excellent “Partyline” demonstrate that the STOCKHOLM MONSTERS were open to change, with producer PETER HOOK (yes, that one) helping to introduce sampling and electronic trimmings to their palette, although the band’s one self-produced effort – the aforementioned Italian EP from early 1987 – features some of their best material, with tunes like “Militia” and a superior “Partyline” bristling with danceability and attitude.
In fairness, aspects of the STOCKHOLM MONSTERS make up have not aged gracefully. Tony France’s vocals (though better later) sound wayward and desperate in places and his brother Karl’s bass playing is almost unbearably Hook-esque at times, causing difficulty in dismissing those age-old NEW ORDER ‘clone’ jibes with total conviction.
However, it’s a shame they split around the middle of 1987 (though reading the extensive sleevenotes it’s not hard to see why) as the “Madchester” explosion that followed circa 1989 would certainly have appreciated their increasingly funky stance. “All At Once” generously revisits both the glories and imperfections and definitely merits 7.
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