THE PRIMITIVES – ECHOES AND RHYMES

The Primitives know their craft so well, that their first full album in over 20 years made me hyperventilate. When I heard the rumours of a reunion in 2009, I never expected to see such a revitalized band stand their ground a few years later.

Second time around, they continue where they left off in 1991 and I love every tiny bit of it. The Primitives are one of very few 80’s bands to rise from the ashes with authority.

Their commercial comeback was launched with the Never Kill a Secret EP in 2011, followed by the full length cover album Echoes and Rhymes in 2012. The album contains a couple of my younger year’s guilty pleasures like Sue Lyon’s Turn off The Moon and Sandy Posey’s Single Girl along with great classics like Little Ann’s Who Are You Trying Fool? and Jackie DeShannon’s Till The Day You’ll Be Mine. One surprise after the other and an appetizer for songs I didn’t know (but certainly should), like Sue Nicholls’ Where Will You Be.

The chills really came rushing when I heard Gordon Lightfoot’s I’m Not Sayin’, one of the best covers I’ve heard in years and definitely the best version since Nico’s ’65 interpretation. I’m sure Paul Court’s vocal chords have never been put to better use. Perfect pop, proper production and undeniably Primitives at their best.