WOE exclusive format - on fluorescent orange vinyl, limited to 300 copies
Has West Bromwich ever been as elegant? Certainly not thanks to its other famous sons, yr Geoff Horsfields and yr Chris Brunts and yr Jason Roberts (though maybe Kanu...). Safe to say that The Sea Urchins were a very unusual proposition within the hard knock life of the Black Country. Their debut single, and, famously, the opening salvo for a certain Sarah Records, 'Pristine Christine' is effectively the clarion call for a particular type of fey but charmed indie pop music. Within its own particular lane, it's not unfair to claim it might never have been bettered. Strange, then, that they never actually officially released a debut album. Stardust was a surrogate, a collection of singles and b sides issued in '92 that approximates the role immaculately. 'Pristine Christine' might be the famed headline moment, but it's certainly not alone. Stardust displays perfect pop songwriting from front to back. Soft as lace lovelorn confessionals that bounce and gleam and emote with unabashed sincerity. James Roberts didn't have a great voice as such (some might even be less kind), but he sure could communicate a feeling, and isn't that the real point of it all? Sterling work from 1972 to finally bring this back into print. Bands as rare as the Sea Urchins deserve their flowers time and again. Edition of 300.
