Absolutely Prefabulous

Steve McQueen has been released again. Daryl Easlea bites the Bullitt.

Prefab Sprout’s shimmering masterpiece, Steve McQueen, began life in 1984 with the working title of June Parade. Led by writer, vocalist and guitarist Paddy McAloon, with his brother Martin and vocalist/keyboard player Wendy Smith, the group had already created an intriguing presence on the music scene, operating outside of not just pop trifles, but also of most of the alternative bands out there. Their maturity was also marked out by the sleevenotes of their debut album, Swoon, which were written by friend of the group Emma Welles: “Anyway, it’s now very late and I’m listening to this record for the umpteenth time. My husband went to bed an hour ago – not that he has anything against the Sprouts, but he must get up early tomorrow. I won’t be joining him for at least another 40 minutes. That’s Swoon.” This was a world of married grown-ups, listening to adult music. The initial Prefab Sprout sound was angular and strange. In leader Paddy McAloon, they had a witty, erudite spokesman. He was amused at the music press’ desire to pin them down. “I guess we’re somewhere between Rickie Lee Jones and Einstürzende Whatsathingy,” he quipped to NME in 1984.

“When people talk about 80s bands,” says brother Martin from his Newcastle home in 2007, …

by Daryl Easlea
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