I got into Talulah Gosh after reading a review of the CD86 compilation in Uncut magazine; the piece was accompanied by the “1986” photo on the Pictures page of this website and I thought that the frontgirl looked cute. I actually thought they were American, for some reason, and was pleased to find out they were English (dunno why). I watched the video for their eponymous song on YouTube and loved it (especially the tempo change midway through) and I clicked on Our Love Is Heavenly by the sequel band as well.

This really blew me away; I realised at once that melodic genius was at work and that if other Gosh (and Heavenly) songs were half as good as these then I was onto something. I got Backwash off 101cd.com and the rest is history. Literally every song I heard was amazing, one after the other, and lilting hooks abounded—“your heart” (in Steaming Train), “If you like my honesty” (Way of the World), “I can't be satisfied” (Thank God), et cetera et cetera. Talulah Gosh was just what I needed, and I hadn’t felt so refreshed since… well, I won’t dilute these pages with the name of another band.

The only ambivalent areas for me are the lack of clarity to the vocals/lyrics and the terrible names they gave their albums and EPs! I ain’t thinking of the ocean when I read Backwash, while They’ve Scoffed the Lot makes my tummy feel funny. Still, I bought the 53rd & 3rd Rock Legends : Volume 69 on vinyl, plus Bringing Up Baby (label = Talulah Goth?!) on Constrictor 7". Gosh records are kind of hard to get hold of because they’re so rare, but I’m hoping to get some more scans here at some point. Click here for my Top 10 favourite Gosh songs.