The first Heavenly reissue is here, and indie fans should be rushing to get this. Following news of these reissues and the upcoming first Heavenly concert in 28 years, the band's material is back before us, and we're reminded again how wonderfully rich and lively this music remains.
Released more than 30 years ago, Heavenly vs Satan still delights, and somehow still sounds timeless. Following the dissoluton of Talulah Gosh, Amelia Fletcher (songwriter and vocals), Peter Momtchiloff (guitar), Cathy Rogers (keyboards & vocals), Rob Pursey (bass), and Mathew Fletcher (drums) used Heavenly as a means to craft pure pop, with the indie nearly serving as a reaction to the overwhelming shoegaze and grunge of their contemporaries then. "Cool Guitar Boy" and the galloping "Lemonhead Boy" charm their way into your eardrums, while "Stop Before You Say It" serves up a clatter of drums and percussive elements even as Amelia's vocals and Peter's guitars dance around the melody. Hearing these songs again, a listener remembers what a cohesive unit Heavenly were, and one which was as interested in crafting indie on their own terms, as it was a band intent on redefining the sort of pop that was even available in the first place. It's easy in hindsight to hear this all as a reaction to current trends then, and of course the music still works on its own terms, but it's also all gloriously iconoclastic.
Heavenly vs Satan has the first two Sarah Records singles from this band. "I Fell in Love Last Night" and the chiming "Over and Over" remain vital and inspiring. And "Our Love is Heavenly" and "Wrap My Arms Around Him" are even better, with the former swaying atop chunky riffs and a propulsive commitment from the rhythm section, and the latter being a rush of emotions and punk-flavored instrumental rave-ups. These singles sit nicely here, and render this Heavenly vs Satan a complete document of the early years of this formative band.
Listening to all this now, I think any critic then who called this twee was only acknowledging that the creators of this music were reacting to the overwhelming machismo of rock in 1990 or so. And over time, twee became a constrictive and insulting label for many bands, but I think when you think of when this was made, and what the players were up against, maybe it's a badge of honor. This is muscular and robust indie-rock that punches up at the mainstream, and serves as a sort of call to arms. It makes perfect sense now how many bands rose up that tried to sound like this. But in many ways, Heavenly were the first, the pioneers of a style that's remarkably resilient and full of joy even here in 2022.
Heavenly vs Satan is out now via Skep Wax.
[Photo: Skep Wax / Heavenly]