Part of the reason that the music of Love Child is not more widely known is that it leapt over genres and around easy labels. The new 12XU compilation of the band's stuff, Never Meant to Be: 1988 - 1993 collects a lot of good material. And it's safe to say that even music nerds are going to eat this up with a spoon.
Numbers like the smart and funny "He's So Sensitive" and "AAA/XXX" put the spotlight on Rebecca Odes, but others, like "Asking for It" let founder Will Baum push this material near that of era contemporaries like early Pavement and many acts on the Homestead imprint on these shores. The material really benefits from putting Odes center, with a track like "Sleepyhead" -- maybe where the band of the same name got their name? -- sounding like one of those early Throwing Muses songs written by Tanya Donelly not Kristin Hersh. Alan Licht, a musician more familiar now for more experimental music, adds a plaintive urgency to things like "Something Cruel", a tune that manages to seem of a piece with both The Feelies and The Wedding Present, stylistically speaking. Things eventually go in other directions with the departure of Baum and addition of Brendan O'Malley. "Stumbling Block", among others, is a real highlight of that period.
All of this set is really, really good. I'm pretty sure I had heard of the band back in the day, but somehow I never connected with their stuff, despite the links to the Homestead label. I'm happy to sink myself into this generous set now though. Never Meant to Be: 1988 - 1993 is really tremendous. Love Child cover a breadth of styles within the American college rock -- as this kind of thing was called then -- genre. From an era when grunge and British sythn were duking it out, and bands like The Pixies pointing towards another path, there were clearly others too who were discontent and resolute in pursuing their own sound. Love Child deserve your time now and you're likely going to be rewarded by really loving this very listenable compilation.
Never Meant to Be: 1988 - 1993 by Love Child is out now via 12XU.
[Photo: Michael Galinsky]