The Bathers - Kelvingrove Baby (1997/2020) Hi Res

Formed in Glasgow in 1985 The Bathers along with the peerless Blue Nile have released some of the most sumptuous music ever recorded by British artists. Their debut album "Unusual Places To Die" is a literate and understated pop gem but,s only on later releases did Chris Thompson -for he is to all ends and purposes The Bathers- fully realise his vision of classy exquisite chamber pop.

There are undoubtedly many Bathers fans who would advocate their 1995 album "Sunpowder" as the zenith of their luxuriant powers but i would like to put the case forward for the album that followed it 1997,s Kelvingrove Baby. It was the first album released on the "Wrasse" label by the band and is infused with a statuesque majesty and grace that speaks of a budget way way beyond what Thompson would have used in reality.

The music often has a loose , languid jazzy feel . Piano motifs don't so much flow but tipple erratically across tastefully brushed percussion , subtle strings, tinkling keyboards and languidly stroked guitars. Thompson,s voice is surprisingly parched for such opulent music but through sensitive phrasing and genuine bleeding of emotion into his vocals he transcends any technical limitations. Occasionally there is an incongruent quality to the vocals, where they don,t seem to gel comfortably with the music but this makes it seem more spontaneous and genuine.

Every song here is great but a song like "Girlfriend" -my favourite Bathers song- goes beyond great into areas of such delicious articulate grand eloquence and stirring emotional turmoil words cannot do it justice. The title track has beautiful female backing vocals that verge on the operatic while on "Once Upon A Time On The Rapenburg" the strings become truly fulsome and classical . "The Fragrance Remains Insane" is a heady vortex of orchestral strains while "If Love Could Last Forever" is a more subtle timorous aching love letter.

Kelvingrove is an area in Glasgow, very nice it is too.The girl( Credited as Kelvingrove beauty Vivienne) on the cover of my CD of this album is so gorgeous she could stun a wasp at twenty paces .The whole project is infused with beauty and excellent taste. The Bathers to put it succintly are a class act all round and Kelvingrove Baby is the classiest thing they have put their name to.