In the mid-1980s, NME released the influential C86, a collection of songs from the best contemporary indie-rock, post-punk, and jangle pop bands. In retrospect, it was a landmark release that is now a vital artefact of alternative music of the era. This little island of ours has never released a compilation as essential as that one, but the closest we’ve come is perhaps through the A Litany of Failures series.
Now on its fourth – and strongest – outing, we’re treated to four sides of tracks from some of the most illustrious artists the Irish isle has to offer such as Jinx Lennon, Laurie Shaw, Search Results, and Junior Brother.
Post-punk outfit M(h)aol kick things off in typically propulsive fashion with violent shredding on Jack Douglas. After that ferocious opener, we settle into a brilliantly diverse range of songs. It might be an oxymoron to say there are numerous standouts but I’m going to say it anyway.
Electronic producer and vocalist This Ship Argo gives us the best of the bunch. With its languorous tempos and droning, protracted synth notes, her contribution This Is Where You’re Meant To Be sounds like a gorgeous trip-hop take on slow-core band Low.
Documenta deliver their own Pretty Hate Machine of sounds on the explosive Feel Good about Yourself.
Elsewhere, Naoise Roo and Trá Pháidin emerge as fellow star players with their respective, but very different, contributions.
Volume IV may lack the singular sonic palette of C86 but this is a minor gripe. Sometimes you just gotta say, “When it’s good, it’s good”.
Words: Mark Conroy
A Litany of Failures Compilation – Vol IV
[A Litany of Failures]
