I popped Gomez’s second album, Liquid Skin, on the office stereo and was once again reminded what a lovely piece of work it is. Whilst Gomez are best known for winning the Mercury Music Prize with their debut, Bring It On, in many ways Liquid Skin is the better piece of work. Especially deserving of mention are the beautifully laid back tracks such Revolutionary Kind, Rosalita and this, We Haven’t Turned Around.
Liquid Skin was one of the albums that defined my stay in Sydney between 1998 & 2000 (along with All Systems Gone by Presence & Northern Sulphuric Soul by Rae & Christian) and I will always remember driving through London not long after getting back when We Haven’t Turned Around came on the radio: out of nowhere I found myself crying. I’m not really sure why I’ve admitted that other than the fact that I’d suggest that any track that can drive a grown man to tears has to be worth checking out.
Gomez are one of the most underrated bands to come out of our fair isle, and are absolutely blinding live. I’ve been listening to Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline a fair bit recently, some amazing b-sides and the version of alternate We Haven’t Turned Around is beautiful.