The
Incredible KIDDA BAND: "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" 2LP - Detour
Records, 2000.
It's without shame that I estimate this release as the most important one in
a lifetime! The Incredible Kidda Band burst on to the UK powerpop scene in the
glorious year 1977 and for years their few 7"s have been topping collectors
wish lists; they can easily be obtained if you want to make a £150 minimum
bid! Detour Records luckily traced down the members of the group and got hold
of the master tapes that included the singles and a vast variety of unreleased
demos from 1977-81. This has resulted in a double LP containing 29 superp examples
of mod/powerpop from one of the most underrated UK bands of that time!
It would be too
big a task to go in detail with all the songs on the album, but believe me
when saying that perhaps only a handful of these 29 'exhibitions of musicianship
aren't worthy of single releases; that's basically how good this album is.
The interesting thing about the Kidda Band is, that they didn't really have
a distinct punk rock or mod approach to their music, rather an undefined and
artistic rock'n'roll orientation, perhaps orgining from early Rolling Stones
and the Beatles and with an enormous feeling for the 'melody'. Characteristics
for the song writing style are the elegant chord progressions, the lovely
choruses and the incredible lead-guitar phrases! I haven't ever witnessed
a similar musical unity.
You could put
down The Incredible Kidda Band with more well-known powerpop acts like The
Jags, The Plimsouls, The Real Kids, etc. but you would still be somewhat off
the mark. They are Incredible and they are unique and if there was ever an
album to buy this would have to be it! Even the two inner sleves are a real
feast; lots of photos that have never been seen before. (JW)
::: DETOUR
RECORDS
