Counting Backwards

Thanks to my newfound enthusiasm for Pixies' Surfer Rosa in 1988, I soon afterwards became aware of Throwing Muses, the two labelmates often being mentioned together in the music press. The next year I bought the latter band's third album Hunkpapa, only to find it easier to admire than enjoy. It wasn't until '91, and The Real Ramona (album #4), that I properly became a fan. The opening track 'Counting Backwards' was my favourite of its songs.

Decades later & with those cassettes long gone, I was intrigued, ca. 2018, to find a vinyl copy of The Real Ramona in a Chepstow charity shop. I couldn't see a price on it, so queried the cashier who shrugged and suggested £2, which seemed like a bargain. On getting it home I found there was a price sticker, but inexplicably affixed to the inner sleeve where neither of us had seen it: £12. Having been briefly pleased at landing a good deal I then felt bad at having snatched a tenner from the hands of the needy. I later made a donation to assuage my conscience.

Last year, same town, different charity shop, I picked up this 'Counting Backwards' 12" EP. After the title track on side A is a terrific version of 'Amazing Grace' in which the band were joined by Joe Harvard playing lap steel guitar. Side B gives us two more fine songs in the shape of 'Same Sun' and 'Cottonmouth', neither of which would - in my estimation - have been out of place as album tracks on The Real Ramona.

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All Wrapped Up

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