Yes, the “seminally seminal” guitar slingers from the dawn of Creation Records whose measly two singles have since become something of the holy grail for those who like their ’80s pop equal parts bubbling melancholia, Byrdsian jangle and anthemic flag-waving. ‘Magpie Eyes 1982-1985’ gathers together practically everything they released, and didn’t release for that matter, in their short but perfectly-formed lifetime. As well as the aforementioned “Why Does The Rain” and “Up The Hill And Down The Slope” (huge indie hits when such things actually mattered), here are studio out-takes, BBC sessions and live tracks as well as contributions from James Dean Bradfield, Alan McGee, Janice Long, Steve Lamacq, Dave Gedge, me, the whole celebrity fan club in fact! The Loft have reformed after 20 years of acrimony to play some shows too. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

Why Does The Rain / Up The Hill And Down The Slope / Your Door Shines Like Gold / Winter / On A Tuesday / Skeleton Staircase / Lonely Street / Like The Canal And The Big Red Town / Time / Beware (live) / Wide Open Arms (live) / Worm In My Brain (live) / Up The Hill And Down The Slope (live)

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