Tall Dwarfs: The Sky Above, The Mud Below

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * * )

With label Flying Nun making a bit of a fuss about turning 21, the question arises about who's been on the label the longest. Figuratively, it's still the Clean. Though, after their initial 1981 releases, they did take most of the rest of the 80s off.

The Tall Dwarfs, who might seem a foundation band but weren't quite, can trace a consistent run of EPs and albums since 1982. And this is Alec Bathgate and Chris Knox's eighth long-player in their 20 years of recording as a duo.

It obviously remains a fruitful relationship. On offer here is a 17-track album plus an eight-track extra EP by the International Tall Dwarfs (Knox, Bathgate and guests including Nun veterans the Clean, Graeme Downes and various cult or soon-to-be cult figures including American pop primitive Jad Fair who has released an album with Scotland's Teenage Fanclub).

So, it does take some getting through (couldn't we have had that EP on a separate disc?) but the album shows the best Dwarf songs aren't necessarily the tape-loop propelled sonic happy accidents of the past.

There's sweetly harmonious Beatles-esque ditties (Time To Wait, Room to Breathe, Big Brain Of The Word), a musical anecdote about an encounter with the late George Harrison (Meet the Beatle), spirited deja vu pop (Baby It's Over, OK Forever, The Beautiful Invader), mutant sardonic glam-rock (Deodorant), a song which resembles early Headless Chickens (We Are The Chosen Few) and a happy accident or two. It's a largely enjoyable, energetic, melodic collection of snappy songs for the most part, until you hit the indulgence barrier when the extra tracks start kicking in.

Still, Tall Dwarfs are half a band which has stayed around twice as long as many with whole careers. Even with that 21st looming, this album might find them more considered but they can't be accused of musical maturity, just yet.

Label: Flying Nun