Less Is More
Sounds 25th July
1987
Deacon Blue - Soho Marquee
MUCH HAS been made of Deacon Blue in recent months. Enough to titillate the
tastebuds of the weariest of rock palates and enough to have the twisted
hordes reaching for their bargepoles, ready to stake their claim in the queue
for the backlash. And this time everyone will be disappointed - Deacon Blue
are patently not the panacea that an ailing industry so desperately needs,
but neither are they the fall guys in some arcane rock conspiracy.
The fact is, Deacon Blue are just too human to satisfy either demand - they
are not cut of the same cloth as those self-acclaimed and semi-mythic rock
messiahs and neither are they the stooges for another major label hit-and-run-
Not since the Ravishing Beauties first hit the boards has a band seemed so
totally at ease with an audience; not in a vile and high'handed showbiz manner,
but with a genuine affection which serves to temper singer Ricky's semi-parodic
macho posturing and prevents the band from straying too close to the edge.
And stray they do.
The Stateside references (musical and verbal) are too glib to convince, tipping
more than a sly wink to conventional rock mythology. And, boy, are they
conventional, but you can't help admiring their cheek. Don't expect to be
bowled over, but in today's marketplace, the smallest gestures are the most
progressive. Deacon Blue say they don't want your trust. All they want is
a little respect. And believe me, you could do a lot wome. . . Damon
Wise