Clandestine Classic II - She's Everywhere

The second post in an occasional series that is intended to highlight songs that you might not have heard that I think are excellent - clandestine classics, if you will. Maybe they'll be by bands you've never heard of. Maybe they'll be by more familiar artists, but tracks that were squirelled away on b-sides, unpopular albums, radio sessions or music magazine cover-mounted CDs. Time will, undoubtedly, tell.

Today, an album track from Bristol-based melodramatic tunesmiths Strangelove. Formed in the early 90s and incorporating some members of fellow Bristol scenesters The Blue Aeroplanes (notably guitar maestro Alex Lee), Strangelove garnered a lot of favourable reviews for their early EPs and first album, Time For The Rest Of Your Life (the title track of which almost made it on here today, and which is certainly worth seeking out). Much was made of singer Patrick Duff's vocal similarity to Morrissey, and it was this comparison that initally brought them to my attention.

Support slots for Radiohead and Suede followed, as did a second album, 1996's Love And Other Demons, and it's track five from that particular disc that is today's musical offering. She's Everywhere featured Brett Anderson from Suede on backing vocals and is all the more gorgeous for that, but there's far more to this than just some Suede patronage. Sumptuous guitars; delicate harmonies; complex and heartfelt lyrics; a compelling chorus - She's Everywhere has all this and more. I once read a customer's review on Amazon that concluded with "Imagine Radiohead with a better-looking lead singer, and you have Strangelove." That's a pretty bold claim (and a bit harsh on Thom Yorke) but it's not far off the mark. It wasn't enough to save them though - one more album followed, one more stab at chart success with the uncharacteristically jaunty, piano-led Another Night In, and that was more or less that. A shame.

However, by the miracle of the Internet that is YouTube, we can still enjoy this clandestine classic... so here it is!