THE BLOW MONKEYS
ANIMAL MAGIC
BMG
★★★
The Blow Monkeys broke through in 1986 with this, the Londoners’ second album after their non-charting debut, Limping For A Generation.
Listening to Animal Magic now, at 36 years’ remove, it’s clear Dr Robert and co were just a few years late for the sophistipop wave. Had they released this in 1982, with The Lexicon Of Love in the air, it’s possible they might have been more warmly received. As it was, they seemed slightly anachronistic, more Johnny Hates Jazz than Roxy Music. Still, there’s much to love here… maybe a bit too much.