REVIEW: The Primitives – Bloom! 5 CD box set

If I’m being honest The Primitives passed me by in the 80’s, only their hit Crash brushed past me on the dancefloors of students unions, the Rickenbacker decending chord anthem still sounds as vibrant and energetic as it did when it was originally release. For those in a similar boat as me this 5 CD set, released via Cherry Red, should be right up your street, those with wiser heads on your shoulders will no doubt already known the bulk of this material but now lavishly packaged in an impressive 5 cd set.

Starting off with a sluggish version of Crash with a loose bass feel, Across My Shoulder has a dark sinister early Warsaw sound, whilst Spacehead demo sees sha la la la’s harmonies delivered with a perfect summer pop charm. Other highlights including Nothing Left with its daydream wish away lyrics. Summer Rain dips it’s toe into some Bryds chord riff before swaying into delightful charming chords. There are many more classy numbers dotted all over this compilation to go alongside the likes of The Smiths and The Cure.

The Primitives go from a sort of ramshackle outfit to displaying a perfect knack for perfect guitar pop, with a disc full of BBC sessions lifting further lights on their career plus a early 90’s live gig plus a few previously unreleased gems dotted about this set, this might not be a set worthy of serious collectors reaching into their pockets but none the less the powerful talent of The Primitives is emphatically on show here.

Bloom! Can be purchased via the following link