House Of Love
Live At The Lexington 13/11/13
After catching The Jesus And Mary Chain at Camden's Electric Ballroom, south London-based singer-songwriter Guy Chadwick formed The House Of Love with guitarist Terry Bickers in 1986. Signing to independent label Creation, they built a strong reputation with their particular brand of indie rock being marked out by Bickers' psychedelic guitar sound and Chadwick's drily emotive lyrics. Following the departure of German rhythm guitarist/vocalist Andrea Heukamp, the band signed to the major Fontana, bringing even wider chart success, despite the internal pressures and widespread drug use that saw four different producers involved in their second LP. Displeased by commercial tampering at Fontana, Bickers left the group in late 1989, replaced by Simon Watson, with Heukamp again on backing vocals. Then, after 'Babe Rainbow' and 'Audience With The Mind,' drummer Pete Evans quit, leading to the band's unravelling. Thankfully, reconciliation between Chadwick and Bickers saw the band reform in 2003, with Matt Jury in place of original bassist Chris Groothuizen. 'Live At The Lexington' sees the band revisit the best of their career, from the formative plaintiveness of 'Christine' and the wistful chart-topping 'The Beatles & The Stones' to the hopefulness of the later 'A Baby Got Back On Its Feet.'