Spoons – Collectible Spoons (1994)

Way back in 1979, Spoons formed in Burlington, Ontario led by singer/guitarist Gorden Deppe and bass player Sandy Horne. The band, in various forms has released seven studio albums with the earliest being a mix of synthesizer pop with prog elements and more experimental sounds.  The greatest hits collection, Collectible Spoons, concentrates on the first three albums plus the singles take from the soundtrack to the movie Listen to the City.  The compilation is in non chronological order and starts with songs taken from their second album, Arias & Symphonies.  The title track has the dramatic guitar/synthesizer sound that Muse would take to stadiums around the world 30 years later.

The collection then moves to the band’s commercial heyday.  Produced by the legendary Nile Rodgers, the singles taken from the soundtrack were radio and video staples across Canada.  The hook from “Romanic Traffic” is from the “doot doot doot” in the chorus that was originally meant as filler. The fun, upbeat “Tell No Lies” was just as popular along with the equally catchy “Old Emotions”.

The album then switches back to songs taken from the first album, Stick Figure Neighbourhood that was recorded by a young Daniel Lanois. The best pick from this era being “Red Light” with its sparse, lazer synth stabs and stilted vocals.  The moody, atmospheric “Blow Away” follows with a definite prog influence.  Spoons most iconic song, “Nova Heart” appears twice including an extended mix.  The atmospheric, new wave classic is an extraordinary track with Deppe singing to the architects and gentlemen of the world.  It straddles the line between the alternative synth world of bands like OMD/Depeche Mode as well as putting a flag firmly in the pop world.  It’s a lost classic of the early 80s that does not get played nearly enough.

7.5/10