Kookydisc in Northampton have been releasing Durutti Column offcuts since 1989 under the title of Sporadic Recordings. Initially there was a single disc of 28 tracks, then a double-disc reissue of 37 tracks in 2002, and now a fresh set of 14 tracks, whose 14 alternate tracks and run-throughs of great songs prove fascinating. Vinni Reilly’s anti-Blair song, Big Hole, from 2005’s Keep Breathing, for example, was originally a Portastudio effort recorded on the fly at 3am, at the same time as a mate finished her thesis, titled Dig A Hole, in the next room.
What strikes most is the incredible guitar technique – Reilly is in a class of his own. Around 1986 the mayor of Cordoba was so struck by Reilly’s fretsmanship that he flew to Manchester to present him with a Juan Montero guitar (luthier to Paco Pena, Paco De Lucia and other flamenco stars) worth �17,000. It’s audible here on The End Of The Journey.
The most enjoyable thing is picking out the Durutti eras touched upon. For Danny, from the LC era, is gorgeously impressionistic, and there’s great stuff from the acid house-infused Obey The Time period, particularly New Order Tribute. The archive pics aren’t half bad, either.
