August 1976, and 2nd Honeymoon, Deaf School's debut album is released. The music press was impressed and hailed them as the next big thing. The album was launched and a tour was lined up. Deaf School were six musicians and three lead singers, so they were quite a large band to take on tour. But live was where to see them at their best, so we were told. I did just that when they turned up near me, and indeed they were one of the best live performances by a band I've seen. Holly Johnson credits them with the single handed revival of the Liverpool music scene, and what an effect that had upon the bands, like Frankie Goes To Hollywood, who came next.
Each band member played a character with their own 'nom de plume'. As though they were performing in a long running play - Enrico Cadillac Jnr, Betty Bright, The Rev Max Ripple, Cliff Hanger. This all adds to a playful evocation of period on 2nd Honeymoon. Composed as a suite of cabaret style pop songs, it conjured a feeling for 1930's Hollywood, as performed in your local village hall. 2nd Honeymoon was a homage to those classic musicals, with its deftly written storytelling songs that captured a distinct mood through their lyrical dialogues. Across its twelve songs you'd get an episodic glimpse into the lives of a couple who take a weekend away to hopefully rekindle their fading love for each other. As Enrico Cadillac sings on the track 2nd Honeymoon - '
'But isn't this a scene from some old movie, a pretty but a useless escapade, and sometimes its alright, and its alright sometimes, but when its not you know, it will be won't it though?'
Which gives you a sense for how the use of dialogue, internal and between characters is one essential element in the Deaf School songwriting magic. Having three lead singers did gift them a dynamic dramatic quality through this type of exchange within songs, and even more so live.
Deaf School were all former Liverpool Art School students and staff, so the attention to visual and presentation detail you'd sort of expect. Deaf School's misfortune was that within six months of their debut album being released, punk exploded onto the UK music scene and what they were trying to do became instantly viewed as boring and old hat. They fought on through two more albums then packed it in. Band member Clive Langer went on to produce Madness and Dexy's Midnight Runners, and knowing that, you can see how the idea of a band visually embodying character and an ethos filters through from Deaf School. And there are times on 2nd Honeymoon when musical arrangements find their echoes in those future bands. Deaf School still occasionally reform to record or do a short tour or a one off anniversary show.
The band itself being so overlooked was a real loss, because 2nd Honeymoon is a fabulous debut album. Well written songs, superb musical arrangements, good production, with an eccentric mix of styles and often playfulness, that can suddenly break out into a Grieg reference played brashly on a saxophone. Every time I revisit this after a year or so away, it surprises me again how fresh and original, how lively and full of pzazz it still is. What a delight it remains from the start with What A Way To End It All through to its melancholic finishing song - Final Act..
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