Favourites - Gomez - In Our Gun and How We Operate

Gomez is a five member band from both Southport and the English resort town Weston-super-Mare just across the Bristol Channel from Cardiff.  They play a mix of styles and writing and singing and swapping instrument leads from time to time - reminiscent of The Band's approach.  

I have been a fan since their Mercury Prize winning debut Bring it On and until she saw them Jan thought some of their music just noise.  

While I was in Dublin last year I came across an anniversary edition of their 2006 album How We Operate.  Jan and I (and Chris) saw the tour that supported this album.  It was fun and also what got Jan across the line in terns of enjoying Gomez's varied sound,.  Probably because it is their popiest album and while some fans were pleased others were put off by the overt stab at the charts. 

While I enjoy the pop of Girlshapedlovedrug I am more drawn to the dreamy Charlie Patton Songs  or the more representative Hamona Beach. 

I bought my first (CD) copy of In Our Gun in 2001 in Hong Kong when I heard it playing in the HMV
store.  But a few years ago I picked up this vinyl copy in Melbourne.   

A lovely pressing that helped me appreciate it all over again.  From the opening track - Shot Shot (the track that was playing in the store, through the title track and onto the close out Ballad of Nice and Easy you really get a good taste of what Gomez is all about.  

I have bought a couple of CDs since How We Operate but they never seemed to capture that magic again. We also saw Ben Ottewell solo at the San Francisco in what was a fun show.  They still play and record and who knows there may be another great album yet.