THE LOVER SPEAKS has been 'speaking' to me for a very long time. They were once recommended to me by a blog visitor who calls himself 'Scritti', after the name of the 80's synth-pop group SCRITTI POLITTI (for some reason, I always love typing the name of that group in all capital letters). I had made a personal note to check them out later..... Yeah, it was later alright, like nearly two years later. Got my latest surprise of the month in the world of music when I discovered that THE LOVER SPEAKS performed the original version of "No More 'I Love You's'"—a beautiful song that I always believed was first recorded and completely owned by ex-EURYTHMICS superstar, Annie Lennox. I've loved her heavenly version for years since I first heard it on the radio back in the 90's (think I'm gonna find my copy of her "Medusa" album and play it again for myself at the conclusion of this post), all the while being totally in the dark about the existence of the earlier version by THE LOVER SPEAKS. So when I got my copy of their self-titled debut this evening, I rushed to play "No More 'I Love You's'" right off the bat as if it were an itch I was desperately needing to scratch. And about fifteen minutes later, I was still tuning into the same song—complete and total adoration had come over me! Everything about it is just as memorable as the Annie Lennox remake, including the way the background vocalist angelically chants 'Doo-bee-doo-bee doo-doo-doo', then pauses, then sings 'oh-oh'. Was different hearing the vocals of the guy named David Freeman instead of Annie's, but to me, he actually puts more passion and feeling into the song and makes it sound so good (it's gotta be that 80's sound at work again). And he does indeed sound exactly like HUMAN LEAGUE's Philip Oakey, as I had read someplace; I like when he reaches the high notes. Another music addiction to add to the list for this week for sure, but after those fifteen minutes of "No More 'I Love You's'" was over, it was time to hear what else the group had to 'speak' about. Could've played "Every Lover's Sign" four consecutive times as well if I wanted to, but settled for just one; total adoration for this song too! Don't know how many times I would've played "Love Is: 'I Gave You Everything'" (I like how some of these track titles have quotations embedded in them, as if somebody is 'speaking' in a conversation) if I hadn't spent so much time tuning into "No More 'I Love You's'" and it wasn't getting so late in the evening, but I could see it getting about two or three replays itself the next time I listen in. It's another beautiful slow song just like "No More 'I Love You's'"; it even features the same female vocalist again chanting some of that familiar 'Doo-bee-doo-bee doo-doo-doo, oh-oh' and has the same starry feel like those late 70's romantic soft rock tunes. And I could go on listening to "This Can't Go On!" and the lively jam, "Still Faking This Art Of Love", for hours apiece, but settled for just one listen to each of them as well. I am so thrilled that I've finally had a chance to hear this group.....and that's all spoken like a true music lover:
1. Every Lover's Sign
2. No More 'I Love You's'
3. Never To Forget You
4. Face Me And Smile
5. Absent One
6. Love Is: "I Gave You Everything"
7. "This Can't Go On!"
8. Still Faking This Art Of Love
9. Tremble Dancing
10. Of Tears
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