Slapp Happy- Sort Of (1972) MP3 & FLAC

"Walking through the city, your boots are high-heeled and shining bright."

Comprised of British experimental composer Anthony Moore (later on just More), German cabaret singer Dagmar Krause, and American singer-songwriter (and sometimes clarinetist) Peter Blegvad, Slapp Happy were pop-deconstructors of the first order. Post-Modernists before the term had any currency, there is a prickly ironic tone permeating their eclectic debut, Sort Of, an album full of quirky pop experiments and amazing "lost gem" moments. Despite having recruited Kraut-Rock legends Faust as their studio backing-band, Slapp Happy's sound on Sort Of  is deceptively accessible, even verging on psychedelia-tinged folk-rock in places. The enduring gem here is undoubtedly "Blue Flower," which Mazzy Star covered to great effect on their debut, She Hangs Brightly, a song that bears a striking resemblance (though not in a derivative sense) to The Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale." Another gem is the opening track, "Just a Conversation." Anticipating a sound that Richard & Linda Thompson would mine a few years later, the song's overly simple lyrics contrast beautifully with Krause's wonderful vocals. Sort Of does suffer a bit when Krause's vocals are not the main focus, but overall, the album is unconventionally delightful.

Sort Of  (1999 Remastered CD Edition)
 1. Just a Conversation  (4:05)
 2. Paradise Express  (2:38)
 3. I Got Evil  (2:33)
 4. Little Girl's World  (3:34)
 5. Tutankhamun  (2:15)
 6. Mono Plane  (6:52)
 7. Blue Flower  (5:21)
 8. I'm All Alone  (2:52)
 9. Who's Gonna Help Me Now  (2:28)
10. Small Hands of Stone  (4:43)
11. Sort Of  (2:21)
12. Heading for Kyoto  (3:10)
-Bonus Tracks-
13. Jumping Jonah  (3:07)

MU: Lossy (MP3@320)

MU: Lossless (FLAC)

Sort Of  (1981 UK Recommended Records Vinyl Rip, 24 bit/96kHz) (Better Sound)

 1. Just a Conversation  (4:11)

 2. Paradise Express  (2:41)

 3. I Got Evil  (2:35)

 4. Little Girl's World  (3:36)

 5. Tutankhamun  (2:19)

 6. Mono Plane  (6:56)

 7. Blue Flower  (5:26)

 8. I'm All Alone  (2:58)

 9. Who's Gonna Help Me Now?  (2:33)

10. Small Hands of Stone  (4:50)

11. Sort Of  (2:27)

12. Heading for Kyoto  (3:16)

-Bonus Track-

13. Alcohol (Peter Blegvad & Anthony Moore Single)  (2:54)

MU: Lossy (MP3@320)

Part I- MU: Lossless (FLAC)

Part II- MU: Lossless (FLAC)