Originally published by L.S. Media. September 25th 2012.
L.S.Media Rating ****
When Raintown was released 25 years ago Deacon Blue strode aloft the pop world and made sure that the finality of the 1980’s British music lovers had another band that would be remembered fondly and for good reason. Now 25 years later and ten years elapsing since their last studio album, Deacon Blue have returned with all guns blazing and produced a record of incredible quality befitting the past and yet sounding new and exciting.
The Hipsters sees Ricky Ross, Lorraine McIntosh, James Prime and Dougie Vipond reunite properly since 2001’s Homesick and since the sad loss of their former guitar player Graeme Kelling. The four remaining members have bought their individual talent to this new album and Ricky Ross’s wonderful observational and personal lyrics still hold true to the ideal of excellent song writing. The whole of The Hipsters has the ring of an album that has had time carefully taken over it as no rush is ever needed to make an album of repute.
With Deacon Blue celebrating their 25th anniversary of Raintown, there may have been a inkling somewhere to produce an album that almost paid homage to the era, to bring the past up and dwell on victories won when the Scottish band were hailed as the bright young things. Whilst that would have been easy and no doubt enjoyed by fans of old, Ricky Ross has seen to the future in this album and just as The Great Lakes by the husband and wife team of McIntosh/Ross proved that there is always time to progress forward and make new sounding music, so the band have proved here.
Some of the stand-out songs on a very superb album include That’s What We Can Do, It Will All End In Tears and the brilliant Laura From Memory.
Deacon Blue are going out on the road soon and it will be interesting to see if the new album gets the same reaction as the old familiar favourites, it shouldn’t even be a contest as The Hipsters is a fantastic and superb piece of music.
Ian D. Hall