SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HEAVENLY – OPERATION HEAVENLY

HEAVENLY
OPERATION HEAVENLY
SKEP WAX RECORDS

When this, the fourth and final album by Heavenly was released back in 1996, it practically had no shelf-life of its own, as its release was overshadowed by the sudden death of drummer Mathew Fletcher. At the same time, the band that recorded its first three albums for the iconic Sarah Records, bearing in its sound all the hallmarks that characterized the label, with an additional American-style melodic post-punk twist, moved to K Records, making the two a perfect fit for the album.

With a bit of a history in retrospect, it is duly noted that the value of any reissue lies in how the presented music stands when judged in comparison, not only with other reissues, but also with recently recorded music. And frankly, that is where this Heavenly album shines brightly in both respects, as it can be said that it sounds as new and fresh as it did (or should have) some 30 years ago. A worthy reissue, or fresh release as it just might be.

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