REVIEWS OF COMING READY OR NOT

Ooooohhhhhh...! As if it was ever posible - Detour Records releasing yet another storming album by a name from the past!? I was first introduced to this fantastic powerpop band when I picked up the 1994 rare punk compilation LP "Back to Front vol.4" (Incognito Records) that had their only ever released 7" on it, the punk rockin' youth anthem "The Kids Just Wanna Dance"! Not only is that song the best song on the V/A album, but it also promised so much for the Fast Cars, who by that time hadn't released more than that 7" - before NOW! The typical 1970's one-off single story then nothing more for 20 years (think Automatics, The Incredible Kidda Band (OK three 7"s....) etc....!

The 1970's band took their name from The Buzzcocks song and that is also evident source of inspiration to some extent. The style of Fast Cars is not punk rock, not mod, but energetic powerpop with a peculiar heavy guitar sound that makes them differ considerably from other powerpop bands from that era.

There are 16 knockout songs on this LP - and I dare say that that not a single one of them is even half bad! The ultimate standouts have to be "Things you do", Please, Please, Please", "I won't be coming home", "Looking for something", Marching as to war", "The Kids just wanna dance" and the Bowie song "Suffragette City."

All the songs are just fantastic and show how it's supposed to be done. So much pop and so much energy and attitude! The rest of the songs are actually equally good, but perhaps lack a bit in production and recording.

The album is a must in any record collection. 1970's powerpop at it's finest - tight guitars, running bass lines, rockin' drums and high strung British vocals telling stories of everyday teenage life. Haven't you ever thought of "Bombing your school" ...?! What better way to end this review with the title of the album -
Fast Cars ... Coming Ready or Not !!!

Jesper Frydenlund [DENMARK]
http://wondervinylworld.freeservers.com September 2001

.Fast Cars' 'The Kids Just Wanna Dance' is one of those records I taped off the radio in the late 70s and have forever been tryin' to nail a copy (think of Eater if they could actually write a good 'tune'), in fact it took all those years up untill the release of one of those 'Back To Front' LPs that I finally had the thing on vinyl, by then my tape had long since detoriated and hearing the song again for the first time in years I was surprised at how well it had stood the test of time (cept for a few lame drumrolls that is) with it's anthem like chorus and great, typically British, "dry" production. Imagine my surprise when suddenly this LP hit the stores that on closer inspection turned out to be recent recordings of their old set (tho' the original 45 is also included). Obviously such a project usually doesn't stand a chance in hell succeeding, but these guys actually pulled it off. Call it powerpop if you will, this is actually the best UK full-length in ages. Yep that's right, finally here's a disc that comes close to the almighty powers of the early Boys, Undertones or Rezillos. 20 year old material played and recorded as if it was written yesterday, I'll even forgive 'em the occasional double-tracked guitarleads for it.

Jeroen Vedder [HOLLAND]
ORGIE NEWSLETTER #94 October 24 2001

With the name purloined from a track by fellow Mancs., Buzzcocks, Fast Cars were, briefly, pretty big players on the late 70's North West live Circuit.

Although they were unashamed exponents of power-pop and sported hair that crept suspiciously close to the collar, on the strength of their material and energetic live performances, Fast Cars picked up support slots with the likes of the Rezillos, Joy Division, the Jam and, of course, Buzzcocks.

A single, "The Kids Just Wanna Dance", released by Altricham label Streets Ahead, in 1979, was well received and got airplay from John Peel and Peter Powell. But after a proposed deal with Polydor fell through, the band split in 1980.

Now comes a twist in this tale, "The Kids Just Wanna Dance" is now a highly collectable item, particularly in Japan (with copies changing hands for £150), where interest in Fast Cars has never been greater. Indeed, the band have re-formed for live shows in Manchester and Tokyo.

With their usual thoroughness, Detour have unearthed a wealth of unreleased original recordings, and Coming .. Ready Or Not! is bolstered by re-recordings of their originals, plus both cuts from "The Kids Just Wanna Dance."

Sleeve notes are by Radio 1 DJ Mark 'Lard' Riley, who worked with Fast Cars singer Steven Murray in the Sirens, before he and that band left to join the Fall.

Shane Baldwin [UK]
Record Collector magazine [No. 268] December 2001

Die FAST CARS gründeten sich 1977 in Manchester und haben ihren Namen angeblich aus einem BUZZCOCKS - song. Nach ihrer ersten und einzigen single "The Kids Just Wanna Dance" wären sie beinahe von Polydor gesignt worden, doch es wurde nichts draus und so blieb die 7" bis heute die einzige Platte der Briten, für die bescheuerte japanische Sammler wohl schon über £100 geboten haben. Wo Interesse ist, da ist auch ein Markt, und so machte sich Detour Records auf die Suche nach der Band , mit dem Ergebnis, dass jetzt das erste Album der Power-Pop-Punkers erschienen ist. Siebzehn Songs, die bis auf die beiden Singletracks alle unveröffentlicht sind und von denen ein Teil als alte Aufnahme vorliegt, ein anderer Teil aber auch von der Originalbesetzung neu aufgenommen wurde, wobei man den Unterschied kaum hört. Alles in allem wirklich schoner Power-Pop, mit dem kleinen Makel, dass der Gitarrenmann teilweise etwas zu sehr nudelt. Im Booklet gibt's' ne kurze Bandhistory und Abbildungen von Flyern und Zeitungsausschnitten, aber leider keine saubere Aufstellung zum Wann und Wo der Aufnahmen der Songs - immerhin, die klassische 7" scheint in Form der Originalaufnahmen vorzuliegen.

OX Fanzine #45 (Dez - Feb) 2001/ 2 [GERMANY]

FAST CARS: "Coming... Ready or Not" (Detour Rec.). "... us here now in the presence of 17 very convincing pieces. This disc gathers all the demos that the group recorded between 1978 and 1980. Even if certain titles suffer from the weakness of the production, the majority of the album is of an excellent level. If you like Stiff Little Fingers, Buzzcocks and The Chords, this disc is for you... ".

http://site.ifrance.com/wes/fanzine.htm. February 2002. [FRANCE]

Another reissue of forgotten British powerpop from the Detour gang. Fast Cars crank out great hummable tunes in the Buzzcocks tradition, rife with youthful exuberance. A pity that they never attained the succsess they deserved, but here's your chance to correct this.Get this CD before it's a dust cloud in the distance. Covers include soul classic "This Old Heart of Mine" and Bowie's "Suffragette City".
Jack Link. [CANADA]

Caustic Truths! Noizy Music Zine #82 Toronto