Fourth Drawer Down cover

Fourth Drawer Down

The Associates

Released

1981

Compiling a series of singles they made in the run-up to the release of their monumental album Sulk, Fourth Drawer Down shows the Associates in full creative flow, the partnership of Billy Mackenzie’s astonishing voice and Alan Rankine’s unusual and inspired arrangements in full force. There’s early ’80s UK post-punk and then there’s the giddy hysteria of a song like “Kitchen Person” or “Tell Me Easter’s On Friday” or the cold beauty of “White Car in Germany.”