The Other Side of the Fence

While released by Independent Project Records in 1990, The Other Side of the Fence collected recordings made by the Abecedarians prior to their transatlantic debut on Factory Records with the epochal “Smiling Monarchs” single in 1985. Per the band’s liner notes on the collection, they felt the versions of the songs here, as separate from later versions on releases like Eureka, ‘more accurately captured the soul of the band,’ and there’s little question that they showed the Orange County, CA group to be in truly absolute but thoroughly accomplished thrall to the general vein of early 80s UK postpunk they clearly loved. There’s no early “Smiling Monarchs” itself, but from the opening “Beneath The City of the Hedonistic Bohemians” with its nervous John Blake bass line and gently heroic echoed guitar by Chris Manecke, not to mention the rushed drums from Kevin Dolan and Manecke’s lightly intense but never overbearing singing, any listener is in good hands. Hearing Manecke’s occasional keyboards add gentle texture on songs like “Come Out” is another plus, while “Switch” showcases a peppier New Wave side.