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SFX - SFX FEATURING ALAN MURPHY

SFX/SFX FEATURING ALAN MURPHY

Recorded in 1984 at Marquee and Aosis studios, SFX features the late Alan Murphy who worked with Kate Bush, Go West, Scritti Politti and Level 42, among others.

Guitaristmagazine said: 'In October 1989, Alan Murphy died and British music lost one of its newest and - for his years - most respected players. As a top flight sessioneer in the mid-80s, it was Alan's playing which transformed Go West's originally spiritless 'We Close Our Eyes' (among others) into the humming pop nugget that is remembered today, long after Dame Fortune has stopped smiling on the group. His incisive ear and amazing touch turned their music into songs and those songs into hits.

'More success came with Level 42 where the pace was less frenetic but the music was given a higher profile. Backing a man and his bass, Murphy's talents were difficult to ignore, but he was always restricted by someone else's terms, whether Mark King's or Peter Cox's.

'Which is where this album comes in. Written in 1980, 'SFX' was the debut album of Murphy, Felix Krish, Richard Cottle and Tony Beard - themselves called SFX. Go West may have given him more hits and Level 42, more money, but SFX was the only project really to afford Murphy anything like the freedom his talent deserved - hence the album's eventual light-of-day/sight nexus for those eager for a better keepsake

'The songs aren't as impressive as the musicians playing them, but as a memory, the album gives a clearer picture of the man's potential, showing a young, spirited guitarist keen to try anything. The opening cut, Warp Factor 6, depicts the sort of speed needed to keep up with the widdle frenzy in this song; Murphy is hot.

'Retrospectively, Krish's slap style seems perfect preparation for the 42 experience, but on this occasion it is allowed to embroider and enrich, and not nearly suffocated for its troubles.

'Bridge Over Falls Road maintains the mood. A kicking high speed chase, full of the most delicate touches at breakneck speed, the whole sog is very fast but then the solo comes in to show what fast really is. Wow! Nine songs perfected in various pub show environments by four top musicians, this album seemed destined to exist as a record company catalogue number and little more. It took Murphy's death to get it transferred to disc, but transfer it they did, finally giving fans an alternative to those nasty Go West pop singles.'

1. Warp Factor 6 5:31
2. Bridge over Falls Road 3:59
3. Three-Two-Five 5:32
4. April Showers 4:59
5. Summer Night in Wandsworth 4:59
6. Bum from Baghdad 5:52
7. Heavy Bongo 4:28
8. Doom Bap Bap 6:31
9. Six-Eight 4:25
Total Time: 46:28
 
Alan Murphy - guitar
Felix Krish - bass
Richard Cottle - Keyboards and saxophone
Tony 'Bert' Beard - drums

All songs written by SFX.

Produced by the Kippper Brothers for Gay Whale Music.

Recorded 1984 at Marquee and Aosis Studios. Mastered 1993 by Julian Vereker.