The Blue Nile

Hats

"Working night and day, I tried to get ahead... but I don't get ahead, this way..." is the opening lyrics from The Blue Nile's magnum opus, the 1989 release "Hats". This definitely sets the tone for what you will get from this album, and to an extent their entire career - windy scottish sophisti-pop with a particular yearnful crooning quality to the voice of Paul Buchanan. The lyrics are mournful, the mood is dim and the sky is dark with only the stars being visible. It's an atmospheric dreamy album that will have you mourning the loss of a relationship, even if you haven't had one!

The Blue Nile spent years trying to create the follow-up to their 1984 debut "A Walk Across the Rooftops" and were not in a good spot when "Hats" released in 1989. It had been five years since their previous release, they were being sued by their record label for the lack of new material, and they were actually sent away from their studio and back to Glasgow in Scotland because another group was recording there, but strangely enough it seemed to help the group refocus, and within a year they were back in the studio and the album was finished up rather quickly.

You'd never think it was the product of such hard labor, because it's a strangely tranquil album, even when at its most anxious moments at the explosive ending of their most iconic song "The Downtown Lights". It's sobering, somber and a great example of not only their writing style but their performances as well. They were around for 20 years and released only four studio albums, because they were self-described perfectionists who wouldn't settle for anything less other than perfect, at least in their eyes. And you can tell that "Hats" is the product of much love, because every note is immaculately placed, every chord is struck gently and with much thought, every vocal line oozes passion and love, even if it's a bit bittersweet, and despite having that reverb-soaked sound of the 1980s all over it... it has aged incredibly well. It's mature, thoughtful love songs that verge into borderline poetry at moments.

The only moment when it sinks in quality even just a little is "Seven A.M." which has not aged very well, but apart from that... wow. It's breathtaking, and the sheer beauty of it is understated more often then not yet still clear to see. "Hats" is an album that requires no investment from the listener, that doesn't require the listener to be thinking about anything in particular to add to the experience... because the emotions write themselves all over these songs. They aren't necessarily depressing or sad, but somber and bittersweet musings about love lost amongst the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. It's so perfect because it's distilled, not one note is wasted on the entire album. That's impressive for 40 minutes of music. The vocals are delicate, the drums are minimal, the arrangements are tender and soft... just sit down, with a cup of tea in hand, put your feet up and soak up the sounds.

"The neons and the cigarettes, rented rooms and rented cars, the crowded streets, the empty bars - chimney tops and trumpets, the golden lights the loving prayer, the coloured shoes the empty trains, I'm tired of crying on the stairs... the downtown lights..."

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