Stuart Pearce - Nuclear Football (Guest Review By Martin Carter)

  

I First came aware of Stuart Pearce from Nottingham when Mick kindly sent me a link to their Bandcamp page telling me that they were similar in sound to The Fall whom I've been a diehard fan of since first hearing them in 1978. Without hesitation I clicked on the link and started to listen to some tracks from their debut album "Red Sport International". I could immediately hear the Fall sound influences in some of the tracks but obviously they were more than a direct copy but also had some great ideas of their own and I pre-ordered the red vinyl without hesitation. It is now one of my favourite albums from last year and one I regularly listen to.

(A song from Red Sport International featured here : https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2023/07/stuart-pearce-forza-garibaldi.html)

Onto this new release which has one studio recording "Nuclear Football" which is another great track in the same vein as their previous tracks. An upbeat keyboard led song with great vocals and lyrics on one of their favourite topics "football" . There are four more tracks on the EP which were all recorded live and sound excellent including a live version of the lead track. I would love to see them live at some point in the near future and based on the sound of this it would be well worthwhile. They are back in the Studio in February to record their follow up album according to their Instagram page which I'm already looking forward to hearing. I've always been passionate about music and the older I get finding something that sounds fresh and hits the target gets less and less often but Stuart Pearce are definitely high scorers. The Nuclear Football EP is now available as a digital download on Bandcamp.

https://stuartpearce.bandcamp.com/album/nuclear-football

This is Nuclear Football...

Stuart Pearce - Forza Garibaldi

  

  Do you remember back in the UK 80's - 90's when hard as nails left back Stuart Pearce was tackling his way around football pitches for Nottingham Forest and England whilst Mark E Smith & The Fall were at the height of their popularity turning out classic album's such as This Nation's Saving Grace and Bend Sinister alongside chart bothering singles such as Victoria and Free Range? You do? Good, as it maybe makes this opening paragraph worthwhile.

  It's a slightly clumsy way of tying Nottingham post punks Stuart Pearce (https://www.facebook.com/stuart.pearce.560) and Prestwich legends The Fall together as there's no shying away from the fact that by listening to the former you're reminded of the latter. But look beyond the MES/Fall comparisons and there's a hell of a lot more going on besides.

  The debut album by Stuart Pearce is out now, it's titled Red Sport International and it demands your attention. All the way through from the opening track (which I'm featuring below) to the excellent Union Man (which brings proceedings to an ends) we're treated to a wonderful collection of songs which are both familiar and fresh. It's available on red vinyl (pre order), cassette and digital download from Safe Suburban Home Records. 

https://stuartpearce.bandcamp.com/album/red-sport-international

  Bouncy, upbeat and beginning with a lyrical proclamation of No No No No Nazis Here, this is Forza Garibaldi...