Track Listing

1. Norfolk Coast
2. Big Thing Coming
3. Long Black Veil
4. I've Been Wild
5. Dutch Moon
6. Lost Control
7. Into The Fire
8. Tuckers Grave
9. I Don't Agree
10. Sanfte Kuss
11. Mine All Mine

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #88815 in Music
• Released on: 2004-02-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks

Amazon.co.uk Review
Always an incendiary live proposition but latterly a lame duck in the recording studio, punk vets the Stranglers have drawn breath and duly re-emerge having given themselves a collective leathery kick up the backside. Norfolk Coast is the rather exceptional result, a record that finds the "Meninblack" the unlikely beneficiaries of renewed music industry confidence (they've re-signed to EMI) and quite possibly qualifies as their finest album in two decades. Indeed, at times, thanks to the fresh powerhouse clarity of Mark Wallis and Dave Ruffy's contemporary production, old times seem rendered anew.

Jean-Jacques Burnel's pernicious bass snarl and Dave Greenfield's swirling, lysergical keyboard embellishments rank higher in the band's priorities than at any time since 70s classics such as "No More Heroes" or "Black and White" while new guitar recruit (and active song contributor) Baz Warne and singer Paul Roberts darken the mood with an economical but disquieting relish.

Suicide, psychosis, crime-of-passion, bereavement, self-immolation and extra-terrestrial intervention is familiar topical ground but the songs rediscover the pop quirkiness that has kept pieces such as "Always the Sun", "Peaches" and "Golden Brown" evergreen in the public consciousness. To this effect, "Big Thing Coming", "Lost Control", the bouncing Iraqi WMD protest of "I Don't Agree" and the self-effacing mischief of "I've Been Wild" (a look back at some of the band's pugnacious altercations with the rock literati) are full-on radio-friendly pop rockers. Gentler, jazzier moments such as "Dutch Moon" and "Sanfte Kuss" (featuring Levellers' fiddler Jon Sevink) and the sullen intrigue of "Long Black Veil" reconfirm the band's breadth of vision.

Norfolk Coast generates a rationality, a vigour and a melodic proclivity that may undermine the bunker mentality of those who persist in sanctifying the early albums with Hugh Cornwell. Frankly, those who thought the Stranglers had already written all their greatest songs may well have to think again. --Kevin Maidment

CD Description
Fifteenth studio album from Guilford-formed punk survivors.'Norfolk Coast' was co-produced by former U2 and Travis collaborator, Mark Wallis. The single, 'Big Thing Coming', is included.

Customer Reviews

Great return
The first studioalbum with the third Stranglers line up is indeed a real treat. In the last five years only a live album (5 Live 01) and a great semi-acoustic album with highlights of their career (Laid Black)were released, not to mention a load of compilations but now it's time for the real thing.
I must say it's the best album they did for many many years. Baz Warne's guitar riffs are powerful, Dave Graanfield's keys are back going all over the place and JJ's bass hasn't been recorded this good since god knows how long.
The songs are a very good mix of hardhitting rock with pop-sensibility (Big Thing Coming, Norfolk Coast), jazzy romantic (Sanfte Kuss, Dutch Moon) and haunting atomospheric (Tuckers Grave). I must say there are one or two songs that i'm not too fond of (I don't agree, Lost Control) since they are ok rocky songs but lack the special feel the other songs give me but overall: great album that shows the Stranglers are still one of the greatest bands!

Return Of The Meninblack
Previous years studio releases from ageing new wave rockers, The Stranglers, have failed to live up to expectations. The group had struggled to capture the tunesmithery and punky sneer of years gone by but at last have produced an album which bucks that trend.

'Norfolk Coast' is a return to the party for an oddball group, shunned by the music establishment for being "too different" and ignored by the punks for being too old. The usual philosophy being that if it can't be pigeon-holed then it ain't worth talking about, but hopefully justice will prevail following this exceptional release from the group.

From the supercharged atmospheric title track to the last, 'Norfolk Coast' is a mazy trip through suicide, alienation in the city, the occult and second comings, all set to that classic Stranglers sound of rasping bass, barmy telecaster twangs and bubbling, hypnotic keyboards. The haunting album cover conjures up images of forbidden medieval rituals along the Norfolk Coast at dawn resplendant with the Stranglers in traditional black garb, staring sinisterly into camera. All in all, a pretty complimentary cover shot, indicative of the music contained within.

Within this album, all those great Stranglers hallmarks are indulged once again, shifted along by their tongue-in-cheek sardonic lead singer of 14 years, Paul Roberts. This album is the one which should see many detractors of the band eat their scornful words following Hugh Cornwell's abrupt departure way back in the summer of 1990 after 16 years service.

'Norfolk Coast' deserves more recognition that it's likely to get from the Stalinist music media but being perhaps the only real mavericks remaining in an industry spoiled by hype and gimmickery, The Stranglers can take comfort in knowing they finally scored the last minute clincher before the full time whistle was blown. Dig out your Doc Martens and pogo to the rejuvenated sound of The Stranglers as it's been long overdue.

Best band on Earth return to form
Its been a while since I've played a Stranglers album over and over again. Since this CD landed on my doorstep, 8am Tues 17th Feb, I've been playing it repeatedly.

It kicks off with a stomping bass, (c) JJ Burnel 2004, kicking title track, Norfolk Coast that is intertwined with the ace guitar licks of Baz Warne, the mighty organ of Dave Greenfield and the artisan rock solid drums of Jet Black.

This is the first album with Paul Roberts that I've enjoyed listening to his singing. The "new" boy done good. Take Big Thing Coming for example, not only is this an excellent track but Mr Roberts gives us a good aural message.

Ok, it was heartbreaking following the departure of Huge Cornball, but now its the 14th year since and I'm beginning not to miss him in the Stranglers and instead quite enjoy his solo albums Guilty and Hi-Fi.

Anyone who moans about the Stranglers sounding like the Stranglers really needs to ask themselves, "why?"

Long live the Stranglers!