Widely regarded as the first and assured step out of a creative wilderness, 2004's 'Norfolk Coast' blew away the accumulated cobwebs of the previous 10 years. From the opening bars of the title track, it was clear that the band had gone back to the drawing board and returned with something very satisfactory. The elements that made that 'Stranglers sound' were resurrected, Dave's keyboard swirls, JJ's trademark bass rumble and a guitar sound that was at once reassuringly familiar and made even the most jaded old Stranglers fan's head turn.
And key to this about turn was simply that JJ regained interest in the band, and that is what was required.
As the press release at the time put it (and interestingly my comments above were written before I read the release!):
'The lead track off the album, 'Norfolk Coast' typifies all he distinctive signatures of a classic Stranglers song and sets the mood for this quintessential album, which travels through hi-speed rock, driving rhythms, anthemic melodies and occasional, off-the-wall quirkiness Trademark Stranglers qualities, including JJ Burnel's rumbling bass and Dave Greenfield's distinctive keyboard sounds, are captured on record as never before'.
Here's a selection of radio interviews conducted at the time to promote the album.
FLAC: http://we.tl/O3ctwwqP5i
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