Don’t Leave Me Reviews
RELEASED 22 MAY 1989
12″ single (SUMS 6)
Reviews
New Musical Express, 20 May 1989
If a definable ‘C86 sound’ ever existed, then Rumblefish have captured it perfectly. ‘Exquisite summery pop’ chirps the press release, which is a sensibly succinct way of describing their jangles-in-the-jacuzzi, Bodines-in-the-bathroom bop. And Rumblefish have been rumbled – that middle guitar segment is a slice of Aztec Camera’s ‘Pillar To Post’ and I claim my 50 francs. Like John Moore, what galls here is the woeful lack of lyrical drama, ‘Don’t Leave Me’ is sung in a ‘well-I-don’t-give-a-flying-f—-whether-you-stay-or-not kind of way’, ie with all the emotion of an undernourished aardvark. But let us not split hairs, I’ve few enough left as it is. Pop song of the weak (sic).
Brum Beat, June 1989
Sunshine days are finally here and to celebrate along comes the long delayed Rumblefish 12″ on Summerhouse, raved over here about a year ago. To remind you, ‘What You Do To Me’ and ‘Beachsong’ and is the best thing they’ve recorded. Thank you and move over, Roddy Frame. And congrats too to the newly-wed Jeremy Paige. Now give him a honeymoon hit.
Melody Maker, 3 June 1989
Pulling out all the emotional stops in their guitar wrench-a-heart-by-numbers songbook, this intriguingly memorable slice of melancholy recalls distant Postcards, sullied slightly by coming from Bristol and not South London. And if that’s not cryptic enough for you … well. This one I’ll have to find a dear friend to care for.
Music Week, 3 June 1989
The less-than-prolific, but always worth-waiting-for, Rumblefish turn up with a striking four track EP complete with a shimmering, summery title track of elegant and unforgettable pop, along with a breezy slice of light funk and two harder-edged numbers.
Sounds, 10 June 1989
Named after the incontestably worst film ever made in the history of life, Rumblefish potter about with Marc Almond soundalike Jeremy Paige musing his way through four forgettable tracks with homespun titles like ‘That’s What I Say’ and ‘What You Do To Me’.
Demi Pop Noise, Autumn 1989
Das nenne ich Timing. Pünktlich zum Sommeranfang kam Rumblefish mit einer dermassen leichtfüssigen EP daher, wie sie nur eine Band wie Orange Juice hätte zustande bringen können. Das ist der Pop, den wir aus Cabrios klingen hören woollen, aus den Walkmans in der U-Bahn und den Ghettoblastern in der Stadt!