Hefner: Best Of Hefner (CD on Select Label)

Band: Hefner
Label: Select Label
Title: Best Of Hefner

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Band:Hefner
Title:Best Of Hefner
Reviewed By:Anthony Strutt
Date Published:13/04/2006

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Format:CD
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Hefner split after releasing their fifth album ‘Dead Media’ which found them for the first and last time experimenting with electronica. It was not really the place for them to go, as they had made their career out of playing variations of the Velvet Underground’s. ‘Sister Ray’. Most of the early tracks on this compilation have that familiar Reed/Cale rhythm,

Hefner were vocalist and guitarist Darren Hayman ; drummer Antony Harding, (whom now records delicate Leonard Cohen fragile style pieces in Sweden, where he is now based under the moniker of Ant) ; bassist John Morrison and latterly multi instrumentalist, Jack Hayter whom added pedal steel guitar and violin amongst other instrumentation to the Hefner sound.

‘The Best of Hefner 1996-2002’ is the first of two albums which will be released by Hefner this year. A new rarities album and double CD called 'Catfight' will feature bedroom demos and material recorded for an unreleased sixth album as well as album out takes.

It opens up with the A side of their first 7” single 'A Better Friend' which was recorded in Greenwich during what was only the second time of the band playing together. It is minimal in tone but the band jam well on it. You can already see several of Hefner's trademarks and Darren’s lyrical concerns coming into focus. Hefner's early songs and the ones that made their fan base swell were about London life and especially singledom. Darren's songs during this period were as important as the early output by The Smiths, but whereas Morrissey would be holed up in his room, Darren’s songs find him out shagging every woman available, and then using it for song material.

‘Christian Girls’ and ‘Pull Yourself Together’, the version of which here comes from a Melody Maker tape only version, are both so close to the rhythms of ‘Sister Ray’ that the Velvets could sue. Darren’s vocals make both these songs basic and lo-fi.

‘The Sweetness Lies Within’ is better paced with chopping guitars and develops a strong groove. ‘The Sad Witch’ follows and was a live favourite. ‘Hello Kitten’ tells of a time when the girls were obsessed with their Hello Kitty bags and is one of the many songs on here about sex. ‘Lee Remick’ which follows was their second single and is about growing up and family ties.

‘The Hymn for the Cigarettes’ and then ‘The Hymn for the Alcohol’ are great tributes to both and also involve a lot of sex. ‘I Too Her for Granted’ finds the band getting into grooves for the first time, while ‘Don't Flake Out On Me’ is a bittersweet, duet and sounds like a Drugstore number.

‘I Love Only You’ has unusually for Hefner scratching and samples on it, while ‘Good Fruit’ was a duet with Amelia Fletcher and was a hit for the band. It wasn’t, however, one of their better songs. ‘The Greedy Ugly People’ was a great live song but again on record again works less well.

‘Painting and Kissing’ is about how Darren met his wife and his courting of her. ‘The Greater London Radio’ is a tribute to one of the earliest indie stations which was at 94.4. It is still there but has a new name and now is sports and news based. ‘The Day that Thatcher Dies’ has a strong riff, a funky bass line and a great dance beat to it, but again worked better live.

It ends with 3 songs from ‘Dead Media’ –‘Alan Bean’, ‘When the Angels Play Their Drum Machines’ and ‘Home’ and it’s easy to see why that killed off the band.

‘The Best of Hefner 1996-2002’ is definitely worth seeking out for their early material. This is a great introduction to a group who were at one point the smallest biggest band in Britain

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Excellent compilation CD from London-based guitar band Hefner, who were at one point the biggest small band in britain

Darren Hayman:Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In 'Ten Songs that Made Me Love...', Ben Howarth writes of his favourite songs by singer-songwriter and ex-Hefner front man, Darren Hayman

Hefner:Dead Media
Ben Howarth examines the case for Hefner's much criticised-at-the-time 2001 electronic-influenced and final album, 'Dead Media', which has just been reissued in a new double CD edition

Hefner:We Love the City
In our 'Re:View' series, in which our writers rrflect on albums from the past, Ben Howarth looks at Hefner's 'We Love the City', which originally released in 2000, has just been reissued in a new double CD edition

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Catfight - CD
Enjoyable 43 track double CD compilation of unreleased material from much missed indiepop group, Hefner

Best Of Hefner - CD
Excellent compilation CD from London-based guitar band Hefner, who were at one point the biggest small band in britain

We Love The City - CD

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Darren Hayman:Interview
As he prepared for the release of 'Home Time', his 17th album, Darren Hayman speaks to Ben Howarth about his most personal album and his reflections on the end of his epic, award-winning 'Thankful Villages' project.

Jack Hayter:Interview
Former Hefner member Jack Hayter speaks to Ben Howarth about his new album which was inspired by a year spent living in the suburb of Abbey Wood, which soon to change with the arrival of a new train line, is on the borders of outer London and Kent.

Darren Hayman:Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In 'Ten Songs that Made Me Love...', Ben Howarth writes of his favourite songs by singer-songwriter and ex-Hefner front man, Darren Hayman

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