Adorable, the Coventry, England band that formed in 1990, consists of Pete Fijalkowski, Robert Dillam, Stephen "Wil" Williams, and Kevin Gritton. After the breakout single "Sunshine Smile," Adorable signed with Creation, and Against Perfection is the group's 1993 debut. With heavy instrumentation and Fijalkowski's harrowed, melancholic voice, the album is recognized as a standout from the '90s, and it bridges shoegaze, at its peak at the time of the record's release, with Britpop, the emerging scene that was a few years out. From the opener "Glorious," Adorable sets a certain tone that runs through the 10-tracker: "I don't need you or anyone / and the feeling is glorious." It's a "statement of attitude and intent that set Adorable apart from many other Uk bands of the time," and tracks like "Favourite Fallen Idol," supposedly a sub at its heroes Morrissey & Ian McCulloch, further showcase the outfit's sass. An impressive first project from a perhaps lesser known but no less important '90s act, an essential pick-up for fans of shimmery guitar textures, feedback noise, and lush vocals. Check out "Crash Sight," "Homeboy," "Sistine Chapel Ceiling," and "Breathless."

• flaming vinyl
• 1500 numbered copies
• 180g pressing
• includes insert
• music label: Music On Vinyl 1993 / 2018

reviewed by rei kwondo 08/18