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High Land, Hard Rain is the debut album by jangle pop band Aztec Camera, released in 1983. Three tracks from the album originally appeared on the Oblivious EP, which reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart when re-released in November 1983.[2] The album itself reached number 22 on the UK Albums Chart.[2]

High Land, Hard Rain
Studio album by Aztec Camera
Released	April 1983
Recorded	September 1982-January 1983
Venue	ICC Studios, Eastbourne
Genre	Jangle pop[1] alternative rock new wave
Length	36:44
Label	Rough Trade
Producer	John Brand, Bernie Clarke
Aztec Camera chronology
High Land, Hard Rain (1983) Knife (1984)

Recording and content

The majority of the album was recorded at the ICC Studios in Eastbourne.[3] The album included two early songs by Roddy Frame, "We Could Send Letters" written in 1979 and "Lost Outside the Tunnel" which was performed by Frame's pre-Aztec Camera band Neutral Blue.[4] The single "Oblivious" was a conscious attempt to write a pop hit.[5] "Down the Dip" was inspired by a local East Kilbride pub located close to Duncanrig Secondary School, Roddy Frame's high school. Originally called "The Diplomat" ("The Dip" for short), it is now called Gardenhall Inn.[6]

Release

Aztec Camera's debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was produced by John Brand and Bernie Clarke for the Rough Trade record label. The album was released in April 1983 and was distributed in different formats on Domino Recording Co. Ltd. in the US (in addition to Sire), WEA and Celluloid in France, Nuevos Medios, Nuevos Medios in Spain, Powderworks in Australia, MVM Records in Portugal, and WEA for a general European release.[7][2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
American Songwriter	[8]
Christgau's Record Guide	A−[9]
Paste	8.7/10[10]
Pitchfork	8.3/10[11]
PopMatters	9/10[12]
Rolling Stone	[13]
Select	5/5[14]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	9/10[15]
Uncut	9/10[16]

The album was successful, garnering significant critical acclaim, and peaked at number 129 on the Billboard 200.[6] Frame later revealed that the song "Oblivious" was consciously written as a Top of the Pops-type pop song and received a corresponding degree of popularity.

Track listing

Personnel

• Roddy Frame – vocals, guitar, harmonica
• Bernie Clarke – piano, organ
• Campbell Owens – bass
• Dave Ruffy – drums, percussion

References

External links

• Domino's page on 30th Anniversary Edition of High Land, Hard Rain

На других языках

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- [en] High Land, Hard Rain

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[es] High Land, Hard Rain

High Land, Hard Rain es el primer álbum del grupo escocés Aztec Camera. Produjo el éxito internacional Oblivious, que alcanzó el puesto #18 en la lista británica de sencillos en noviembre de 1983.

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[it] High Land, Hard Rain

High Land, Hard Rain è l'album d'esordio degli Aztec Camera, pubblicato nell'aprile del 1983. Raggiunse la posizione numero 22 delle classifiche UK. In Italia ottenne ottime recensioni dalla critica ma non ottenne riscontro di pubblico. La versione su CD contiene 3 brani in più rispetto alla versione originale su vinile.

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