Search - Durutti Column :: Return of the Dc

The humble beginnings of Vini Reilly's long career

coimhthioch | 08/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1979's 'Return of' album kicked off the unique career of Vini Reilly. Originally an undistinguished post-punk group (only one recording, 2 songs on a long deleted 2 x 7" called 'The Factory Sampler') the band split (eventually the drummer and bassist joining Simply Red !!)and Vini was booked into a studio for just three days with maverick Joy Division producer Martin Hannett. The story goes that Hannett had just bought a new synth and was more interested in playing around with that than recording Reilly. However Reilly spontaneously came up with 'Sketch for Summer' after hearing the bird-like noises Hannett had concocted, and incredibly 7 other loose improvisations, mixing Reilly's fluid guitar with Hannetts primitive beats before the two got fed up with each other. (By the way Trk 7 and 9 are identical, just put through different effects.) This CD also includes two tracks by Hannett on his synth and DC's first single. The whole mood is wistful and vaguely melancholic, but due to the circumstances of its recording spontaneous and organic. I love it very much, and love to hear how groups start out, although a first time buyer might want to first check out DC's following release 'LC'."

Reilly and Hannett's Timeless Masterpiece

Thomas Horan | Chapel Hill, NC | 01/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Albums, like books, should never be judged by their covers, and the rough, sandpaper sleeve that originally housed The Return of the Durutti Column was the complete antithesis of the graceful jazz guitar music found within. This record was recorded and produced over a three day period back in 1978 by the legendary Martin Hannett. Hannett was just discovering the unknown pleasures and possibilities of synthesizers and the strange beats and vibrations he generated inspired some of Vini Reilly's loveliest improvisations. This is a simple album of instrumental tracks, yet it displays such astonishing depth. Vini Reilly's guitar style reminds me so much of the gorgeous arpeggiations that characterized Johnny Marr's best work with The Smiths. And the remastering, bonus tracks, and narrative liner notes make a perfect album more than perfect. Sometimes 5 stars just aren't enough."

Really cool, pretty ambient guitar soundz

Thomas Horan | 01/03/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The Return of the Durruti Column" was my introduction to the work of Vini Reilly / Durruti Column. A friend of mine played it for me in Brisbane, Australia, and I loved it so much I made a tape of it and listened to it over and over again as I travelled through the tropical rainforest and pristine beaches of Far North Queensland. It went very well with the landscape.Nowadays we might call the sound "electronica" and/or "ambient," and both those terms apply to a certain extent. But unlike most recent ambient-type music, which is very electronic in origin, the Durruti Column's sound is built around the wonderful guitar-playing of Vini Reilly, processed a bit, often accompanied only by what I take to be a drum machine. The result is spare, quiet and measured almost to the point of being ambient, but is much more melodic than most of the current wave of ambient music.I really dig it. If you want to make a very cool and slightly bent combo, do what I did and record "Return" on one side and Thin Marble Giant's "Colossal Youth" on the other."