Julian Cope
Album: Saint Julian
Label: Universal
Tracks: 10+14
Website: http://www.headheritage.co.uk/

Everyone's favourite antiquarian, Julian Cope, gets a few old gems of his own unearthed with his post Teardrop Explodes, solo artist defining, 1987 classic album "Saint Julian" getting a repackaged release in Deluxe form.

This was arguably his most commercial release, the closest he ever got to breaking into the mainstream top ten and yet, despite its accessibility, it remained an uncompromising album that was packed with short, chop backed tunes and pithy ironic lyrics, long before the word ironic was hijacked.

Longevity is the true test of any album and twenty five years after the event, the opening bars of "Eve's Volcano" have lost none of their impact almost like they've been held in stasis. The same is true of the other well known tracks from the album, "World Shut Your Mouth" and the title track "Saint Julian", the only slight disappointment was revisiting "Trampolene", which whilst good has somehow managed to lose its edge when so much around that track has retained it

As with all Deluxe releases, it's the extras that really define the album, particularly if you've already got the album, albeit on vinyl. Here there's plenty for fan and curious alike. Naturally there are the alternate mixes of the songs from the original album, but the highlight has to be the eight song stint at the start of the bonus cd, delivering a series of lesser known b-sides and unreleased, all of which seem more than capable of holding their own.

"Saint Julian" was Cope's most accessible album in the day and has proved to have timeless qualities. This really does have something for the fans and those tempted to try something new. Grab yourselves a copy of the Deluxe addition, age can sort wheat from chaff.

Neil King