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Fire Engines: Hungry Beat (Acute)  
By Matthew Hirtes  
Monday, 08 October 2007

Description:
Their fast-and-furious career spanned 18 months in the early ‘80s, but the Fire Engines’ legacy survives. Bobby Gillespie concedes that “without Fire Engines, Primal Scream would never have existed, and neither would The Jesus and Mary Chain. Everything about them inspired us.”
Which means?
Like an audio version of an episode of Rock Family Trees, Hungry Beat is edutainment at its finest. For not only did Fire Engines begat The ‘Chain and The ‘Scream, they were a major influence on Franz Ferdinand too. To the extent that FF invited Fire Engines to play a Christmas show with them in Glasgow.
Is it much cop?
It’s Taggart at his most redoubtable. Tough, uncompromising, but, at the same time, impossible not to warm to. They only released three singles and a mini-LP, all of which are contained on this new compilation.
How many good tracks?
12 out of 16.
And the worst?
The final four, all of which represent different versions or reprises of what’s already followed. Listening to these, I’m reminded of the time I asked The Beautiful New Born’s Children Michael Beckett why their debut album lasted a mere 22 minutes. “Most records are just too long”, he sighed in reply.
Biggest disappointment?
That someone didn’t prune this album. 12 songs = sufficient. 16 tracks = excessive.
Verdict:
You’ve heard the name. Now’s your chance to hear the music. Quite possibly for the first time, as this material has been out of print since the early ‘90s.
(4/5)
 

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