High Land, Hard Rain

High Land, Hard Rain
Studio album by Aztec Camera
Released	April 1983
Genre	Jangle pop, alternative rock, new wave
Length	45:25
Label	Sire
Producer	John Brand, Bernie Clarke
Aztec Camera chronology
High Land, Hard Rain (1983) Knife (1984)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	A−[2]
Rolling Stone	[3]
Pitchfork Media	8.3/10[4]
Popmatters	9/10[5]
Uncut	9/10[6]

High Land, Hard Rain was 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 in November 1983.^[7] The album itself reached number 22 on the UK Albums Chart.^[7] The majority of the album was recorded at the ICC Studios in Eastbourne. "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.^[8]

Track listing

All songs written by Roddy Frame.

1. "Oblivious" 3:05
2. "The Boy Wonders" 3:10
3. "Walk Out to Winter" 3:20
4. "The Bugle Sounds Again" 2:50
5. "We Could Send Letters" 5:40
6. "Pillar to Post" 3:55
7. "Release" 3:38
8. "Lost Outside the Tunnel" 3:35
9. "Back on Board" 4:50
10. "Down the Dip" 2:10

reissue CD Bonus Tracks (1991)

1. "Haywire" (from Rough Trade release 12"single RT122T "Oblivious")
2. "Orchid Girl" (from Rough Trade release 12"single RT122T "Oblivious")
3. "Queen's Tattoos" (from Rough Trade release 7"single RT112T "Pillar to Post")

EDSEL reissue CD Bonus Tracks (2012)

1. "Queen's Tattoos"
2. "Haywire"
3. "Orchid Girl"
4. "Set the Killing Free"
5. "Oblivious [12" mix]"
6. "Walk Out To Winter [12" extended version]"
7. "Oblivious [12" extended remix]"

AED reissue Bonus 7" (2013)

1. "Boy Wonders (Capitol Radio Session)"
2. "Release (Capitol Radio Session)"
3. "We Could Send Letters (C81 Version)" (from Cassette Tape "NME/ROUGH TRADE C81")
4. "The Bugle Sounds Again (Bedroom Demo)"

Domino reissue 30th Anniversary Edition Bonus Tracks (2014)

1. "Pillar to Post (original single version)"
2. "Queen's Tattoos"
3. "Orchid Girl"
4. "Haywire"
5. "Walk Out to Winter (7") (Tony Mansfield version)"
6. "Set the Killing Free"
7. "Back on Board (live on CFNY)"
8. "We Could Send Letters (live on CFNY)"
9. "Walk Out To Winter (Kid Jensen Session)"
10. "Down the Dip (Kid Jensen Session)"
11. "Back on Board (Kid Jensen Session)"
12. "Release (Kid Jensen Session)"
13. "Walk Out to Winter (John Brand unreleased single mix)"
14. "Walk Out to Winter (12") (Tony Mansfield version)"
15. "Oblivious (Colin Fairley remix)"
16. "Oblivious (Langer/Winstanley remix)"

Personnel

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

References

1. Raggett, Ned.Aztec Camera: High Land, Hard Rain – review. Allmusic
2. Robert Christgau review
3. Rolling Stone review
4. Heller, Jason.Aztec Camera: High Land, Hard Rain – review. Pitchfork. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
5. Folland, Richard. Aztec Camera: High Land Hard Rain (Deluxe Edition). Popmatters. 21 February 2014.
6. McKay, Alastair. Aztec Camera – reissues. Uncut.
7. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 35. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
8. "ecosse19" (Richard). "AZTEC CAMERA-DOWN THE DIP" (Web site).

External links

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