All records are now trumped by Deux Filles' "Silence And Wisdom." Not a very well-known artifact, but someone did see fit to reissue it on CD in recent times. This 1982 relic is a stunningly beautiful and inventive record as well as quiet subterfuge. Hums and drones give way to loops broken by melodic guitar inventions framed by sound effects and voices. Something of a thinking womyn's Cocteau Twins with loads of surprises and musical footnotes. The Deux Filles in question were Gemini Forque and Claudine Coule (who appear on the cover), and there is a wonderful story of how they came together and formed a feminine bond out of adversity. In reality, this duo turns out to be two perfectly well-adjusted men in drag; none other than Simon Fisher Turner (Derek Jarman soundtracker) and Collin Lloyd Tucker (of The Gadgets/Jeremy's Secret infamy). The marvel of this record (and they've recorded at least one other, equally ingenious) is that I had to be convinced that this was not the product of two expatriate French filles. Someone slipped some vagina into these boys' viagra because this record is dripping with estrogen.

As I become successively codified, I set records across the floor like a mosaic hop-scotch and use said hapless discs to skip over to the stereo, deftly avoiding listening to anything recent or new in favour of drowning my miseries in past sins. On goes one of my favouritest "cranky" albums of all times: The Comsat Angels "BBC Sessions." This somewhat glossed over second string British post-punk group produced some superb proto-goth albums in the early 80's. Leader Stephen Fellows must have had a lot of girl trouble (we ladies pride ourselves in causing nothing but trouble, subsequently fueling silly boys into writing some fantastic songs about the anguish we put them through. Tee hee!), as his lyrics tend to trade heavily in anguished detatchment. Hits like "Total War," "Independence Day," and "Now I Know" are as delightfully pained and angst ridden as any long term relationship. These particular BBC versions are far beefier and live sounding than their studio material. As I visualise my bloodied ex boss, I develop my own black eye from such punchy tune smithing. Warning: only 75% of this album is any good as the last quarter is culled from an errant synthpop period the band went through (apparently Stephen accidentally stumbled on a good relationship, damn him).

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