Saturday, October 18, 2025

Fixed Up - Vital Hours (1987, I.D./Closer)

I just can't escape the specter of 1987.  I've already posted two more titles from that year in recent weeks, but it's more coincidence than anything else.  And I can't say this French trio necessarily sounded like a product of their era, barely echoing the more mainstream foundations thereof.  Vital Hours is my first (and perhaps last) encounter with Fixed Up, whose dense aplomb wasn't straight-up garage punk, but at moments they resemble a nuanced hybrid of Lime Spiders bumping elbows with Hanoi Rocks. Fixed Up aren't exactly reinventing the wheel, but why futz with the formula considering such driving rave-up as "Purple Flashes" and the grand trifecta of tunes that close out Vital...? To my ears, the brass section augmented to "The Limit of a Legend" and "One Night Stand" makes for something of a fly in the ointment, as these chaps were in no way, shape or form The Saints.  That aside, other than a little sameness no complaints.

01. Purple Flashes
02. My Love For You
03. What's the News Today?
04. Between Her Hands
05. Speed Ahead
06. The Limit of a Legend
07. One Night Stand
08. Taste of Love
09. Physical World
10. Have You Ever Felt The Creeping Fear
11. Red Hot
12. Teenage Power

5 comments:

Neal said...

if you haven't before, check out their song "who is innocent?" i like most of their stuff, but that song and bassline are especially memorable.

Rev. Dave said...

I knew the name sounded familiar... I have a version of this from Angelo at PPC from years back. His version was taken from an LP, is this one from a CD?

spavid said...

I took this from my own LP. Didn't realize Angelo had put this up as well.

Rev. Dave said...

Yes, but don't worry, his post is from 2007 and the link is dead, so I don't think anyone will get mad at you for making your own. I also have a version from the Sons of the Dolls blog (RIP to Midnight Rambler) from 2008, which added bonus tracks from various singles and EPs. I can send either of those versions to you if you like? Blogs like them and your own were a big part of expanding my musical collection and knowledge back in those days.

Jim H. said...

I think Citadel Records in Australia picked up 'What's The News Today' for a 45 or a comp track in the 80s......