The La's are
the great lost Liverpool talent - a group with untold promise and one
definitive moment. Led by the eccentric perfectionist Lee Mavers, their erratic reputation even spawned the
untrue rumour that they wanted a studio mixing desk with 1960's dust.
They were a
throwback to 1960s Merseybeat of short, crafted pop songs with the prerequisite
Byrds jingle jangle. Incidentally their name relates to the scouse expression
for lad or mate, rather than any affection for Los Angeles.
"There
She Goes" had been initially released as a single in 1988, but with no
success. The group were unhappy with the attempt to capture their sound, a tendency
that would mar their short career. It finally went into the UK top 20 in 1990,
after a remix by the producer Steve Lillywhite.
Like
"Another Girl Another Planet",
it is another song that could concern
love or drugs. The latter more credible with the lines "Pulsing
through my veins" and "heal my pain". There can be hints at an obsessional
love ("Racing through my brain"), or that could just be addiction? Mavers
stated his heroin issues post-dated its writing.
Either way, it
is a great pop song - dispensing any verses, for just the thrill of the killer chorus.
Mavers' voice soaring on the "goes", with acoustic guitar guiding the
compact backing.
The recording
of their album was similarly tortuous, and the final release was disowned too.
The bass player John Power soon departed to form Cast, part of a Britpop scene,
that acknowledged "There She Goes" as an influence.
There have
been occasional concert reformations, remixed rereleases and alternate takes, and
but no new material. A second album is eagerly awaited (as long as Liverpool's
premiership - Everton fan Mavers would like that), but it seems unlikely.
"There
She Goes" is now established as upbeat regular on radio, TV and movies. We can
regret the La's lost potential, but then maybe she should be very grateful for
this one wonderful realisation.
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZXLLMbJdZ4
Hear Next -
Only one album - so just listen to the great "The La's" album
- even if they hated it.
