Café Jacques – Round The Back

Café Jacques – Round The Back

Café Jacques – Round The Back is a fascinating example of late-1970s British art rock, combining new wave, progressive rock, jazz-influenced arrangements and melodic songwriting. Originally released in 1978, the album showcases the band's sophisticated approach, with intricate musicianship and unconventional song structures sitting alongside a distinctly British sense of character.

The album opens with "Meaningless," setting the tone with its intelligent songwriting and layered arrangements. Their inventive interpretation of "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" follows, before "Sands Of Singapore" and "Farewell My Lovely" add further atmosphere and narrative detail. "Eberehtel" closes the first side with one of the album's more expansive pieces.

Side two continues with "Dark Eyed Johnny" and "Sandra's A Phonie," moving between melodic rock and more experimental territory. "None Of Your Business" and "Crime Passionelle" demonstrate the band's knack for combining sophisticated arrangements with memorable melodies, while the atmospheric "Lifeline" provides an extended closing statement.

Café Jacques emerged during an especially fertile period in British music, when the boundaries between progressive rock, art rock and the emerging new wave movement were becoming increasingly fluid. Their music offers an interesting alternative to the more straightforward punk and pop sounds of the period, favouring musicianship, unusual arrangements and thoughtful songwriting.

For collectors of Café Jacques, British art rock, progressive rock, new wave, cult 1970s albums and obscure UK rock, Round The Back is an intriguing and under-the-radar release from an important transitional period in British music.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Meaningless – 3:52
2. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City – 4:10
3. Sands Of Singapore – 4:19
4. Farewell My Lovely – 4:36
5. Eberehtel – 5:41

Side B

1. Dark Eyed Johnny – 3:38
2. Sandra's A Phonie – 3:07
3. None Of Your Business – 3:30
4. Crime Passionelle – 3:35
5. Lifeline – 6:09