Octo_Russ

Liz Horsman [Heavy High]

Well what can i say about Liz Horsman's Heavy High?, except that it's one of the most underestimated albums ever, everything about it screams 'hit', but i believe this album was a major flop commercially, even to the point that the label didn't want to release another album by her, [she's now called Liz Spencer].

I saw many copies of this album in second hand shops in London in the early nineties, and that's were i got mine, going real cheap, seems like lots of people didn't like the album, that's why lots were being flogged, even today, this album is available for 1p on Amazon, and you can pick up a copy on Ebay for £2 including postage, this is criminal considering it's real worth, and second hand copies passing hands don't create any royalties for Liz Horsman [ok so i'm a culprit as well, but i hope this review redeems me].

I bought this mainly because i was mesmerized by the booklet cover, what a truly astonishing and stunning portrait of Liz in a bath of milk! [ok it's probably not milk, but that's what the pic implies - photography by Adrian Green], this must be one of the very best front cover pics ever, even the wording is nicely laid out.

But it's the music that is the real star, it's a quintessentially English album, even a degree of cockney, Liz's accent stands out as an asset, it starts with the title track 'Heavy High', and i believe this was the first single to promote the album, and here's the albums downfall in a way, the opening few tracks are some of the weakest on the album [though even the weak tracks are strong mind you], this isn't the best of Liz Horsman, anyone playing these tracks might come to a false conclusion of the albums worth, and miss out on the later hidden gems, the 3 tracks that are absolute stunners are 8-10, each of them are wonderful vignettes of life, lyrically full of stories and interest, but musically even more so, Liz Horsman is a Singer-Songwriter of distinction.

On this listen the track that impressed me the most is track 10 'Dive', the drums [Chuck Sabo] are fantastic, nicely paced and quite loud, lead guitar jangly enough, and of course Liz's voice strong, very addictive, this is real Rock, here are the lyrics,

Look at you, you simple thing

i've been watching you move in

practising your big man walk

talking your designer talk

hanging from the microphone

dizzy little kind of moan

tip your head onto one side

close your eyes enjoy the ride

you're a real superstar

little girls against the bar

And they could dive into, dive into you

are you deep as well as shallow?

dive into, dive into you

are you deep as well as shallow

That's not what it is today

he can shout but he can't play

he's so proud of his homeland

reminds me of another band

keep it simple keep it plain

they give you more of the same

every word and every pose

going up the boss's nose

wouldn't want to lose his art

never had it from the start

And they could dive into, dive into you

are you deep as well as shallow?

dive into, dive into you

are you deep as well as shallow?

dive into, dive into you

are you deep as well as shallow?

dive into, dive into you

are you deep as well as shallow?

dive into, dive into you

are you deep as well as shallow?

dive into, dive into you

are you deep as well as shallow?

Lastly just want to to say it's a great shame that Liz Horsman has been lost in obscurity, the internet hardly mentions her, here's a valuable gem lost on a pebble beach, among all the worthless stones.

Here's Liz Horsman singing 'I Try' on YouTube.