I ordered this signed copy of "Take Her Up To Monto" from Róisín's website in 2016. As the release date approached I received an email from the web-store to the effect of, "Your record will be late and it won't come signed. How do you like those apples?"
To say I was miffed is an understatement, but as the web-store message was totally unapologetic and didn't offer us any other options, I thought it was something I would just have to suck up. However, I hadn't anticipated an intervention by Róisín herself who sent an email a few days later apologising and telling us that, not only would our record come signed, but it would also include a free art print as an apology.
It later transpired that the records Róisín had originally signed had become damaged and nobody thought to tell the artist herself until after customers received the dismissive email. Anyway, everything turned out well in the end and I emerged with a new found admiration for Róisín herself (if not Townsend music).
The fact that this is another collaboration with Eddie Stevens signals it won't be an easy ride, but thankfully this record takes a different approach to its predecessor "Hairless Toys". The opening track "Mastermind" has some fabulous arpeggios and disco style synth toms that instantly suggest there will be more electronics on this album. Whilst "Pretty Gardens" and "Thoughts Wasted" belong in the "weird" category, they are entertaining and even quite moving in places. Róisín indulges in her predilection for basso-nova beats with "Lip Service" which is a fun way to finish the fist side.
There are some fat synths and booming beats on "Ten Miles High" before things slow down for the dreamy synth textures and fabulous vocals of "Whatever". Almost every song on this track is better than the previous album as even the more mundane compositions have an electronic sound. This is evident on the last three tracks which veer into more experimental waters but employ really interesting synth textures and beats rather than using acoustic drums or mundane band recordings. So this isn't a perfect album but it is an improvement on what went before. 3/5
