October 29th 1990
By 1990, Paul Heaton had perfected the art of sounding chipper while quietly reminding us that life is largely disappointing. Choke, their second album, is a masterclass in middle-England melancholy — cheerful brass, bitter lyrics, and the sort of charm only found in pubs with sticky carpets and functioning jukeboxes.
It’s the record that gave them their only UK No.1 single, A Little Time — a deceptively sweet duet between Dave Hemingway and Briana Corrigan that’s really about resentment, loneliness, and the awkward space between “it’s over” and “I told you so.” It’s kitchen-sink pop for grown-ups who know love doesn’t always end with a fade-out.
My Book finds Heaton writing his own obituary in the third person, Tonight I Fancy Myself is the sound of a man whose confidence has had one too many pints, and Let Love Speak Up Itself brings the tempo down to something heartbreakingly honest. It’s a quietly devastating song that proves behind all the sarcasm, Heaton was still capable of genuine tenderness.
Mike Hedges’ production gives it polish without losing the bite — radio-friendly, but still clever enough to make you feel smug for liking it.
As for the cover, it’s an abstract piece showing tall, skeletal figures — a hazy, dreamlike image that matches the tone of the record. Gone is the shock factor of the debut’s pistol-pointing artwork; Choke looks like it’s been painted at sunset after one too many gins, which is somehow perfectly apt for The Beautiful South.
Looking back, this is where they truly found their rhythm — the sweet spot between pop accessibility and lyrical cynicism. Nobody else was making songs that could soundtrack both a wedding disco and a nervous breakdown quite so effectively.
Standouts: A Little Time, My Book, Let Love Speak Up Itself, Tonight I Fancy Myself
Verdict: Tuneful despair, beautifully wrapped.
Track listing:
- “Tonight I Fancy Myself” – 3:26
- “My Book” – 3:18
- “Let Love Speak Up Itself” – 5:04
- “Should’ve Kept My Eyes Shut” – 3:27
- “I’ve Come for My Award” – 3:14
- “Lips” – 1:11
- “I Think the Answer’s Yes” – 5:15
- “A Little Time” – 3:00
- “Mother’s Pride” – 2:03
- “I Hate You (But You’re Interesting)” – 3:46
- “The Rising of Grafton Street” – 3:05
Link to the album:- https://open.spotify.com/album/2F8dMI1DLUSc8bOh3pj594