Pelican West

Easy listen. Fantastic Day is a banger. Weirdly, switches a bit Spanish at the end

Every song sounded the same.

Fun album! Much more listenable and sophisticated than flock of seagulls in my opinion

Wow! Sonic Seduction made a new wave album and it got on this list!

good vibe. never heard of them before

pretty cool.

Enjoyed the instrumental side of this, though some dragged on a bit

New wave Brit pop? Yes. Essential? No.

This was ok, it wasn't anything crazy but good

850+ albums into this journey and the singer sounds like every other British new wave singer from the 80s. I think that’s why none of the numerous new wave albums on this list have resonated with me.

I like a lot of 80s new wave / new romantic stuff, but this album mostly just went in one ear and out of the other. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, Fantastic Day was the only song I'd listen to again though and that was merely decent, not great.

This was fine.

There was nothing great or bad. It's a fun album at times. Nothing groundbreaking.

It was solid 80s entry that reflected the music of the time. But didn't blow me away.

A surprisingly good album, considering there's a lot of not really all that amazing British music from the 80s on this list. It's pretty good new wave, though you'd be better served listening to Talking Heads, for example.

The fast guitar muted strums are cool

funky and very boring in the long run

SOSO

What an album. So many different styles in it. I enjoyed it. I could see this album being influencial

Very enjoyable new wave. A couple songs stood out. Not bad.

why

Surprisingly fun! Cool horn sections, funky latin-ish percussion, uptempo music. Nice for the sunday morning

Highlights: Favourite Shirts, Love Plus One, 3.7

I love the energy of this album. The brass in it is great, the British vocals, the 80s vibe. I'll give it 4 stars.

Another new wave band with a lead singer that sounds like every other new wave lead singer...if you told me this was Tears for Fears, I'd believe it. There is too much xylophone in this album already. This is horrible. Marine Boy is one of the worst songs I've ever heard. This list feels more like trolling every day because this album is absolutely awful. There are too many British New Wave bands on it. Every song is terrible.

sounds like aztec camera mixed with prefab sprout but with a really boring smooth jazz/funk influence and not as good as either! found this uninspiring And i usually love this type of Crap!

Polished like an antique table. Nothing really stood out. Put this in an 80s mix and it'll blend so well.

Achei top

I love when I’ve never heard of the artist. Sound like UK pop with Morrisey on Vocals. I wouldn’t say this is a memorable album, but it’s very enjoyable. I’m really enjoying listening to it.

Great fun.

100 out of 10! This record is summer.

Enjoyable to listen to but a bit generic.

Jazzy funk-pop optimism

Albūma cover labāks par pašu albūmu, man patika tikai boat party

saxophone be banging

Most of the songs sound similar but you know what? I fw it

The album was much better than I expected. For a new wave band, it has a surprisingly funky style. That said, I've heard much better and more memorable albums in this genre. I much prefer listening to The B-52's. 3/5

I like the name …………. It’s ok like there is nothing special about this , I feel like I will forget about this tomorrow

Holy funkyness, incredible opener. Very fun album to listen to, 3.5/5

This is a pretty ok jazzy album with a few good parts. I like the lean into funk, but certainly not earth shattering. 3/5

I only know one song from this group. I am guessing this 80s Britpop group was bigger in the UK than the US because I’m not sure why this would be on the list.

Pretty standard UK new wave stuff here, kind of forgettable when compared to other better bands of the time (xtc). As a new wave head this one was just... Fine I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️

sounds like every other 80s pop band that I don’t like but no offense

A really fun album. 4 1/2 stars

Wonderful

I'm going to go with a 4. Some good catchy stuff on this. Was heading for a 3 cause a few sounded very similar at the start but then that changed

2.5/5. An album that I would describe as a “One Trick Pony.” Simple new-wave grooves with some sax and horns added on top. It starts out strong with the opener “Favourite Shirts” and “Lemon Firebrigade” but then the rest of the album never deviates from the same basic song-structure and patterns leading to the whole thing feeling super samey to the extent where it felt much longer than it actually was.

This is some stupid bullshit and a waste of my time. What the fuck

maybe, just maybe, 80's britpop isn't that important. jot that down

It’s time to DANCE

Those horns are pretty awesome. This album was fun.

A fun, summery album, but nothing much stuck with me. 5/10.

Just not for me. I find it very musically interesting but I just didn't really enjoy my listen! Like yeah it was Interesting but I almost certainly wouldn't listen again. Shame. This one's the last song at a party when you're tired, sober again, and going home soon, but you don't quite want to stop having fun. 2.7/5

Ooooh, this is FUN! I feel like I need a time travel machine to take me back to a beach in 1982 and with a pina colada in hand. That saxophone. THIS IS THE 80S BABY!!

Wow I'm surprised at how much I loved this what an awesome fucking album. A bit long but a great time

Never heard of this band. I really like this album. 4

Well that was a surprise, and not at all an unpleasant one. When I saw the name Haircut 100 pop up, I assumed there was a mistake and I'd accidentally signed up to a list of utterly forgettable 80s pop bilge. I was totally prepared to be gigantically dismissive of the whole thing, but... it's really good! Like, goosebumps good. That guitar sound is clearly inspired by the poppier end of the post-punk scene (I was thinking Orange Juice, etc), but the overall sound is very breezy, summery, soulful pop. The brassy element was just pure joy. I remember the band well from the time and the big songs from this record were hugely familiar, even though I hadn't heard them in years, but I'd never heard the album until just now. And I loved it. So thanks, list, and I'm sorry I doubted you.

This took me by surprise - my kids too when I used it to wake them up, but that's another story. Despite feeling overfunked by the end of it, it was an enjoyable blast of decent pop songs which I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would.

Really liked this - Kind of understand why they were bought up a lot in the 90s. Almost Dexy's-esque but poppier.

Enjoyable

A much better album than I expected. It didn't make my day fantastic necessarily but I did enjoy it.

2/5

Ok

There were some definite high points. The upbeat parts were great. The slower numbers were too emo for me.

I did not expect the entire album to live up to the energy of the singles, but this is fantastic all the way through. Reminds me of the English Beat.

Favorite tracks: Love Plus One, Fantastic Day Pretty much an album full of songs I'd look up if I hear 'em in a bar. The songs were surprisingly funky. I loved the percussion and the brass. And overall it was just really easy to vibe too. A great listen anytime. 4.5 stars.

nicenicenicenice

Eh

Not my thing but not not my thing.

Never heard of this band. First time listen. A little nu-wavy. Cool stuff.

Haircut 100 is a band with an album titled "Pelican West" and the album cover looks like an ironic photo shoot that a fraternity made their new pledges do as part of initiation. Looking at the personnel I see there is a saxophonist and a percussion guy. The initial impression is confusion and my concern this album is going to be great or it's going to probably make me wish I had stuck with Haircut 99. Somehow, I am more in the middle on this album. Did it need to be included? I'm not sure it did but it was unoffensive and I enjoyed the musicianship of Haircut 100. I'm not sure that I expected to type that prior to hearing the album. I thought the bassist was really good, as his instrument seemed to really support the sound of each song. My favorite tracks: Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) Love Plus One Milk Film Fantastic Day Snow Girl Surprise Me Again Nobody's Fool

I expected to hate this and I really didn’t. It was pretty good. I can’t really describe the sound except as stripped down Duran Duran. It works.

Buen disco, mezcla de jazz, blues, rock melódico, podría decir que es una especie de the Clash con david bowie, muy entretenido!

Very 80s

80s pants

Kinda groovy but not something I’ll ever go back to

meh

You know what? Hell yeah. I’m generally pretty cool on most new wave stuff from this era but this was a lot of fun. I think the sax/horns did a lot of the heavy lifting here.

Road to Alberobello

Almost 4 stars. This was a bop!

First half better than second

Had me at brass band. Loved the instrumental tracks

I'm not above this

there are a lot of albums like this on this list….lemon firebrigade is an excellent song.

perilously close to a 1

Eh meh

Fun album - good for a wee walk in the woods. Favourite track: Surprise Me Again

Heard Before? It was the Pitchfork Sunday review a few years ago, otherwise I wouldn't know it. Notes: - vocals and lyrics don't really do anything for me. for music in a similar vein, i would rather hear Ian Dury and the Blockheads. - the horns and auxiliary percussion make my day. big smile. - this means the songs i like best ("Lemon Firebrigade", "Baked Beans") have big instrumental sections. - dry, crisp production suits the breezy yet fussy performances. - i find the overall effect greater than the sum of its parts. this is summer fun personified. Verdict: Lightweight new wave. Great for smirking while dancing. Listen Again? Worth a revisit every few years.

This is the real dog days of the list. Past 1001 but still a long way to 1095 or whatever the number is. Each album gets more generic and more 80s. Idk how many more quirked up white boy jangle rock with elements from other genres sprinkled in that I can take. Put me out of my misery please

Я думав буде якась чергова британська посередність, яких вистачає в цьому списку. А тут залетіли фанкі боси і насипали купу гарних поп-пісень з джангловими гітарами. Я б такий альбомчик залюбки мав на платівці.

Британська квота, але мені цей задорний фанковий джангловий нювейв чомусь зайшов в настрій. Поставив 3.5 на рум, але тут все ж буде 3.

Progenitors of Vampire Weekend

sweet

Totally meh. Nothing wrong with it, but there's nothing here that really caught my ear, and Snow Girl was terrible

There’s so much funky sexy sax on this album. How can you not have a fun time?

I was not looking forward to this album. I’m really not a fan of this era of britpop music. However, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Great vibes, fun, punch music. Enjoyed it all

Muy de su época...

I really enjoyed this album. Merely being labeled as New Wave is doing them a disservice, there's a very funky throughline here and the only REALLY New Wave thing about it is the vocals. I really liked Favourite Shirts in particular.

What a silly album. I had always heard Haircut 100 as a punchline, but never actually listened to their music. It's good! Not particularly deep, but fun, and great bass playing. It feels like a bunch of Brits tried to be Chic, and sometimes they did decently well.

I really didn't have time for this this morning.

Thoughts before listening: New wave I'm pretty sure. And a particularly cheesy version of new wave if I recall correctly. Review: So is this like new wave meets Harry Belafonte? I wasn't expecting all of the Caribbean calypso vibes. I'm a big fan of 80s ska, but this is something totally different that goes way into poppy, light jazz territory. The first song was a nice little pleasant surprise, but the album soon wore on me. I'm not really into this one. 2-stars

no es el sonido más original pero son canciones agradables 3.8, en los 80s tal vez hasta 4+

I had never heard of these guys; the band name is ghastly; the album cover is…strange; and yet their blend of synth/pop, funk and horn section was pretty cool and unique. I will listen to it again and recommend to other.

Gezellig

Catchy! Loved all the horns. 3.5

Torvi soittimia ja menevää meininkiä. Kyllä kyllä

70/100 Who said that white boys couldn’t be funky? This is new wave with all the fixings. You got really funky and upbeat drumming, corny as hell guitar parts, and lyrics that don’t mean anything to anybody. It even has a ton of sax all over the place that lowkey makes it a joy to listen to. It’s a really fun album but it’s also like corporate music this is the young man’s Sports. I just thought about Patrick Bateman listening to this like damn that’s good music. I liked it a lot though enough to give it at the least a 70 but it kinda falls off a bit past the first couple of tracks. Despite apparently being pretty based not a lot of people have rated this one. I actually found it because of Favorite Shirts a couple years ago and dug that song a lot. Now not so much. Music types change I guess. Anyways it’s fun give it a listen there’s not a single song on here that you wouldn’t have a good time “bumpin” in your dad’s stereo system.

Cool. They're happy, so I didnt liked it.

2/5

Oh nice, another british new wave album. Havnt listened to one in a while. It sounds like what you would expect from it. Its not so bad but its prety far from being good. Nothing interesting here.

Ehhhhhhhhhhh, thought I'd love it but kinda like a photographer that thinks operating the camera is a talent

Definitely another album that's far from essential to hear before I die. Haircut 100 were very much also rans in the New Romantic era when they were a going concern, and that's what this sounds like. Do you want Duran Duran B-sides with a slightly funkier vibe? This is the album for you!

the amount of times "britpop" is mentioned in these reviews makes me want to cry. really nice album though, feels appropriate during this heatwave

“we got Duran Duran at home” but Andy Taylor is in fact in your home.

They sound like every other 80's band. I love it.

3.5 down to 3. Enjoyed the 80s shimmery guitars.

Such a deeply weird album. A shame they didn’t continue creating in the 80s but grateful to now know it.

4/10 Fun but not something I'll come back to

Ganske fornøyelig, men går fort i glemmeboka

Liker det her overraskende mye, fin feelgood sommervibbe! Blir litt vell mye blåsing mot slutten av skiva for min smak.

Hmm.. Funger fint som bakgrunnsmusikk. Ikke dårlig i det hele tatt. Blir litt lei av den suggererende, repeterende blåsinga og den litt daffe 80-tallstemmen. Men egentlig en bra skive.

Rytmisk og lett sommerpop. Lekent og fengende.

22/06/2026 I was more into this than I thought I would be. I won't go back again though. Not one song even stood out. Spotify listeners: 230.8k

Best thing about this band is their name.

Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) - 4/5 Love Plus One - 3/5 Lemon Firebrigade - 3.5/5 Marine Boy - 3.5/5 Milk Film - 3/5 Kingsize (You're My Little Steam Whistle) - 3.5/5 Fantastic Day - 3/5 Baked Bean - 3.5/5 Snow Girl - 3/5 Love's Got Me in Triangles - 3/5 Surprise Me Again - 3/5 Calling Captain Autumn - 3/5 Sounds like Duran Duran and yacht rock had a baby. It was certainly a fun listen, but this is something that I will definitely forget after a day or two of listening. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)

Sunday, 21 June, 2026 Super summery and teenager coded. Nice album.

I couldn't ever dislike this. It's inherently likeable, isn't it? Upbeat, positive. This is before going out on a Saturday night when you're 18.

Bit Jazz, bit pop, bit morning TV. Inoffensive but didn’t too much for me.

3.6/5

People on here calling this a budget Duran Duran are pretty much right on the money. Except this is more enjoyable for me than Duran Duran ever was (I never understood the appeal, to be honest). Interesting choices were made as far as instruments and arrangements go on this. Honestly, I thought I was going to hate this when it started up, but it’s not half bad. I’m not sure I’ll ever come back to it, but I’m not rushing to the skip button either. 7/10

it was okay i guess

these guys are fun, album is a bit long and kinda blends together, but not bad

achei meio elevator music mas é legal

fiquei feliz por ser a vez desse, escutava lemon firebrigade no repeat um tempo atrás

I'm glad this album is on the list. It's funky and cool and I would be sad if it was lost to time. It might not have made a huge cultural impact but it is good!!

This surprised me with the funkiness.

7 / 10

When the first song started, I thought, 'Hey, that's groovy'. Little did I know that the rest of the album is just an uncreative repetition, and every song sounds the same. The rap part in one of the first songs is just as white as it gets, and so cringe.

Haircut 100 are very cheerful. Aggressively, relentlessly cheerful. The kind of cheerful that makes you check if someone put something in your drink. Several listens in and it all sounds like one long song — funky, brass-forward, handclap-heavy early 80s pop that sits in the same feel-good pocket as Kool & the Gang's "Celebration" and Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday." Not unpleasant. Not distinguishable. The saxophone is nice. It's always nice. It doesn't help. 2/5 — one cheerful 80s blob, warmly delivered.

Positive vibes and great musicianship on all instruments. The brass instruments and percussion elements were especially nice. However, what this album lacks is variety. I grew tired of the sound on the back half. Funnily enough, right there in the track "Love's Got Me In Triangles" the German speakers among us very clearly hear a "Scheiße, mir wird langweilig" at 2:40... coincidence? I think not 🥸 3/5 - good

fun

Nothing wrong with a little Haircut 100 every now and then. 3/5

I didn't love it, but the horns at least made it kinda interesting. 2 days in a row I'm rating a new wave album higher than a 2; what is the world coming to? Who am I? 2.6

Swap the sax for a synth and this album is a banger. But really it’s a fun summer vibe. Good playing, tasty arrangements and production, and just enough interesting songwriting to make a solid pop album. Shoutout guitarist for the heavy rhythm work, good driving bassist too. Fun percussion. I really just got tired of the sax solos and feel like it kinda sapped up the whole thing, some more edge or grit would have been cool. But these are polished pelicans after all.

Decent enough fast paced pop. I likely won't revisit this one though. Favorite track: Love Plus One

hese are tight pop songs that aren’t quite memorable but so pleasant - especially when the rhythm guitars and percussion create a bright little “pop jam.” In the best moments I’m reminded of early Talking Heads, or live Talking Heads, or if the horns kick in…end game Talking Heads. I wish I could round up to 4 but it’s not quite there - best 3 you could ask for.

There is a lot here that doesn't work or endure, and it makes you wonder why they are on the list. To me, the funky vibe tacked on to the new wave pop sensibility is unique, but not enough to warrant a high rank for me. I give them a solid to low 3.

I was vibing

Not the best of the 80s but some great nostalgic tunes here.

A very mixed bag of an album. Some of it sounded like someone trying to mimic the SNL opening song, some of it sounded like Mario Kart music, and some of it was kind of fun. Really enjoyed “Surprise Me Again” and was about to give it 3 stars, but my god did I hate “Calling Captain Autumn.” Hated it enough to adjust my rating back down to 2 stars. I was on the fence most of the album, but my god that last track was terrible and really ruined things. The rest of the album is alright. A little boring and forgettable. Skip the last track and you’ll be happier.

A really fresh pop album, big surprise

The same decent, unremarkable, funky, British 80s song, played 12 times in a row.

I actually really enjoyed this album. When I saw the cover looking like a bunch of Mormons hanging out at a retreat, I was like there is no way this is gonna be good. But this is the new wave I want to hear. Now to be fair, this doesn’t belong on the list, but I’m glad I got introduced to this

I am so sick of this British sound omg

3.5

Weird album. It's like a strange beachy pop smooth jazz fusion. I dunno. I didn't absolutely hate it. The guitar was interesting and well played throughout. Some songs were catchy and the album does have a pretty fun, light, airy vibe. Standout tracks were "Snow Girl" and "Love's Got Me In Triangles." You need to be in the mood for this kind of stuff. It's not something I'd normal play. 3/5 though, could have been worse.

Bof , rien de spécial et j’ai pas accroché

much better than I thought it might be. i think Haircut might be buddies of Wham, Pet Shop Boys and some other UK early 80s fabulous groups.

Didn’t love it then, though I have a bit more appreciation now for the percussive jazziness that underpins their sound.

This album felt generic, mid and flat. Although i felt myself bumping along to some of their tunes I kind of felt embarrassed, they're trying so hard to be cool. Their use of Jazz and Bossa Nova throughout the record reminds me of Ian's use of Trap for his records today. It feels cynical. 4/10

I think i liked this

Very fun to be honest, funky and groovy. Also the song names, as well as the band and album name are fun and different. It was nice.

pleasant pop

Polished, over the top early '80s pop (I wouldn't call that new wave). It consists mainly of funky guitar riffs, a sax, and percussion in several iterations. Nice elevator music.

Right up my alley! Might edit this to a 5 after another listen

pretty mid 3/5

Not sure why this is on the list. It is inoffensive but nothing really sticks out that would grab me, feels innovative or annoy me tbh

Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Ganz nett.

2/5 Favorite Song: Kingsize

spoko miły album, podobał mi się bardziej niż talking heads, ale myślę że też szybko zniknie z mojej pamięci

This album (or more honestly the singles from it) bring back a lot of memories of the hot summer of 1982 stacking hay after my A'levels. And the endless singing of "Maje meets dog - woof!" To Favourite Shirts for weeks at school after a notorious 6th Form dance. (I'm genuinely so sorry, Paul). You had to be there. No you really did. Lovely to see it pop up on a glorious hot Spring Bank holiday. Takes me right back. Didn't influence anything? It fucking influenced me! 4 (ps. It jjust so happens that my first grandson was born today. So it's a Fantastic Day) 5

I had never heard of these before. A pretty forgettable 80s New Wave record. Not bad but when you go from Depeche Mode a couple days ago to this... The jazz elements were pretty interesting at least. 6/10

One listenable semi-hit and this album makes the list? After recognizing the first two tracks, I was on track 8 before realizing that I'd actually listened to six different songs. However, they get an extra star for not being complete crap.

Dios, temazoosss todos. No hay nada mejor que funky music de los 80’s

Let's start with the answer to your very obvious question. No, this does not belong here. It's a fine listenable record of early 80s pop. The hit here, Love Plus One, is good. It's all fine. I don't regret hearing it but I certainly had no actual need to do so

Decent sounding new wave but they can't seem to rest on a vibe of the album. Every song sounds different.

Maybe I won’t add these songs to my Spotify favorites, but it was definitely a pleasure listening to this album, so I’ll keep it.

This was decent but absolutely did not need to be on the list

Pretty solid album, I do enjoy it, but it almost feels too polished? So it’s definitely enjoyable radio tracks, but almost not enough for what I’m looking for in music. Three stars

Listen to this on a Fantastic Day!

I bought a lot of albums in 1982. This was not one of them. Never heard it until today. The singles are OK however the rest is rather uninspiring jazz funk workouts. To be fair the band are tight and nice clean production. Just not my thing sorry.

This album was quite a bit of fun, albeit not very remarkable. I think I enjoyed the instrumentation and beats more than anything. Maybe I didn't pay enough attention but it felt to me like some very well-made background noise.

never heard of em. Funky yeah, all sounds a bit samey on the first listen. But saved Kingsize for driving.

I kinda liked it

This album is a lot of fun if listened to without a critical ear. The 2 singles are very catchy (love plus one and fantastic day) and the album as a whole although very samey is very 1983. Nothing wrong with that.

# In-Depth Review: *Pelican West* by Haircut 100 (1982) ## Overview *Pelican West* is the sole studio album by the British band Haircut 100 in their original lineup—a record that has become something of a cult artifact of early-1980s British pop. Released in 1982, it reached #2 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Platinum, making it both a commercial success and a snapshot of a very specific moment in British music history. The band’s story is one of brief but intense fame: after this album and a few follow-up singles, lead singer and primary songwriter Nick Heyward departed for a solo career, and the group never recaptured the same magic. --- ## Music & Sound ### Genre Fusion Haircut 100 occupied a curious niche that critics have variously labeled “British jazz-funk,” “sophisti-pop,” or “new funk.” The sound is an unusual cocktail: the rhythmic urgency of new wave, the brassy exuberance of jazz-funk, the danceable grooves of disco, and a sun-drenched tropicalia that evokes Brazilian beaches more than grey British suburbs. ### Instrumentation What immediately sets *Pelican West* apart is its rich, live instrumentation at a time when synthesizers were beginning to dominate pop: - **Brass & Woodwinds**: Saxophonist Phil Smith and the horn section provide the album’s signature color—bright, punchy, and occasionally cheesy, but always energetic. Tracks like “Lemon Firebrigade” and “Love Plus One” are essentially horn showcases. - **Percussion**: Congas, bongos, scrapers, and woodblocks (courtesy of Marc West) give the album its propulsive, polyrhythmic foundation. The percussion is not decorative; it’s central to the groove. - **Guitar**: The chukka-chukka rhythm guitar owes an obvious debt to Nile Rodgers and Chic, providing that unmistakable late-disco bounce. - **Bass**: The bass lines are consistently funky and well-executed, occasionally slipping into slap-bass territory that some critics find indulgent. ### Standout Musical Moments - **“Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)”**: Opens with a nervy horn splash and conga-driven energy; a perfect mission statement. - **“Lemon Firebrigade”**: A near-instrumental jazz-funk workout that lets the band’s musicianship shine. - **“Calling Captain Autumn”**: A tour de force of bubbling bass, odd sound effects, birdsong, and “bah bah bah” harmonies—arguably the album’s most eccentric and delightful track. - **“Fantastic Day”**: A pure pop song that restores some melodic normalality after the jazz-funk whirlwinds. --- ## Lyrics & Themes ### Nick Heyward’s Lyricism Nick Heyward’s lyrics are, by his own indirect admission and by critical consensus, not the album’s primary selling point. They are surreal, impressionistic, and often indecipherable—a stream of playful non-sequiturs rather than narrative storytelling. ### Recurring Motifs - **Youthful Romance & Obsession**: “Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)” and “Love Plus One” traffic in the breathless excitement of young love, though filtered through Heyward’s odd diction. - **Surreal Imagery**: “Marine Boy,” “Milk Film,” “Snow Girl,” and “Calling Captain Autumn” suggest a dream logic where titles and images don’t quite cohere into meaning but create a mood. “Is it down to the lake I fear?” from “Love Plus One” is a quintessential Heyward line—memorable, slightly ominous, and ultimately nonsensical. - **Seasonal & Natural References**: “Calling Captain Autumn,” “Snow Girl,” and the album’s own title (*Pelican West*) evoke a kind of pastoral English psychedelia transplanted into an urban pop context. ### The “Sunshine Pop” Ethos One critic aptly described the album as “musical candy floss—fluffy, as light as air and pleasing.” The lyrics serve the mood more than the intellect; they are about evoking a feeling of unalloyed happiness and summer abandon. --- ## Production ### Bob Sargeant’s Role Produced by Bob Sargeant (who had worked with The Beat), the production is clean, bright, and very much of its era—polished 1980s sheen without the coldness of fully synthetic production. Sargeant had a deft hand with brass sections, though some critics felt the saxophone on “Love Plus One” veered into cheesy territory, contrasting with his more restrained work with The Beat’s Saxa. ### Stereo Mix & Sonic Details The production makes clever use of stereo separation—sound effects pan from left to right (a car zooming past in “Milk Film”), creating an immersive, almost cinematic listening experience. The mix gives each instrument room to breathe, which is essential given how busy the arrangements are. ### The “Airy” Quality Multiple listeners have noted an “airiness” to the mix—a lightness and space that prevents the dense instrumentation from feeling cluttered. This gives the album a freshness that has helped it age relatively well compared to some of its more synth-heavy contemporaries. --- ## Influence & Legacy ### Immediate Context Haircut 100 emerged alongside the short-lived “British Jazz Funk” scene (shared territory with Shakatak, Funkapolitan, and Blue Rondo à la Turk) and the broader “New Funk” movement championed by the NME and The Face. They were not a million miles away from what Orange Juice was doing simultaneously, though Haircut 100 were far more commercially successful and far less critically hip. ### Influence on Later Artists - **Sophisti-Pop & Britfunk**: The album is now recognized as a precursor to the sophisti-pop movement and a touchstone for British funk-influenced pop. You can hear echoes in later bands like Jamiroquai, Level 42, and even elements of Duran Duran’s more groove-oriented moments. - **The “Happy Album” Reputation**: *Pelican West* has become shorthand for unabashed, almost aggressive cheerfulness in music. As one reviewer put it, “It is a well-known, scientific fact that Haircut 100’s debut album… is the happiest album that ever existed.” - **Cult Status**: Despite being a one-album wonder in their original form, the record has maintained a devoted following. A 2011 reunion performance of the entire album at the Rewind Festival and an appearance on ITV’s *Lorraine* demonstrated its enduring appeal. ### The “What If?” Factor The band’s implosion after Heyward’s departure lends the album a bittersweet quality. Follow-up album *Paint and Paint* (1984) failed to chart, and the band faded into obscurity. *Pelican West* thus stands as a singular artifact—fully formed, exactly right, and never replicated. --- ## Pros & Cons ### Pros | Strength | Details | |----------|---------| | **Musicianship** | The band is tight, funky, and accomplished. The horn arrangements, percussion, and rhythm guitar are genuinely impressive. | | **Unique Sound** | A genuinely unusual fusion of jazz-funk, new wave, tropicalia, and pop that sounds like little else from 1982. | | **Unbridled Joy** | The album’s relentless cheerfulness is infectious and, for many listeners, therapeutic. It’s nearly impossible to be in a bad mood while listening. | | **Production Values** | Clean, spacious, and immersive mix that has aged better than many contemporaries. | | **Standout Singles** | “Favourite Shirts,” “Love Plus One,” and “Fantastic Day” are indelible pop songs. | | **Instrumental Showcases** | Tracks like “Lemon Firebrigade” prove the band could groove without relying on Heyward’s vocals. | ### Cons | Weakness | Details | |----------|---------| | **Lyrically Thin** | The lyrics are often nonsensical, impressionistic, or simply indecipherable. They prioritize mood over meaning. | | **Vocal Limitations** | Nick Heyward’s voice is pleasant but not particularly distinctive; some critics find it generic compared to the adventurous music behind it. | | **Cheesy Elements** | The saxophone occasionally drifts into Kenny G or “yacht rock” territory, and some arrangements can feel overly slick. | | **Filler Tracks** | Not every song matches the heights of the singles. “Milk Film” and parts of the back half lack the memorability of the opening run. | | **Lack of Edge** | For listeners seeking the angular, post-punk energy of contemporaries like Talking Heads or Gang of Four, this can feel too polished, too pleasant, and too safe. | | **Cultural Weight** | It’s a lightweight album by design—“candy floss,” as one critic said. It doesn’t grapple with heavy themes or aspire to artistic profundity. | --- ## Final Assessment *Pelican West* is a triumph of mood over message, of groove over gravitas. It is not an album that changed the world, nor one that demands deep intellectual engagement. What it offers is something rarer and, in its own way, more valuable: a perfectly captured moment of pure, unadulterated joy. It is the sound of summer 1982 distilled into 40 minutes—sunny, silly, sophisticated, and slightly surreal. For some, it will always be a guilty pleasure, a piece of “nondescript 80s background music.” For others, it is an underrated gem that deserves far more recognition than it receives outside the UK. The truth lies somewhere in between: *Pelican West* is a very good pop album made by a band who knew exactly what they were doing, even if what they were doing was essentially making the musical equivalent of a perfect day at the beach. It is, as one devoted fan put it, “music to make you smile”—and sometimes, that is enough. **Verdict**: A breezy, accomplished, and utterly unique debut that remains a touchstone of early-80s British pop-funk. Not a masterpiece, but a masterclass in mood

Floats by like a funky sailors cap caught in a summer breeze. 3.3

This is fine. Upbeat and funky. A bit too OTT and cheesy at times, but it is quite a fun record.

It was a good day for a happy, dance-y eighties pop album. That being said, this does have its share of filler tracks along with the classics. Still a good listen, though. 3 3/4 stars

I really only know Love Plus One ... but other than that its a solid 80s album!

Not really anything remarkable. Pretty 80s.

I will not include the bonus tracks from the 1992 Plus reissue in this review. When I first noticed Haircut 100 pop up on my radar for today's record, I figured this was going to be another 1980s new wave band that had one landmark record before something happened that caused their momentum to peter out. That certainly was the case for the longest time here, as vocalist and main songwriter Nick Heyward was dismissed from the group after struggling with stress and depression from a year of constant work and pressure. The band's follow-up record, Paint and Paint, was a commercial failure, and they split up soon after. But now, after multiple attempts at reunions with Nick, Haircut 100 are set to release their third album later this year. This sort of comeback had me curious if their debut, Pelican West, held up. I will say that this album very much epitomizes the year 1982. The choppy, angular guitar riffs, Phil Smith's breezy saxophone playing, Marc Fox's laidback percussion work, and Nick's sultry vocal delivery. Pelican West as a whole boasts this tropical sophisti-pop feel, complete with brass embellishments and light incorporation of congas. Obviously, it's all cheesy and dated, right down to Nick's kooky, doe-eyed musings on life, love, and relationships in the lyrics. But I'll admit that I have a soft spot for this kind of cheesy music, and I can't deny how complex and bouncy the instrumentation can get on this record. Nick Heyward definitely has that fundamental understanding of pop sensibilities, and the rest of the band were willing to follow his direction. In that regard, I consider Pelican West to be a solid debut. It's definitely got me curious how Haircut 100 is going to follow up over 40 years later.

After listening to so much New Wave through this list, I understand why it died off as a genre and never really came back. Although I must admit the British did seem to be having fun in the 80's with it.

the 80s really just had bad music huh Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: no 2.3

Just absolutely the most generic new wave pop rock I have ever heard. Top (or bottom) of the "Why is this on the list?" pile. There are more deserving entries. I can imagine getting into a conversation with a stranger, a barman or something, and he mentions, "Oh, I used to be in a band." "Oh right," you say, not really that interested. "Yeah, we were called Haircut One Hundred. We actually got into the charts." "Pretty cool," you say, "I might check that out!" You are lying. But several days later you pass by a barbershop and you're reminded of the band name. You open up Spotify and put them on. It wasn't worth it.

It's got a real "just a recording sesh with the lads" type sound but did go on and on. Overall decent, not impressive. 3/5

A cool 80’s gem I had not heard better. It did get a little repetitive

Sounds like theme music for non-existent early-90's sitcoms. 2.

Is asked AI why this album is on this list. Here's the answer: It's the kind of inclusion that reflects genuine compiler affection for a specific moment in British pop rather than rigorous curatorial necessity. Agree. Coll bass, though. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5

A New Wave one hit wonder. They should have marketed as a disco group. That's the strength of the album and where all the fun and energy is. Although I can imagine how that might underperform in the early 80s. Love Plus One

= the Beatles The very definition of middle of the road

Decently fun, but an unusually milquetoast inclusion for a book called 1001 albums you must hear before you die? Not sure I agree with it but I'm not mad! I stand by giving most things a chance at least once, and I'm definitely not an anti-pop snob (quite the opposite in fact). However, the pop has to catch me in some way and this album didn't have that clinching factor. It also runs unnecessarily long, and the songs started to blend together past the mid-way point :(

Really nice New Wave. Nothing gimmicky about it.

Álbum bem legal com algumas músicas de destaque. Eu não conhecia e curti a experiência. Celest x Versekeys Ultra-Sense Planet.

What in the good hell is this? AND it’s over an hour?! Do I really have to sit through this????? 😩

Another anonymous 80s British soft rock band? Another 2 star album.

This is better than most people understand.

Not bad.

now this was sick, this band is extremely underrated, this was such a consistent album and a well performed band

Another British new wave album from the '80's? Pass. There is literally nothing noteworthy or memorable on this album. Maybe they were a little ahead of the curve on that distinctive '80's pop sound, but that doesn't make it worth listening to.

This was excellent! It's funky, vibey, poppy, and new wave all in one. Solid songwriting, excellent playing from the band, and groovy throughout. I love receiving albums from artists I've never heard of—that is, in my mind, the point of this project. Now for the bad: the fucking whiners on this damn website. If colonial Americans from the late 1700s somehow gained access to this website, I think they STILL would have a higher opinion of the British than the average reviewer here. (Btw, this is NOT Britpop. I can't believe the highest rated review says it is. It's off by roughly a decade.)

More brit pop, of the “look at my bop into my favorite haberdashery variety”. Upbeat but not interesting. A 2.

Talking Heads if they were bad. & stuck in an 80s lobby...

Not a particularly moving album. Haircut 100 is a funny name though. 3/5

Don't care

Alright.

Only 1 memorable song but great horn section. Otherwise crappy 80s English pop.

Fun record by a band I’ve never ever heard of

Haircut 100? More like Haircut 80/100

3,75

Giving a 3.5/5 in spirit cause it was generally pretty nice to listen to. The sax solo in Marine Boy goes absolutely insane

Didn't except nothing, great album

Yeah smile!!! I like it!! I feel light and easy going

What a great surprise! I am a new wave fan but had never heard of this band or album. It is now in the permanent rotation!

Not a good way to start my day today. Or any of my days.

Fun! Upbeat! Cute! Infectious! Sometimes you just need a filip like this.

Well, I thought I'd be wading into something akin to Soft Cell, and thankfully I was wrong about that. Then again, this wasn't my jawn, though there's something to be said for the peppy preppy bouncy pop of this band. Whatever that is, I'm not the one to say it.

I could have gone to my grave without hearing this.

Ahhhh 80s New Wave. what comfort it brings me now.

Unfortunately all good things come to an end, and our funk train seemingly ends here at another new wave Brit pop album. I had never heard of them before and that was an appropriate response. A almost totally forgettable record with just a few even outside the normal tracks. The saxophone and synths make a valiant effort and for that reason alone it gets bumped up one star, but in total these pasty lads couldn’t get funky for their lives, and I got bored.

Hur mycket new wave kommer det bli? Nej.

Slapping och funkgitarr går hem hos mig! Sången var däremot inte min stil. Hade nog hellre lyssna på en instrumental version av skivan. En trea, instrumentala hade det säkert varit fyra.

Mycket mysigt, men lite väl safe för att nå ett högre betyg än en trevlig trea.

Haha det här var ju funkfusionköttigt på riktigt! Slickt som en djävul, och det hatas inte. Är en varm förespråkare av funkig new wave. Några mellanspår såklart, men måste säga att funkgitarren icke är en bluff, det är emellanåt nile rodgers-klass på grejerna. Mer äkta sväng och stinkfaktor här än ABC, som trots allt fejkar funken till stor del. Trumintrot till ”calling captain autumn” var 10 av 10! Slår skyhögt på toto-skalan. Tenorsaxen är sliskig så Kenny g rodnar. Stäm mig för all del, men jag köper det rakt av. Hade jag fortfarande spelat skivor hade haircut 100 varit självklart i repertoaren känner jag. Med brasklappen att jag bara hann en vända så måste det bli en 4a till här.

Partiest album of 1982! Bättre än vad jag trodde, men hann bara en lyssning. Hmmm, mycket svårt. Stark trea!

svängigt!

Trevligt

Really fun, new wave and pre ska with fast guitar riffs, plenty of fun horns and danceable beats throughout.

this was great!!

Glamorous

Well crafted but not really my bag.

Very much as I expected, lightweight fluff with horrible sax hooks and jangly guitars. I hated every minute of it. A tip for anyone listening to this, you can ditch the Spotify album 12 tracks in and spare yourself a further fifteen minutes of torture listening to "bonus" tracks. As I listened to this album, I soon realised I didn't care one jot about Haircut 100 or Nick Heyward. I'm kind of surprised that they didn't do a collab with Bananarama at some point, it's that bad. One star.

On the radio but not on my stereo in the 80's. Still feel the same way.

I enjoyed this. I’m sure I had this on cassette as a young kid. Obviously it’s very 80’s, but the band are tight and it’s really good at what it’s supposed to do.

Wow, a whole album of effectively the same song. Not good.

⭐⭐ New wave + punk. Även inslag av jazz och samba. Funk ska ha en inbyggd coolhet, det finns inte här. Det är som om någon lånar någons snygga outfit men inte klarar av att bära upp den. Det låter på något sätt bra men det lyfter inte. Kommer inte lyssna på det igen så det får bli en 2a. Bäst är kanske Favourite shirt och Lemon brigade

Blind album and artist. Generic 80s that was okay I guess. I liked the opening track.

Surprisingly decent musicianship on otherwise routine New Wave Britpop fare.

They sound like a precursor to the Cure. I wonder how much of their sound is from session artists, but the percussion and horns really fill in, providing more pronounced fun. 3.5

Enjoyed this, but won't listen again

We all were going to listen to various Bob Dylan and Queen albums eventually, but this? We weren't going to listen to Pelican West by Haircut 100 in full. Why is this over an hour long? Who the hell are these guys? Why do I love them? This is what the 1001 Albums Project is about! I wouldn't have heard this album otherwise. I finally have an album I feel I can succinctly and accurately simply describe as "cute." Pelican West also takes first place now for my favorite album cover so far in the project. Current top album covers ranking: 1. Pelican West by Haircut 100 (pumpkin spice latte coded) 2. On the Beach by Neil Young (a bunch of shit on a beach) 3. Back At The Chicken Shack by Jimmy Smith (guy with a chicken)

Surprising amount of fun, incredibly 80s and a lot of bongo but tracks have a lot of groove

A little bit of new wave, ska, a little bit of sophisto pop... fun

How much mindless brit pop do I have to endure on this list. My god.

Intrigued at first and then it quickly wore out

unique british pop.

This album is the definition of fun, each song is gold.

(fun)(ky)

Not great

tem uma coisa meio brasileira nesse álbum que eu não sei explicar direito, mas a mistura da percussão com os metais em algumas faixas me transportou pra um carnaval de rua daqueles bem arrumadinhos que a gente vai pra escutar um tim maia, uma banda eva, coisas do tipo. até a capa parece a dos doces bárbaros se você parar pra reparar. em outras ele é aquela coisa mais previsível, britânica, new wave, mas é gostosinho também.

There were a lot of good songs but also a lot of forgettable ones too. Nothing bad about the album though.

Kann mich nicht daran erinnern das gehört zu haben

Solide 80er Jahre Mukke inklusive epic sax guy. 🎷

Am Anfang ganz cool, lässt aber schnell nach und wirkt wie der Soundtrack von einem super Nintendo Sports Game...

Fun boppy little album, if a bit samey throughout. I had a decent time but wasn’t mind blown.

Overall felt rather samey and forgettable. Not that I’ll give it the chance, but this does not strike me as something that gets better over repeated listens.

I like new wave, SUE ME

I've never heard of Haircut 100, but there's always a certain thrill surrounding an artist I had never heard of before. I've found with other relatively unknown artists that they could either be buried treasure lost to bargain bins and second-hand shops, or very of-the-era one hit wonders that recieved a lot of attention at one time, but fizzled. Haircut 100 is kind of delightful. Part Men At Work and Duran Duran with hints of The Clash. Pelican West is as airy as the album title suggests. This is nice weather music; it grooves, there's saxophone, and I spent a lot of the album's 40 minute runtime just wiggling in my seat. Not all of the album is brilliant, and I don't know that I'd call it 'essential' but I enjoyed listening to it!

Vomit inducing yacht rock

3/10

Als je liefhebber bent van New Wave popmuziek uit begin jaren '80 dan is het lekker dat deze in de lijst staat, anders is het eigenlijk overbodig. Ik heb het idee dat ik dit genre via deze lijst al heb wel uitgespeeld inmiddels. Maargoed. Het klinkt wel vrolijk. New Wave op een tropisch eiland met één muzikant erbij die ooit nog twijfelde om een ska band te beginnen, zo klinkt het. Ik ga toch weer 3 sterren geven, vanwege dat vrolijke tropische. Ik ben een vies positief mild mannetje aan het worden. Of ik ben eindelijk als een magere, bibberende hond in het gareel gemept door Robert Dimery.

Wasn’t really sure what to expect from this one. But I was pleasantly surprised. Jangly guitars, ska influences and good songs. I have vague memories of hearing ‘Love Plus One’ way back in the 80s as a kid, but there is other good stuff here too - Favourite Shirts, Lemon Firebrigade, Kingsize, Snow Girl are all great tracks, and worth a second listen.

If Postcard Records had actually aimed for international success, then Haircut 100 would have been a smart signing for them - funky, a little odd, a band that created their own kind of space. Loads of catchy little bits, with a very British urgency and precision about the funkiness - no dawdling here, no slow drags. A couple of splendid singles, but a bit more of a Level 42 vibe than I had remembered.

Have no idea this will be this funky, a welcome surprise on the list. Really fun and not boring.

🔥🩰⚡️

Some songs could be straight out of an 80s sitcom.

Solid

algun tema me gusto otros mas normalitos un 7

I really enjoyed this debut album from Haircut 100! I thought this was a fun and catchy new wave album and I loved the addition of the saxophone. We need to bring back the saxophone in modern music! Overall, I had a great time with this album and I would listen to it again in the future.

No lo sentí como un álbum que tuviera que escuchar antes de morir pero me gustó el saxofón en el disco

Funky yet soulless.

Not a bad track. Funk/disco goodness throughout. On paper, a similar formula to ABC, but where the orchestration on Lexicon Of Love seems to dilute the syncopation, here the picolo, brass et al augment it. You nod your head to the attempted sophistication of ABC, but you bop around the room to this record. Melodic bass, palm-muted 16th on the guitar, and life affirming lyrics. It's a thing of joy. Will be listening again.

Cool talking heads with sax

this was so good!

Groupe new wave british. Leur 1er album. C'est différent, c'est pimpant. La trompette (je pense) rajoute un bon je-ne-sais-quoi. C'est différent. C'est pas incroyable, mais c'est pas mauvais. Au final, ils ont un style funk différent de ce que j'ai déjà entendu, mais je vais être sévère, car je perdais un peu l'intérêt durant mon écoute. Content de l'avoir écouté et découvert, mais ce serait clairement pas mon premier choix. Je dois avouer que ça fait de la bonne musique d'ambiance.

Rambly, but fun, horn driven pop/rock jams with guitar backing and sparse vocals

me gusto mas la primera mitad que la segunda, igual bastante bueno

I I can tell it's an impressive debut album but it's not my thing. Like most of the New Wave I've listened to, it feels tinny and artificial to me.

Perfect example of 80s British pop music. If Tears for Fears listened to Chic and then tried to make yacht music. The singles are great, the rest is fine.

Slightly reminiscent of Duran Duran (Rio was released around the same time). Makes heavy use of brass. The songs are ok. I can see why Boy Meets Girl might have been popular.

Recognizing the first song or two from late night 80s-New Wave theme nights at College dance clubs does not explain why this album is on the list. Not bad, just feel like there is better British New Wave music out there.

Not bad vocals, not bad background music in a mainstream 80s kind of way. Wore out its welcome tho, and way too mediocre to be on this list. Solidly mid.

Number: 92 Date: 04/04/2026 Artist: Haircut 100 Album: Pelican West Year: 1982 Genre: New wave Rating: 2 Notes: Before: ======= Somehow I left this album completely out of my favourites songs from 1982 list. I think I need to include at least Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) and Love Plus One. During: ======= With the exception of Love Plus One and Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), most of the album is totally forgettable. Rating Track Name 4 Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) 5 Love Plus One 3 Lemon Firebrigade 3 Marine Boy 2 Milk Film 2 Kingsize (You're My Little Steam Whistle) 2 Fantastic Day 2 Baked Bean 2 Snow Girl 2 Love's Got Me In Triangles 2 Surprise Me Again 3 Calling Captain Autumn ----------------------------------------------------- 2.66 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= 3 my personal rating 1 suitability for this list 2 impact ----------------------------------------------- 2 composite rating

honestly i liked it more than i thought i would! i don’t have anything against new wave but sometimes it can get a little repetitive imo. but this pleasantly surprised me!

This was a lot of fun

Best Track - "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)"

Iconic ‘80’s. A fun, nostalgic listen. I’m fine waiting another 20 years before I listen to it again.

First two are jams, rest of album is clever music w sort of asanine lyrics. I was pleasantly reminded of all of the horns in the 80s and the use of funk guitar in some new wave. Very nice.

Seriously? One of the top 1000 albums I need to listen to? Nope. Poppy Trash.

Meh it was ok. Standout song: Love plus one