Rialto - Untouchable Songs (1998)

Rialto emerged from the remains of the band Kinky Machine, who released two albums in 1993 and 1995, when singer Louis Eliot and guitarist Jonny Bull recruited bassist Julian Taylor, keyboardist Toby Hounsham, and drummer Pete Cuthbert, later replaced by Anthony Christmas, and formed Rialto. Over the next couple of years they released a clutch of great singles, and one of my all-time favourite albums in 1998. Their first singles, 'When We're Together' and 'Untouchable', alerted me to the band, and when I bought the CD's I found that every one had at least one new song on the b-side, often the equal of the A-side. Despite the anticipated arrival of their self-titled debut album, East West Records dropped them from their label, with China Records jumping in and releasing the album on 13 July 1998 instead. In September Rialto played a gig at the University of Leeds during freshers’ week, which members of the audience have subsequently described as 'fucking shite', and following that debacle they didn't release any more music for a further two years. The six-track 'Girl On A Train' EP followed in 2000, receiving accolades from NME and Q magazines, but by the time the band gathered to make a second album, Hounsham and Christmas had left the group, leaving them as a three-piece, and they finally released their second and final album, 'Night On Earth', in 2001. To be honest I've never heard it, as it can only be a disappointment after that astounding debut, but there are enough songs hidden away to make the second album that they could, and should, have released in 1998. 

Track listing

01 Vinegar Vera (b-side of 'When We're Together' 1997)
02 Los Angelenos (b-side of 'When We're Together' 1997)
03 Lipstick Letters (b-side of 'Untouchable' 1997)
04 King Of Karaoke (b-side of 'Untouchable' 1997)
05 The Red Telephone (b-side of 'Untouchable' 1997)
06 Little Comedian (b-side of 'Monday Morning 5.19' 1997)
07 Kieslowski (b-side of 'Monday Morning 5.19' 1997)
08 The Hand That Used To Feed (b-side of 'Dream Another Dream' 1998)
09 Subway (b-side of 'Dream Another Dream' 1998)
10 Wild Is The Wind (b-side of 'Dream Another Dream' 1998)
11 Playground Song (b-side of 'Dream Another Dream' 1998)
12 Skyscraper (b-side of 'Summer's Over' 1998)
13 Slo-Mo Death Blow (b-side of 'Summer's Over' 1998)