It’s about time we were happy,” songwriter and frontman Rolo McGinty sings early on Giant, just as opener It On is building a characteristic head of steam. He had every reason to believe this, given the route The Woodentops had pursued to their debut album.
Seb Shelton had quit managing Dexys Midnight Runners for them, and their first 7”, 1984’s Plenty, had been flamboyantly endorsed by Morrissey in the Melody Maker – “A personable celebration amid the pallid hoohah of false popness... Please GOD, make this a hit!” – while XTC’s Andy Partridge produced 1985’s follow-up, Move Me.