The Wake's signing to Sarah Records seemed very apt considering their move towards jangly guitar pop; leaving behind their glacial melancholic sound of yore. 'Holyheads' assembles their two albums recorded for Sarah. The first, 1991's 'Make It Loud' didn't exactly describe their new sound but the guitar had certainly replaced keyboards as the dominant instrument. At its worst - as on the limp 'Firestone Tyres' - it was comparable to the C86 movement. Thankfully 'English Rain' and 'Joke Shop' possessed a little more muscle which have stood the test of time fairly well and labelmates The Field Mice would have been proud to release material in the vein of 'Henry's Work'. Three years later they would release 'Tidal Wave Of Hype' which begins as halfway house between Inspiral Carpets' psychedelic world and the shoegazing style of Chapterhouse. A more familiar sound is perfected with jangly pop gems such as 'Obnoxious Kevin', 'I Told You So' and 'Britain'; hugely tuneful and witty, their change in sound was now beginning to make sense. Thereafter a final four weak tracks diminish the quality of an otherwise fine farewell effort. However, even though The Wake's earlier material seems more vital now, these two albums possess an innocence and tunefulness that is highly likeable.