Four One And Only's ‎– The End Is Searching (LP)

In 1984 Breda, four young spirits bonded over a shared love for jangly guitar lines, post-punk, and a healthy dose of absurdism. While the established music industry of the time favored slickly produced synth-pop, the Four One & Only’s resolutely opted for a lo-fi aesthetic. Their great heroes were the British band Television Personalities and the American "jangle-rock" pioneer Jonathan Richman. After participating in the *Grote Prijs van Nederland* (a major Dutch music competition), they received a scathing jury report riddled with spelling errors. Instead of giving up, the band decided to make the ultimate indie statement: they founded their own record label, cynically naming it Noet Lachten Records. Under this label—and with production by Frisian underground hero Antoine Kroes—their debut LP, *The End Is Searching*, was born in 1987. The album was defined by jangly guitars, bone-dry drums, idiosyncratic vocal lines, and a melancholic undertone that perfectly captured the spirit of the times.

"The Wheel Of Fortune Fell On My Toe" was also released as a 7-inch single and serves as the band's perfect calling card. It is a catchy, uptempo guitar song with an absurdist title.The song balances on the edge of brilliance and total chaos. The guitar riff stays stuck in your head for days, while the lyrics remind you of the awkwardness of everyday life. Critics praised the 'C86 vibe' (referencing the famous British indie compilation tape from that era)—something unique for a Dutch band at the time.

“The End Is Searching” feels like walking through an abandoned factory hall in the dark. It proves that the band was much more than just a quirky, jangly pop collective; they were capable of creating genuinely deep, melancholic atmospheres.

Label: Noet Lachten Records

Country: Netherlands

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)