Winter is late this year but who cares. Adequate song for today is All About Eve's "December", my all-time favourite track from their album "Scarlet And Other Stories" (Mercury 838 965-2, 1989). The enchanting voice of Julianne Regan makes this song truly magical.
It's hard to say that the best for Spear Of Destiny is yet to come. Years 1984 - 1988 were their best time when they achieved quite a big chart success with hit singles like "Never Take Me Alive" (10 Records, TENT 162) peaked at number 14 on UK Singles Chart in 1987. In this period they also released five studio albums which all were well received by music press and fans : "Grapes Of Wrath" (Epic EPC 25318, 1983), "One Eyed Jacks" (Epic EPC 25836, 1984), "World Service" (Epic EPC 26514, 1985), "Outland" (10 Records DIX 59, 1987), "The Price You Pay" (Virgin 2549, 1988). But when the ultimate breakthrough proceeding them to world star status was inevitably close it came the health problems of Kirk Brandon, band's leader and frequent changes in band's line-up which held their progress. The band survived for next twenty five years til nowadays, mainly around Kirk Brandon, the only ever present band's member, releasing albums and playing gigs in the UK and Europe. Their last work was a studio album "Omega Point" (EasterSnow Recording Company, ESRCLP 010) from 2010 recording by Kirk Brandon (guitar, vocals) and three experienced fellow musicians : Craig Adams (bass, ex-The Sisters Of Mercy, then member of The Mission, The Cult, The Alarm), Adrian Portas (guitar, ex-The New Model Army, ex-Sex Gang Children) and Mike Kelly (drums, The Mission). It was announced that the next Spear Of Destiny's album is due to release in 2014 and it will be titled "Thirty One".
This song was chosen for today's post because it's melancholic enough to suit the sad moods which were spreading around in last few days. It was taken from Nico's live album titled "Behind The Iron Curtain" (Dojo, DOJO LP27) recorded during her concerts in Prague, Budapest and Warsaw in autumn 1986.
Chvrches is one of the new young bands which should achieve a worldwide success in a very short period of time. Formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 2011by Iain Cook (synthesizers, guitar, bass, vocals) and Martin Doherty (synthesizers, samplers, vocals) and joined by Lauren Mayberry (lead vocals, synthesizers) the band spent next seven or eight months in their basement studio writing their new songs for their first records, a single "Lies" which was available in May 2012 as a free download from the blog of the Neon Gold label and an official debut single "The Mother We Share" (National Anthem Records) released in November 2012. Thanks to these highly acclaimed by music critics issues Chvrches was ranked fifth on the BBC's Sound of 2013 list of the most promising new music talents. The big step forward for the band was signing the contract with an independent record label Glassnote Records. Their next EPs titled "Recover", "Gun" and re-issued "The Mother We Share" entered on the UK Singles Chart peaking respectively at numbers 91, 55 and 38. On 20th September 2013 Chvrches released their debut studio album "The Bones Of What You Believe" which peaked at number 9 the UK Album Chart. Throughout the whole year 2013 the band toured extensively all over Europe. They also supported Depeche Mode during their The Delta Machine Tour in Nimes (July 16th), Milan (July 18th), Prague (July 23th) and Warsaw (July 25th). Personally I think that Chvrches are enormously good when performing live, much better than they work in studio. A classic example is live version their first single "Lies".
Rossetti's Compass is a music project which was founded in 2010 by Mark Warner, a former member of Sudeten Creche and current member of Touching The Void, both bands playing dark electronic music. In a year 2013 he was joined by next two musicians : Per Aksel Lundgreen and Martin Bowes and working together they released two EPs : "Tear Garden" (No Emb Blanc, NEB012) and "My Beloved" (Sub Culture Records, SUBCULTURE 012). On October 14th 2013 during live session in the Cage Studios (owned by Martin Bowes) they recorded four new songs which are due to release on November 5th 2013 as their next EP "The Cage Sessions, Session 01". The band will donate all profits from this release to The Cancer Research Charity. The preview is available here : http://thecagestudios.bandcamp.com/album/the-cage-sessions-01
Gerry Rafferty is the author of the one of the most recognizable songs in rock music history. This song titled "Baker Street" (United Artists Records, UP 36346) was originally released as a single in 1978 and peaked on Number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and Number 2 on Billboard US Hot 100. Composed and written all by Rafferty himself this song has got true magical sound strenghtened by distinctive saxophone solo.
Sixth June is undoubtedly true and real star of modern dark electronic music. And "Afraid Of Lies" is the best track of their only album "Everytime" (No Emb Blanc, neb002) released in 2010. It should be a HIT!.
A new wave Scottish band Altered Images is a fine example what creativity, unique sound and support from one of the most known radio disc jockeys (BBC Radio 1 presenter John Peel) can produce and change a provincial tiny group of youngsters into a medium sized pop stars. This band was formed in Glasgow1979 by ex-school friends Clare Grogan (vocals), Johny McElhone (guitar), Gerard McNulty (guitar), Tony McDaid (bass) and Michael Anderson (drums) and in a one year it's got attention enough to play as a support for Siouxsie and the Banshees and to record their first songs with Steve Severin as their producer. Frequent live performances helped them to develop their unique sound which drew attention of aforementioned John Peel, who invited them to record a session for his BBC 1 show in October 1980. The songs from this session sounded very natural, fresh, sharp and good enough to prompt John Peel to help them to sign the contract with major record label Epic.The next three years brought the three successful albums and several singles that reached Top 40 status on the UK Singles Chart, but Altered Images were losing gradually their new wave sound and image, becoming just before their split up in 1984 a mere disco band.
When a new wave band B-Movie split up in 1986 one of its founding member, a guitarist Paul Statham has started a longtime collaboration with a singer Peter Murphy (ex-Bauhaus) as his co-writer of all his studio albums released in years 1986 - 2004. In the meantime he co-wrote and produced albums for then unknown vocalist Dido achieving world wide success with the song "Here With Me". In following years he became one of the more busier songriters and producers in pop and rock music scene working for such artists lke Kylie Minogue, Dot Allison, Shara Nelson, Helicopter Girl, The Saturdays and many more. Around a year 2009 he started his solo project named The Dark Flowers assembling musicians and vocalists with whom he worked earlier on their productions. This project was inspired by a novel "Motel Chronicles", a collection of poems and memoirs written by an Amaerican author and playright Sam Shepard. All by himself he recorded music backgrounds for twelve songs and next he invited Peter Murphy, Jim Kerr (Simple Minds' leader), Shelley Poole, Dot Allison, Helicopter Girl and a couple of newcomers, a Norwegian artist Kate Havnevik and British singer/songwriter Catherine A.D. to choose and to interprete individually by them exerpts and passages from Shepard's novel. Together they created magical music, maybe a little melancholic and nostalgic, but delicate and smooth. Someone has called it "a dark country record". My most favourite song of this album titled "Radioland" which was released on 2012 is "Fast Forrest Rain" sung by aforementioned Kate Havnevik.
Andy Oppenheimer is the very unusual person. Mainly he's expert in counter terrorism and explosives, an author, analyst and lecturer on defense and mass destruction weapons. Secondly he's a talented singer/songwriter who currently participates in three different musical projects with musicians from three different countries. Way back in early 1980s Andy was one of the synthpop's pioneers involved in early New Wave and New Romantic club scene, influenced by The Human League and Soft Cell. In 1982 he formed with his friend Martin Lloyd a London based band Oppenheimer Analysis. In next two years they wrote and recorded several songs, which were released on casette titled "New Mexico", they also played some gigs in London and Brighton until their split up in 1984. Andy and Martin decided to reactivate their band around year 2005. Since their comeback they play occasional concerts in England and continental Europe, they also released 12inch four-track EP "Oppenheimer Analysis" (Minimal Wave, MW001) with early material which proceeded a CDR compilation of remaining old recordings entitled "Songs From The Atomic Age" and another CDR with new songs "Der Weissenschaftler". In last three years Andy widened his music engangament starting two more artistic projects. The first one, named Oppenheimer MKII with Mahk Rumbae ( a member of the Konstruktivists ), has just released an album "The Presence Of The Abnormal" (Klanggalerie, gg172). The second one, named Touching The Void, founded with electronic music producer Mark Warner signed a contract with a German independent record label No Emb Blanc and released on 30 November 2012 first single "Parallel Lives" (No Emb Blanc, NEB009) containing two songs "Parallel Lives" and "Highbury Fields". Especially, the title song has some inner magic.
Thirty years ago or even a decade earlier it was common that at least several new good albums were released every week. Nowadays we have to wait for a quite remarkable record for weeks. This situation perfectly suits to the release of a new full-length studio album by New Romantic's pioneers B-Movie entitled "The Age Of Illusion" (No Emb Blanc, NEB015). The album was issued on 27 September 2013 by German independent label No Emb Blanc, strictly linked with its parent label Genetic Music. Almost exactly at same time B-Movie released on 28 June 2013 an EP "Distant Skies" (No Emb Blanc, NEB013) with four more new tracks.
Exactly thirty years ago on 22nd October 1983 a song titled "Motormania" released by London based group Roman Holiday debuted on the UK Single Chart at number 40. It's a pity but it didn't go any further next week, so it was the highest chart position for this song.
Just about three years ago in March 2010, one time New Romantic's icon, then an avid and talented actor Adam Ant decided to be the musician again, so he completed his new band and started gigging both in UK and North America. Full-time touring wasn't enough for him, so his next aim has become to record and release an album containing only new musical material. To fullfill this project he invited former 3 Colours Red guitarist Chris McCormack, Morrissey's co-writing partner Boz Boorer and his old friend and writing partner guitarist Marco Pirroni. The result of their collaboration was an double album titled "Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar In Marrying The Gunner's Daughter" which was released by Ant's own record label Blueblack Hussar Records on 21 January 2013. Despite the self-made and self-release format of this album it reached number 25 on the UK Album Chart. Two songs from this album "Cool Zombie" and "Gun In Your Pocket" were chosen on the first single released in October 2012.
Mniej znane oblicze zespołu Adam and the Ants z początków jego kariery. Cztery utwory nagrane podczas sesji dla programu Johna Peela, jaka miała miejsce w lipcu 1978 roku, oparte na mało skomplikowanych gitarowych riffach, schematycznych rytmach i trochę udramatyzowanym wokalu brzmią bardzo typowo dla wczesnej fazy post-punku, czy też nowej fali, chociaż widoczny jest tu jeszcze wpływ najbardziej kultowego w tym okresie brytyjskiego wykonawcy ery punk rocka, jakim byli The Sex Pistols. Trzeba tu wspomnieć, że menedżerem zespołu była wówczas Jordan, ściśle związana z Malcolmem MacLarenem, który był z kolei menedżerem i pomysłodawcą The Sex Pistols. Zespół tworzyli wówczas : Adam Ant (guitar, vocals), Matthew Ashman (guitar), Andy Warren (bass) oraz Dave Barbarossa (drums). Nagrane w trakcie tej lipcowej sesji piosenki, w kolejności "You're So Physical", "Cleopatra", "Friends", "I'm A Xerox" zostały wydane w 1991 roku przez wytwórnię Strange Fruit wraz z sześcioma kolejnymi utworami z innych sesji zespołu dla Johna Peela na składance "Peel Sessions" (Strange Fruit SFRLP 115).
Gary Numan's new album "Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)" was released on October 14th in the UK and rest of the world and on October 15th in North America (US and Canada). It's his twentieth studio album and contains twelve brand new tracks. The album is promoted by two earlier published songs "I Am Dust" and "Love Hurt Bleed". But, in my opinion, the best track on this album is "The Calling".
A cool song "Belladonna" taken from an album "The Maria Dimension" (Play It Again Sam Records BIAS 184) by The Legendary Pink Dots. It's appropriate moody tune for a long October evening. Some can say it's timeless. Maybe they are right.
Belladonna. Sea blue marshmallow eyes. Belladonna sees you - it's just a disguise. She sees nothing but grey. Belladonna. Ice cool, shaken not stirred. Belladonna. Whisper only the word and she would wash the day away... And as I faded through the years, she found an answer to the tears. It wasn't wise, but no, no humble mortal ever matched these eyes.
Belladonna - pretty name for a slave. Belladonna. Starburst - shouts from the grave "I'll remember our dawn."
Question : Is it possible nowadays that the being much ahead of his times, true avantgarde artist can become the worldwide pop star selling million copies of albums and touring successfully for over than thirty years?
Answer : NO! Next question : Was it possible thirty five years ago? Answer : Absolutely YES!
Let's listen to complete session recorded by The Human League way back in August 1978 for the John Peel radio show broadcasting on BBC Radio 1.
Nazwa zespołu The Underground Youth wskazuje, że jego założyciel, którym jest pochodzący z Manchesteru Craig Dyer czerpie swe muzyczne inspiracje od twórców pokroju The Velvet Underground, czy też Sonic Youth. Jest w tym wiele racji, lecz może jeszcze większy wpływ na tworzona przez niego muzykę wywarli artyści, którzy na przełomie lat 80-tych i 90-tych stali się wizytówką nowej sceny muzycznej powstałej w Manchesterze, nazwanej troche przekornie Madchester. Wówczas to swoje pięć minut sławy mieli tacy wykonawcy jak The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, James, The Charlatans, The Inspiral Carpets, którzy osiagnęli sukces nie tylko lokalnie w Manchesterze, ale także zdobyli znaczną popularność w całej Wielkie Brytanii oraz innych krajach europejskich, jak również za oceanem w Stanach Zjednoczonych i Kanadzie. Gatunek muzyczny jaki można do nich przypisać to mieszanka typowego rocka alternatywnego, dużo pchychodelii, trochę transowych rytmów dyskotekowych. Ten muzyczny melanż zaadaptował twórczo The Underground Youth, dodając do niego również nieco z muzyki shoegaze, nurtu, który z kolei święcił triumfy w pierwszej połowie lat 90-tych, zauważalne są także wpływy takich kultowych i elitarnych artystów jak Tones On Tail, czy Joy Division. The Underground Youth posiada kontrakt nagraniowy z niezależna wytwórnią muzyczną Fuzz Club Records, która wydała ich dwie płyty długogrające "Delirium" (Fuzz Club Records, FC0001V) w 2012 roku oraz najnowszą "The Perfect Enemy For God" (Fuzz Club Records, FC014V) w sierpniu bieżącego roku. Dorobek zespołu uzupełniają wcześniejsze, wydane własnym sumptem albumy "Morally Barren" i "Voltage" z 2009 roku, "Mademoiselle" i "Sadovaya" z 2010 roku, a także wydane już przez Fuzz Club Records EPka "Low Slow Needle" (Fuzz Club Records, FC004V10) oraz singiel "Morning Sun" (Fuzz Club Records, FC0001V7). Pierwsze albumy zespołu z lat 2009 - 2010 są wyłącznie do nabycia w formie plików do pobrania, natomiast wydawnictwa Fuzz Club Records to płyty winylowe w limitowanych seriach od 100 do 500 egzemplarzy każda. Pomimo braku zakrojonego na szerszą skalę marketingu i niewielkie nakłady ich płyt The Underground Youth zyskał w ostatnich dwóch latach całkiem sporą popularność, ugruntowując ją licznymi ostatnio trasami koncertowymi, między innymi w Szwajcarii, Niemczech, Danii, Grecji, Portugalii, czy Rosji. Obecnie w skład zespołu obok Craiga Dyera wchodzą Olya Dyer oraz Daria Xenofontova.
After almost thirty years' hiatus one time New Romantic pioneers Visage released a new album "Hearts & Knives". Their actual line-up consists of Steve Strange (vocals) who founded this band with Rusty Egan and Midge Ure way back in 1978, and now alongside Steve Barnacle (bass, Visage's member in years 1982-1985), Robin Simon (guitar, ex-Ultravox and ex-Magazine) and Lauren Duval (vocals). The album is promoted by two singles : "Shameless Fashion" and "Dreamer I Know" and featured ten brand new songs, all of them recorded just like it was early 1980s.
Xiu is a solo project of Oksana Rodionova (Xiu). Born in Estonia, now based in Milan, Italy Oksana has classical music
education and for several years she also sang in the church choir in Russia.
After studies she became part of the underground musical scene focused on
electronic minimal sounds, classified as cold wave or minimal wave. She also
collaborated with the minimal-synth acts like Newclear Waves, Day Before Us and Cold Colors.
Under the moniker Xiu she issued EPs "Dancing Voodoo" (self-released), "Xiu"(aufnahme+wiedergabe records, a+w 012), "Possession" (Belaten, thurisaz). Her debut full-length album is planned to release in 2014 by German independent label aufnahme+wiedergabe. In recent months Xiu toured extensively all over Europe.
Xiu jest
solowym projektem muzycznym Oksany Rodionowej. Urodzona w Estonii, obecnie osiadał w Mediolanie (Włochy) Oksana
posiada klasyczne wykształcenie muzyczne, ponadto przez kilka lat śpiewała w
chórze kościelnym. Później jednak jej zainteresowania muzyczne przesunęły ją do
środowiska twórców awangardowej muzyki elektronicznej. Współpracowała w tym
okresie z takimi zespołami jak Newclear Waves, Day Before Us i Cold Colors. Natomiast jako Xiu
nagrała w latach 2011 - 2013 kilka płyt i kaset, w tym "Dancing Voodoo" (wydany samodzielnie), "Xiu" (aufnahme+wiedergabe, a+w 012), "Possesion" (Belaten, thurisaz). Obecnie nagrała juz materiał na swoją debiutancką płytę długogrającą, która ma zostać wydana w 2014 roku przez niemiecką niezależną wytwórnię płytową aufnahme+wiedergabe.
The Honeymoon Killers lub też w języku francuskim Les Tueurs De La Lune Del Miel, bo tymi dwoma nazwami się posługiwał wymiennie nowofalowy belgijski zespół, którego liderem był Yvon Vromman niezwykle wyraźnie zaznaczył swoje istnienie w kręgach niezależnej muzyki rockowej na przełomie lat 70-tych i 80-tych ubiegłego stulecia. Zespół ten założył około 1974 roku, wspomniany powyżej, Yvon Vromman (guitar, vocals), który przez dwa kolejne lata był jego liderem i jedynym stałym członkiem, bowiem pozostali uczestnicy jego projektu bardzo często się zmieniali, zresztą nie byli to profesjonalni muzycy, grali i występowali dla przyjemności, normalnie pracując jako kucharze, taksówkarze, hazardziści itp. Koncerty jakie w tym okresie dawali, głównie w barach, pubach i niedużych salach koncertowych na terenie stolicy Belgii Brukseli szybko przyniosły im dość spory rozgłos i opinię rozrabiaków, po których można było się spodziewać różnych kłopotów i ekscesów. Tworzyli w tym okresie bardzo eklektyczna muzykę, łączyli w niej różnorodne style i gatunki muzyczne, począwszy od bluesa i hard rocka, poprzez poezję śpiewaną i psychodelę, aż po free jazz i punk. Wykrystalizował się wówczas w miarę stały skład zespołu : Yvon Vromman (vocals, guitar), Gerald Fenerberg (guitar), Jeanf Jones Jacob III (drums), Monsieur X (bass, saxophone), Albert Vert (bass, trumpet). Zainspirowany ich muzyka znany belgijski producent Marc Moulin zaproponował im w 1977 roku nagranie materiału na płytę długogrającą, do którego niebawem doszło w Synsound Studio w Brukseli. Materiał ten umieszczony został na płycie "Special Manrube!" wydanej w listopadzie 1977 roku przez małą niezależną wytwórnię Kamikaze. Ukazanie się płyty na rynku zamknęło pewien etap w historii zespołu, który po tym wydarzeniu zawiesił na kilka lat swą działalność. Do jej wznowienia doszło w 1980 roku, gdy Vromman, Fenerberg i Jones Jacob III oraz Marc Hollander (keyboards) i Vincent Kenis (bass), wówczas muzycy innej belgijskiej grupy awangardowej Aksak Maboul, zaprosili do udziału w niej wokalistkę Veronique Vincent. Powrót zespołu znaczy jego triumfalna trasa koncertowa po kilku krajach europejskich (Niemcy, Francja, Belgia, Holandia), po zakończeniu której zespół nagrywa studiach w Zurychu, Londynie i Brukseli swój kolejny album zatytułowany po prostu "Le Tueurs De La Lune Del Miel" (Crammed Discs - CRAM 013), a w krajach frankofońskich nazwany przekornie "The Honeymoon Killers", który zostaje wydany na wiosnę 1982 roku. Album ten promuja dwa single "Route Nationale 7"/"Historie A'Suivre" (Crammed Discs - CRAM 3457) i "Decollage"/"Flat" (Ariola 105063). Zespół odnosi znaczny sukces komercyjny, staje się z miejsca ulubieńcem prasy muzycznej, szczególnie we Francji i Wielkiej Brytanii, gdzie jako pierwszy wykonawca francuskojęzyczny pojawia się na okładce tygodnika muzycznego New Musical Express. Jednocześnie w kolejnych trzech latach 1982 - 1984 zespół odbywa kilkanaście tras koncertowych po całej Europie, wszędzie będąc bardzo dobrze, bądź owacyjnie przyjmowany. Początek 1985 roku to kolejną trasa koncertową, tym razem po Japonii lecz po powrocie z niej następuje w zespole rozłam. Veronique, Marc i Vincent tworza piosenki, jeszcze bardziej popowe i zorientowane na sukces na listach przebojów, natomiast Yvon wraz z pozostałymi członkami zespołu pragnie skierować jego rozwój w kierunku muzyki znacznie ambitniejszej, nawet awangardowej. Niezależnie od siebie te dwie frakcje tworzą i nagrywają w różnych studiach, mimo to wskutek nie dokońca znanych powodów nic z tych sesji nie ujrzało światła dziennego. Twórczość The Honeymoon Killers lub jak ktoś woli Les Treurs De La Lune Del Miel zostaje powszechnie doecniona dopiero w XXI wieku, wówczas to belgijski magazyn muzyczny Mofo uznał nagraną przez zespół w 1982 roku płytę długogrającą za najlepszy belgijski rockowy album wszechczasów, natomiast w 2009 roku inny magazyn Le Vif/L'Express zaliczył tą płytę do dziesięciu najlepszych płyt wydanych kiedykolwiek w Belgii. Równocześnie brytyjski The Guardian umieścił piosenkę zespołu "Decollage" wśród dziesięciu najbardziej rozpoznawalnych utworów belgijskiej muzyki pop.
As legend says the first true "Goth" on the 80s music scene was Andrew Hayward, the founding member of London based band Sex Gang Children. It came from a nickname given Andrew by Ian Astbury, leader of another London rock group The Southern Death Cult. As Ian recalls, at this time Andrew lived in building located in Brixton called Visigoth Towers and dressed like a Banshee fan, so he started to call him the Gothic Goblin and his followers The Goths. Andrew "Andi SexGang" formed his Sex Gang Children alongside Dave Roberts (bass), Terry MacLeay (guitar) and Rob Stroud (drums) around 1981 - 1982. Although they were active in this original line-up til 1984 they achieved quite a cult status on London post punk or gothic rock scene. However they released only one full-length studio album "Song And Legend" (Illuminated Records, JAMS 666) and several EPs and singles from which the most interesting one is "Sebastiane" (Illuminated Records ILL 2212).
Daniel Ash, gitarzysta legendy rocka gotyckiego jakim była grupa Bauhaus postanowił w 1981 roku odejść od formuły mrocznej, momentami katastroficznej muzyki, jaka współtworzył wówczas wraz wokalistą tej formacji Peterem Murphy, i po troszę przez przypadek, jako swoistą odskocznię od niej rozpoczął swój autorski projekt muzyczny, który nazwał Tones On Tail. Do wzięcia w nim udziału zaprosił swojego szkolnego kolegę, a wtedy również współlokatora Glenna Camplinga, który objął w nim funkcję basisty, a okazjonalnie grał także na syntezatorach i programował automat perkusyjny. Jako duet Tones On Tail nagrali w 1982 roku kilka utworów, które zostały wydane na kolejnych trzech maxi-singlach wydanych przez trzy różne wytwórnie płytowe : "Tones On Tail" (4AD BAD 203, 1982, tracklist : "A Bigger Splash", "Copper", "Means Of Escape", "Instrumental") , "There's Only One" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 85T, 1982, tracklist : "There's Only One", "Now We Lustre"), "Burning Skies"
( Situation Two SIT 21T, 1983, tracklist : "Burning Skies", "OK, This
Is The Pops", "When You're Smiling", "You, The Night And The Music"). Brzmienie, jakie uzyskali w tych nagraniach było zdecydowanie lżejsze i łagodniejsze w porównaniu z tym, które stworzył Bauhaus, mieszały sie też tu różne gatunki muzyczne od postpunka i nowej fali po bardziej eksperymentalny pop w nieco awangardowym odcieniu. Po tym jak Bauhaus rozpadł się po raz pierwszy w lipcu 1983 roku do Tones On Tail dołączył jako kolejny pełnoprawny uczestnik tego projektu perkusista Kevin Haskins. Zespół w tym składzie stworzył w kilku różnych studiach nagraniowych materiał, który ostatecznie znalazł się na płycie długogrającej, niestety ich jedynej, przekornie nazwanej "Pop", wydanej w kwietniu 1984 roku przez wytwórnię płytową Beggars Banquet (BEGA 51). Dziewięć zawartych na tej płycie utworów tworzy unikatowy, zróżnicowany muzycznie, eklektyczny tekstowo jej repertuar, który wykracza poza wyznaczone wówczas dla post punka, czy rocka gotyckiego ramy. Otwierający płytę "Lions", stonowany pełen melancholii numer, twardo osadzony w formule pop, jego psychodeliczny nastrój budują oszczędnie wykorzystane syntezatory. Drugi na płycie "War" idzie w kierunku nowofalowych rytmów i brzmień bliskich takim grupom jak Shriekback, Japan, a nawet King Crimson, szczególnie partie gitarowe zbliżone są do technik gry charakterystycznych dla Roberta Frippa. "Happiness" z kolei mógł zostać wielkim hitem w epoce swingu, tu jednak cyberprzestrzenne brzmienie dało mu ponadczasowy wymiar. "The Never Never (Is Forever)" w wydźwięku nieco apokaliptyczny, w warstwie muzycznej sporo rzeczy zaczerpnietych z jazzu, czy tez jazz rocka, eklektyczny, ambitny. "Performence" to najbardziej przebojowy, rozbudowany muzycznie i zaaranżowany z rozmachem utwór, wydany również na singlu z zamiarem zaistnienia na listach przebojów. Natomiast "Slender Fungus" to jakby żart muzyczny z tekstem o dość ironicznym zabarwieniu, najbardziej "odlotowy" pastisz na tej płycie. Wreszcie "Movement Of Fear" zbudowany na kilku dźwiękach, świetnie zaaranżowany, klimatyczny i pełen wewnętrznego napięcia. "Real Life" można nazwać nastrojowa balladą, lecz liczne zmiany tempa i niepokojący wokal nadają temu utworowi wizję chaosu potegowanego sprzężeniami przesterowanej gitary Asha. Kończący płytę "Rain" to kolaż elektronicznych przestrzennych brzmień przypominający dokonania niemieckich zespołów spod znaku krautrocka. Wersja płyty przygotowana na rynek amerykański i kanadyjski zawierała kilka innych utworów, niż wersja wydana w Wielkiej Brytanii oraz pozostałych krajach europejskich. Te inne utwory to : "Twist" - w moim mniemaniu najbardziej niesamowity numer na tej płycie, poczatkowo jakby kalka wczesnych utworów Bauhausu, szczególnie podobny do sztandarowego 'Bela Lugosi's Dead" lecz nagle przeradza się za sprawą gitarowych riffów a'la California surf rock i pojawiającego się w tle śpiewu mew w piosenkę, która mogłaby posłużyć jako soundtrack w opowieści o wampirach polujących na plaży na swe ofiary, a wszystko to przy pełni księżyca. Kolejny utwór "Go!" okazał się oryginalnie średniej wielkości klubowym przebojem w Stanach Zjednoczonych, często samplowanym przez innych wykonawców, najbardziej znaną jego przeróbkę nagrał Moby (jego wersja dotarła na początku lat 90-tych na czołowe miejsca list przebojów, zarówno amerykańskich, jak też brytyjskich). Album "Pop" oraz trzy promujące go single "Performance"/"Shake" (Beggars Banquet BEG 106T, marzec 1984), "Lions"/"Go (Club Mix)" (Beggars Banquet BEG 109T, maj 1984) oraz "Christian Says"/"Twist" (Beggars Banquet BEG 121T, listopad 1984) uzyskały całkiem niezłe recenzje w prasie muzycznej i zachęcony tym zespół odbył dwie trasy koncertowe, jedną w Wielkiej Brytanii, drugą w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Pomimo, że przyniosły one umiarkowany sukces Daniel Ash postanowił w listopadzie 1984 roku rozwiązać Tones On Tail. W ciągu tych blisko trzydziestu lat od tego zdarzenia ukazało się kilka płyt składankowych, na których zbierano w różnych zestawach nagrania Tones On Tail, najbardziej kompletnym jest wydany przez wytwórnię Beggars Banquet w 1998 roku dwupłytowy album nazwany po prostu "Everything"(BEGA 200CD) zawierający praktycznie wszystko co zespół nagrał w trakcie swego istnienia.
Tones On Tail was formed by Daniel Ash, a guitarist in the gothic rock legend group Bauhaus as his musical side project in 1982. He took as a partner in this project his school friend and flatmate Glenn Campling (bass, keyboards). As the duo they released in two years time (1982 - 1983) three consecutive EPs and maxi-singles : "Tones On Tail" (4AD BAD 203, 1982, tracklist : "A Bigger Splash", "Copper", "Means Of Escape", "Instrumental") , "There's Only One" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 85T, 1982, tracklist : "There's Only One", "Now We Lustre"), "Burning Skies" ( Situation Two SIT 21T, 1983, tracklist : "Burning Skies", "OK, This Is The Pops", "When You're Smiling", "You, The Night And The Music"). The sound they created was almost opposite to dark, gloomy music of Bauhaus. It was much lighter, more rhythmic, dance orientated, an innovative pop. Soon after Bauhaus split up in 1983 they were joined by another member of this band, a drummer Kevin Haskins. In a few months' time they recorded their only full-length studio album entitled "Pop" (Beggar's Banquet BEGA 51) which was released in April 1984. This album could be described as a true gem, musically varied, perfectly played and arranged. Complete album's tracklist : "Lions", "War", "Happiness", "The Never Never (Is Forever)", "Performance", "Slender Fungus", "Movement Of Fear", "Real Life", "Rain". Alongside this album they released next three singles : "Performance"/"Shake" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 106T, March 1984), "Lions"/"Go (Club Mix)" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 109T, May 1984) and "Christian Says"/"Twist" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 121T, November 1984). Although both album and singles have got good reception among fans and occupied high positions on UK indie charts for long weeks Daniel Ash decided to disband Tone On Tail in late 1984 after a successful US tour.
A song titled "Bela Lugosi's Dead" is generally considered as the first gothic rock record which was ever issued. This song was written by the gothic rock pioneers, an English Northampton-based group Bauhaus and released by London independent record label Small Wonder in August 1979 (TEENY 2, originally only 12inch maxi-single, on white vinyl and limited to 5.000 copies). According to group's members it was recorded live in studio in only one take lasting more than nine minutes. The title of this song refers to an American-Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi, famous for creating the classic vampire image in 1931 film "Dracula" directed by Tod Browning. Although this song never entered proper UK Single Chart it was ever present on indie charts for over two years. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" has got received his second life when it was featured in the cult vampire movie "The Hunger" directed by Tony Scott starring David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve. Bauhaus was portrayed in a film's opening scene as performing this song in live the nightclub where vampires are cruising in a hunt for their next victims. This song was also used in several other movies or television productions like horror films "The Collector", "Good Luck Chuck", "Dead Man's Curve", "Sombre" and tv series "Smallville", "Fringe", "Supernatural".
Song's lyrics: White on white translucent black capes Back on the rack Bela Lugosi's dead The bats have left the bell tower The victims have been bled Red velvet lines the black box Bela Lugosi's dead Undead undead undead The virginal brides file past his tomb Strewn with time's dead flowers Bereft in deathly bloom Alone in a darkened room The count Bela Lugosi's dead Undead undead undead
Tanit was a French new wave or cold wave group from Paris, active in years 1981 - 1985. Formed by Elsa Drezner (vocals) and Pascal Humbert (bass, ex-Sixteen Horsepower and next in Passion Fodder, Woven Hand and Lilium) than joined by Thierry Bertomeu (guitar, ex-Dazibao) and Pascal Normal (drums, ex-Orchestre
Rouge). Although being one of the starlets of French cold wave movement, which was blooming in early 80s, they only managed to release one 12inch single "Can An Actor Bleed" (Ecran, 001, 1983) and one EP "To Alaska" (Divine, MAD 1016, 1984). Both these issues were collected by French label Infrastition on released in 2007 compilation, simply entitled "1981-1985" (Infrastition, FIN 020, 2007) which also includes seven bonus tracks, six from them are live recordings plus one is unreleased song "Sisters" from their early days which was re-recorded especially for this album. Complete tracklist : "Night Knight", "Can An Actor Bleed", "Soft Pictures", "Eyes Scream", "Lola", "Echo Und Der Spiegel", "Banshee", "Wawel Song", "Questions, Questions", "Can An Actor Bleed", "She's An Artist", "The Circle", "The Kill", "Stateless Prayer", "All That Is My Own", "Nada Why", "Sisters". Wort to notice is their cover version of song "Lola" originally by an English rock band The Kinks, recorded with Brian Eno. It can say that Tanit was heavily influenced by other cold wave giants like Joy Division or The Cure. In fact, they covered several Joy Divisions's songs, one of them "The Only Mistake" was released on another compilation issued by aforementioned French label Infrastition entitled "30 Years With(Out) Ian Curtis - Transmission 80 - 10" (Infrastition, FIN 056, 2010).
Today's post is all about one song entitled "Inner Station" originally released on an album "The Figure One Cuts" (Crammed Discs CRAM 055, 1987) by Israeli top new wave group Minimal Compact. As all tracks on this album this song was written and recorded by all band's members : Malka Spigel (vocals, bass, percussion), Sammy Birnbach (vocals), Berry Sakharof (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Max Franken (drums), Rami Fortis (guitar, vocals). The unique character of this album is credited to John Fryer, an English producer who is known for his production works with such prominent bands as Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins, Fad Gadget, This Mortal Coil and many more artists clustered around independent record labels 4AD, Beggars Banquet, Mute, Rough Trade. This is their last studio album, in my opinion, more mature and melodic than earlier ones, which achieved some success in alternative clubs, especially in US. It seems that all tracks create one well written story where delicately arranged music complements great lyrics. But the most perfect song of this album is aforementioned "Inner Station". And it's hard to imagine that this song can be better performed by anyone else except Minimal Compact. However it was possible and it have become due to another Israeli band Sophya fronted by a female vocalist Sonja Rozenblum. She gave this song a new life making it more rhythmic although more melancholic, even ethereal. We can say that she transformed this song into the precious music gem. Sophya covered this song on their debut album "The Age Of Sophya" (Pandaimonium Records, Pan 13) released in 2000.
Song's lyrics below :
"Inner station still no train in sight
We are waiting side by side
Slowly slowly, sobbing inside
Inner station and the light's too bright
People meet and people part
Slowly slowly, soaring in trance
Deep down bellow
I'm going down I'm going down
I'm going down and I don't know what I'll discover
Honey changed to mud (blood)
And I look for your core
(Deep down bellow)
Guess I've got the key but I can't see any door
(Deep down bellow)
Walking in circles Thru' this endless corridor
(Deep down bellow)
When I've found I've lost you like a thousand times before
(Deep down bellow)
I'm going down I'm going down
I'm going down and I don't know what I'll discover"
Terry, Blair and Anouchka was a short-lived project of a singer Terry Hall (former member of such groups as The Specials, Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield), an American actress/songwriter/producer Blair Booth and then jeweler Anouchka Groce (member of the acid folk band Urmin Spindle). The trio formed this group in 1989, however they split up the very next year. They were great admirers of the 60s dance pop, especially bands like The Coasters or Captain & Tennille. Their first single "Missing" (Chrysalis, CHS 3381) was released in November 1989 and peaked at number 75 on UK Singles Chart. The next and final single "Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes" (Chrysalis, CHS 3478) which was released in February 1990 charted a couple places lower at number 77. Alongside this second single the trio released their debut full-length album entitled the same as the single "Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes" (Chrysalis, CCD 1701). Unfortunately this album passed almost unmarked and didn't chart in UK. Album's tracklist : "Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes", "Missing", "Fishbones And Scaredy Cats", "Lucky In Luv", "Day Like Today", "Sweet September Sacrifice", "Beautiful People", "Three Cool Catz", "Happy Families", "Just Go". The album was re-released in 2004 by Cherry Red Records (CDMRED 168) with additional two bonus songs "Hush Hush Baloo", "Love Will Keep Us Together". Personally I think that it's a shame that the trio were hardly unnoticed because their music was so fresh, stylish, sophisticated, full of joy, perfectly arranged and produced.
Today we come back to the punk era. One of the most energetic bands of those creating the second wave of punk in the late 70's was London based group Manufactured Romance. Formed in 1978 as Fourth Reich, soon they changed their name to Manufactured Romance. The band lineup was : Nina Spencer (vocals), Nick Medlin (bass), Mark Chapman (guitar), Bob Moore (guitar) and Benny Di Massa (drums). Although they were active in years 1979 - 1982 they released only one single "Time Of My Life"/"Room To Breathe" (Fresh Records, FRESH 016, 1980) and two more their songs "You"/"Long Distance Love" were featured on compilation "Back Stage Pass" (Supermusic Records Co, 1980). Worth to mention fact is that album was also released in Poland in 1985 and achieved some kind of success. In all these years they were frequently supporting UK Subs on their tours, as also they appeared in film "Punk Can Take It". After Bob and Benny split from the band in 1982 and Nina had serious health problems it seemed that Manufactured Romance became history. However, when Nina restored to health in 1983 they reformed once more but they only managed to record several new tracks, as also make some gigs under the name "Foreign Flags". The band reunited in 2008 and released on Jungle Records a CD titled "Time Of My Life" containing all their songs, both from studio sessions, as well live tracks (album's tracklist : "Chameleon", "Deja Vu", "You", "Time Of My Life". "Easy", "Long Distant Love", "Twist The Day", "When You Said", "Criminal Mind").
