Isolation Ward - Lamina Christus

Isolation Ward is a classic exemple how the new wave bands were formed in early 80s. Their story is simple and so obvious : a group of close friends which were attending the same school shared the similar music interests, bought the same records, spent their time in the same local clubs so, at one point they decided to make a step forward and create some music of their own. The place of this action was Brussels, the exact date : September 1980, the personel were : Stephane Willocq (guitar), Jean-Pierre Everaerts (bass), Thierry Heynderickx (keyboards) , Etienne Vernaeve (drums). Soon, they were joined by Nathalie Bourlard (vocals), her friend Anna Kinna "Nanou" (backing vocals, mellodica) and Eric Van Houte (guitar) who also managed to obtain an offer to record three band's songs for local radio station FM Bruxel. The recordings were made in the Sega Studio on August 13th' 1981, titled : "Dangerous", "Trackers of the Night" and "High & Low". These songs have got some airplay success which prompted FX Bruxel to organize for them several live gigs. And in a week off the last of these concerts a split occured among band's musicians - the four core members decided to say farewell to singer Nathalie and newcomer guitarist Eric who would like to be more pop and funk, on the contrary to rest of the band who wanted to play a darker kind of post-punk, like their idols Joy Division, Cabaret Voltaire, The Cure. With Nanou promoted now to a lead singer's role they worked hard on their repertoire and wrote a dozen new songs in a relatively short time. Looking for a record deal the band was noticed by Michel Duval and Annik Honore from notable indie label Les Disques du Crepuscule and soon it was offered to release a single, as well to play some live gigs. So, in March 1982 they went to LBO Studio and with Gilles Martin and Peter Principle of Tuxedomoon as engineer and producer they recorded several songs which were released on a single in April 1982 named "Lamina Christus" on A-side and "Babes and Sucklings (A Lullaby)" on B-side (Crepuscule Section Francais, RAD 008). "Lamina Christus" was frequently played in Belgic and French radio stations and achieved some success, enough that Martin Hannett (from Factory Records) or Will Seargent (of Echo and The Bunnymen) were eager to produce the band's first full-length album. It went nowhere beacause band's members postponed the release of that album and focused on their solo recordings which were gradually released on cassettes by their own label Presence. Meanwhile, in May 1982 Nanou left the band to form with Jerry WX an electronic duo Chemical Hours. She was replaced by another female vocalist Sylvie Honnay who performed on several band's live concerts and recorded with them two songs for the second single, released in April 1983, titled "Absent Hearts" on A-side and "A Request" on B-side (Les Disques du Crepuscule, TWI 135). But the band went into year 1983 without Sylvie, limited to the four faounding members with Thierry as a lead singer. They were extensively touring, playing as a support for such giants like Siouxsie and the Banshees or The Birthday Party and it seemed that their future is bright. But the smell of success didn't last long. In summer of 1983 the band was joined by Jerry WX and turned its sound into more electronic climates, but the change of musical direction didn't work out and the band announced its end lately that year. Post mortem to Isolation Ward's history were two cassettess, released in 1984 by the band's own label Presence, titled "Point de Depart" (Presence, Pre 011) and "Point Final" (Presence, Pre 013)  which comprised almost all their recordings. So, it was almost the last act, almost because in 2009 an indie record label LTM Recordings released a compilation album titled "Point Final" (LTM, LTMCD 2545) with 17 songs recorded throughout their activity. More info about Isolation Ward is on facebook band's profile :     https://www.facebook.com/isolward/   

"Lamina Christus" lyrics :
Against the wall you must cry
Anxiety is made to feel
You're dead i'm dead for my own conception
You're dead i'm dead for my own illusion

Lamina Christus goes on
Lamina Christus goes on

The curtains are made of dreams
I'm searching my mind at ones
You're dead i'm dead, it's coming in our lifes
You're dead i'm dead, it's coming just in times

Lamina Christus goes on
Lamina Christus goes on

You're dead i'm dead for my own conception
You're dead i'm dead for my own illusion

Lamina Christus goes on
Lamina Christus goes on

Pigbag - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag

Today, in addition to the post about "forgotten hits" I'd like to dedicate a few words to the one of the most unique bands on a British music scene in early 1980's. The name of this band : Pigbag, so unusual or even freak, didn't promise them to achieve any great success whatsoever. But life goes in the strange ways and against all mainstream pop music trends this crowdy bunch of friends, who had gathered together originally to play some jam sesssion, has become so recognizable to allow them to record several well received singles and albums and extensively touring all over UK, continental Europe and US. Nowadays, Pigbag is only linked with their biggest hit titled "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag" (Y Records - Y10) which was released for the first time in 1981 gaining enough success to reach number 2 on the UK Indie Chart and re-released on the public demand a year later peaking at number 3 on the main UK Singles Chart in April'1982. This song was a huge comercial success for the band and has been numerously used as a soundtrack music or at sporting events, especially by several English professional football clubs. It's still a popular dance track heavily rotating in many clubs. At last, one can mention that it was covered or remixed by so famed artists as Madness, Paul Oakenfold, Thunderpass.    

Modern Eon - Fiction Tales

Only one album, five singles and several gigs in UK (including a tour supporting The Stranglers), but it was enough to stay in memories of many dedicated fans for over thirty years now. That’s all we can tell about the band Modern Eon which was part of The New Liverpool Scene that came to prominence in years 1979 – 1981 among other young artists gathered around local music club „Eric’s”, notable for promoting punk, post-punk and new wave acts. Several of these artists achieved some kind of success in music business, such as Orchestral Maneouvres In The Dark, Echo And The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Dead Or Alive, Wah! Heat!,  Ellery Bop, Pink Military. Modern Eon was also on the best way leading to it but unfortunately it split up in the end of 1981 during work on a new matariel for their second album which was never completed. Returning to the band’s origins, it was founded in 1978 by Alix (real name Alex Johnson, guitar, keyboards, vocals) who invited Danny Hampson (bass), Ged Allen (guitar) and Joey McKechnie (drums) and they recorded and released first two singles : „Pieces” (Eon – EON 001) and „Euthenics” (Inevitable – Inev 003). Prior to the recording their first full-lenght album the band’s line-up changed, Allen and McKechnie were replaced by Bob Wakelin (synths, vocal), Tim Lever (guitar, saxophone) and Cliff Hewitt (drums). This squad is responsible for the album „Fiction Tales” (Dindisc, DID 11) which reached numer 65 on UK Album Chart and three more singles : rerecorded „Euthenics” (Dindisc, DIN 30), „Child’s Play” (Dindisc, DIN 31) and „Mechanic” (Dindisc, DIN 35), released without any bigger success. After the band’s dissolvement Alix opened his solo career under the moniker Che and rest of the group contuined their activity under new name This Time Next Year which occured a short-lived act. Then Bob Wakelin went into artworks for computer games and comics, Tim Lever played with Dead Or Alive before became music producer and remixer, Cliff Hewitt settled down in Apollo 440. My favourite Modern Eon’s song is „The Grass Still Grows”, a second track on album „Fiction Tales”, it’s tremendous, thrilling, a little hypnotic too.

The Opposition - Five Minutes

Cold wave is so specific music genre that only the most creative and imaginative musicians, who can be categorized to it, achieved some kind of success in rock music world or even a cult status among the dedicated fans.  One of them was a London-based band The Opposition, active mainly throughout the 80’s and early 90’s. In these several years their music evaluated from a rough and  austere post-punk to the pure cold wave and even closing more sublime and sopfisticated sounds and climates. The main core of this band were Marcus Bell (bass, keyboards) and Mark Long (guitar, vocal), responsible for almost all material released by the band on their singles and albums. The brightest moments in their career were albums : „Promises” ( Virgin, 206 157 ) from 1984, „Empire Days” ( Virgin, 207 329 ) from 1985 and recorded in 1990 after some hiatus „Blue Alice Blue” ( Opposition Declic, 000-121 ) . I personally think that several songs placed on these albums had quite a big potential to enter charts in UK and continental Europe, especially I’d like to mention sigles like „My Room Is White” ( Charisma, 811 412-1 ), „Five Minutes” ( Charisma, OPPS312 ) and „Crawl To Me” ( Opposition Declic 012 -5 ), but unfortunaly it didn’t happened ( except Poland where „Five Minutes” went to numer 29 on hit chart of Polish Radio Program III ). Sadly Marcus Bell died in 2014 (R.I.P.).   

Varsovia - Postcard from Peru

Quite an unusual stuff for this post. I must say that I have been observing Peruvian indiependent music scene for more than thirty years and I discovered many interesting musicians and bands throughout this time. One of these projects is Varsovia, trio from Lima, the capitol town of Peru. Its members : Sheri Corleone (vocals, guitars), Fernando Pinzas (keyboards, guitar) and Dante Gonzalez (keyboards) formed this band in mid 2011 and were performing mainly in their hometown area. They also recorded some tracks and collected them on their debut album „Recursos Inhumanos” (Buh Records – BR65) which was released on 11th November 2014. The sound they create may be decribed as synth punk or noise wave, it’s very ecclective and stepping into various musical territories. More info on their Facebook page : https://es-es.facebook.com/varsoviasynth