Everything Starts With an A...

Easterhouse - Waiting For The Redbird

2011-12-15T18:21:00.008Z

The difficult second album followed in 1989, and there was a glaring absentee in the form of guitarist Ivor Perry who had left to work with the post-Marr embers of The Smiths and eventually The Cradle. The change resulted in a mellowing of the band's direction with a more radio friendly sound. The politics were still there, but more subtle and less obvious to the casual listener. The title track, Waiting for the Redbird, the single Come Out Fighting, and the sad yet poignant, Stay With Me were the most commercial pieces ever to be recorded by the band. There is no doubt that Andy Perry's superb voice carried the new songs very well, even if they do sound a little dated now.

A deal in the USA with Columbia/CBS should have opened up a bigger audience but the U2-styled anthemic America would have done little to impress the bosses at their new label as well as those who controlled the country's airwaves.

Waiting For The Redbird : ripped from a vinyl album released on Rough Trade (ROUGH 124) in 1989 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Waiting For The Redbird

A2. You're Gonna Miss It (When It's Gone)

A3. Stay With Me (Death On The Dole)

A4. Come Out Out Fighting

B1. America

B2. Hope And Glory

B3. Say Yes

B4. This Country

B5. Sweatshop

Easterhouse - Contenders

2011-12-15T10:08:00.013Z

Musicians don't write many protest songs these days, and it seems politics (like many other things) has been eradicated from popular music. I'm not too sure why, but during my youth it was prevalent.

Somewhere there is the unpublished history of protest rock from Dylan to Chumbawumba via the seventies & eighties cocktail of Dead Kennedys, The Clash & Red Wedge - Bragg, Weller and The Redskins etc. Maybe Chumbawumba hitting the top ten was to signal the death of the protest song and political rock, maybe people lost interest, maybe we grew older and less angry. These days kids pitch tents in protest and smash institution windows, perhaps we were more literate back then. Bono hasn't waved his white flag in anger since 1983 and Weller has chilled with age.

Manchester's Easterhouse were a political rock band, here's what I wrote in an earlier post:

There were four Manchester bands following in the wake of The Smiths - all of whom were supposed to be the next big thing, James were snapped up by Sire, The Railway Children went to Virgin, MCA snapped up The Bodines and London Records signed Easterhouse. I don't think London Records realised what they had signed, and had certainly not done their research. Easterhouse were not your standard jingle jangle baggy jumper affair.

Named after a rundown Glasgow housing estate, Easterhouse were a powerful & political rock outfit faced up by Andy Perry's powerful voice and brother Ivor's guitar. The band supported The Smiths on many occasions, and Ivor Perry was eventually to replace Johnny Marr in the dying days of The Smiths.

London Records let the band go after one single, and Easterhouse were to go on and release their finest work on Rough Trade. The single Inspiration (see earlier post) is a tribute to IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands (featured on the cover), with the flip-side playing homage to sectarian marching bands.

Their debut album follows that vein and courts controversy at every corner. The songs are bold and brash, high quality indie-rock with balls for The Smiths Generation who had shunned the pomp of U2 and The Alarm.

Easterhouse should have been huge but the odds were always stacked against them. Contenders is a fine album and still sounds great today. My copy came with a free 7" single which is included in this rip.

Contenders : ripped from a vinyl album released on Rough Trade Records (ROUGH 94) in 1986 to lossless high quality FLAC audio.

A1. Out On Your Own
A2. Whistling In The Dark
A3. Nineteen Sixty Nine
A4. Cargo Of Souls
A5. Lenin In Zurich
B1. Get Back To Russia
B2. To Live Like This
B3. The Boy Can Sing
B4. Estates
C1. Get Back To..
D1. ..Russia

Northern Lights (Issue One)

2011-12-06T11:06:00.007Z

The Northern Lights series of cassettes was a collection of 4 audio magazines featuring music and the spoken word compiled by one Shaun Moores from Lymm in the Cheshire borders of South Manchester.

Each tape featured two tracks by an established artist (in the case of Issue One, Cabaret Voltaire contributed two live tracks). Also of note on this tape are two tracks by Moss Side funk-pranksters Rire:To Laugh who worked with ACR frontman, Simon Topping. Monologues by Kevin Hewick and The Situationalist Youth Movement (who ran the Platos nights at Pickwicks in Liverpool) and some home taped strumming by Mal Smith make up the rest.

Future tapes included work by Dislocation Dance, Eric Random, Ian Curtis, Biting Tongues, Malcolm Whitehead and Danse Society. With thanks to blog contributor Shivadescending, these will all feature on these pages over the next few weeks.

A1. Cabaret Voltaire – Sluggin' Fer Jesus (Live Liverpool Plato's Ballroom 25/2/81)

A2. Kevin Hewick – Mothers Day
A3. Rire:To Laugh – Let The Children Play
A4. Rire:To Laugh – Silent Water
B1. Mal Smith – Happy Pig Dance
B2. Mal Smith – Lookin Over Under Yonder
B3. Mal Smith – Mountain Song
B4. The Situationist Youth Collective – Monolog
B5. Cabaret Voltaire – Western Mantra (Edit) (Live Liverpool Plato's Ballroom 25/2/81)

Tools You Can Trust - John Peel Sessions

2011-12-04T18:34:00.007Z

Back in March 2009, I featured the disturbing industrial sound of eighties Manchester - the magnificent Tools You Can Trust. With much thanks to DarrenG on the excellent Peel group, I can offer up all three John Peel BBC Radio One Sessions in a lossless format. Most tracks eventually were re-recorded and found their way onto vinyl but the two Duane Eddy cover versions cut a very different seam for the Tools.

Tools You Can Trust : First Peel Session

Transmission : 12/10/1983

Producer - Dale Griffin

Engineer - Mike Robinson

Studio - Maida Vale 4

Recorded : 08/10/1983

TRACKLIST

1. Working And Shopping

2. The Feud

3. Houses And Tools

4. Show Your Teeth

LINE UP

Ben Stedman (Bass,Guitar,Drums,Tapes)

Rob Ward (Vocal, Percussion,Tapes)

Eddie Fenn (Drums)

Colin Larn (Drums)

Tools You Can Trust : Second Peel Session

Transmission - 11/04/1984

Producer - Paul Smith

Engineer - Nick Gomm

Engineer - Tim Durham

Studio - Maida Vale 5

Recorded : 21/03/1984

TRACKLIST

1. Ranters And Preachers

2. Blowin' Up A Storm

3. Cut A New Seam

4. Messy Body Thrust

LINE UP

Ben Stedman (Bass, Guitar, Drums, Tapes)

Rob Ward (Vocal, Percussion,Tapes)

Eddie Fenn (Drums)

Claire Wilkinson (Percussion)

Tools You Can Trust : Third Peel Session

Transmission - 05/12/1984

Producer - Mark Radcliffe

Engineer - Mark Radcliffe

Studio - Maida Vale 5

Recorded : 27/11/1984

TRACKLIST

1. Shazam / Sign Of The Swinging Lightbulb

2. A Knock For The Young

3. Crammed Down The Throat

LINE UP

Ben Stedman (Bass, Guitar, Drums, Tapes)

Rob Ward (Vocal, Percussion,Tapes)

Phil Hughes (Guitar,Trumpet,Percussion)

Jill Richardson (Drums,Percussion)

Martin Herring (Drums,Percussion)

Various Artists - Sex, Sweat & Blood

2011-11-26T17:08:00.006Z

A very nice alternative dance compilation LP which sits well as a companion to the Fetish Records collection, The Last Testament which was posted a few weeks back. A fine vinyl pressing by Beggars Banquet leads to a lovely and high quality lossless rip.

Sex, Sweat And Blood : ripped from a vinyl album released on Beggars Banquet Records (BEGA 34) in 1982 to lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Fashion – Move On

A2. Perry Haines – What's What?
A3. Maximum Joy – Stretch
A4. Medium Medium – So Hungry, So Angry
B1. The Dance – In Lust
B2. David Gamson – No Turn On Red
B3. Ministry – Cold Life
B4. Lora Logic – Wonderful Offer
B5. 23 Skidoo – Aversion

Chakk - BBC John Peel Session

2011-11-17T19:26:00.004Z

The mighty Chakk at their hardest, funkiest and heaviest, with some nice Peelie intros. If anybody has the missing track, please get in touch.

Transmission Date : 17/10/1984

Producer : Dale Griffin

Engineer : Simon Clifford

Studio : Maida Vale 5

Tracklist

1. Cut The Dust

2. Sedative Ends

3. No. 3 Sound

4. Mother Tongues (missing)

Personnel

Dee Boyle (Drums)

Mark Brydon (Bass)

Simeon Lister (Saxophone)

Alan Cross (Keyboards, Tapes)

Jake Harries (Vocals)

Psychic TV - The Magickal Mystery D Tour EP

2011-11-17T18:17:00.005Z

You can always rely on Genesis P-Orridge for some weird and wacky fun. I bought this release purely for the fantastic Roman P single which was included in the gatefold double single. Roman P is a superb punk number and likely PTV's finest work, it never really got the recognition it deserved, probably because the band (and it's label RCA) put all their efforts into pushing Godstar in a multiple of versions. As for the the rest of the tracks - you can make up your own minds!

The Magickal Mystery D Tour EP : ripped from a double 7" vinyl gatefold pack released on Temple Records (TOPYD 23) in 1986 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1. Good Vibrations

A2. Interzone

B1. Roman P

B2. Hex Sex

C1. Godstar (Ugly Mix)

D1. Je T'Aime (Menstrual Mix)

Warsaw - An Ideal For Killing

2011-11-16T12:16:00.007Z

This old low-fi Spanish bootleg is doing the rounds again and has been repressed with a new catelogue number. I'm not too sure of the source, the guy in the shop said it came from the UK, but copies are appearing on eBay in the USA.

Like the original, it comes with an informative info sheet detailing the sources used, and is pressed on black vinyl with a blank label on both sides. Etched in the run-off is "An Ideal For Killing". The vinyl it self is fairly heavy in weight though is likely to have come from recycled sources rather than virgin plastic.

Sound quality is fairly poor. Plenty of bonus clicks, crackle and noise add to the bootleg experience with the added bonus of left hand channel hiss in places - strange really considering most tracks have found there way onto digital formats over the years.

An Ideal For Killing : Ripped from a white label vinyl album released in 2011 (Cat. No. PJD 013)

Tension Side

A1. Inside The Line

A2. Gutz
A3. At A Later Date
A4. The Kill
A5. You're No Good For Me
A6. At A Later Date (Live)
A7. Novelty

Reaction Side

B1. Warsaw

B2. No Love Lost
B3. Leaders Of Men
B4. Failures
B5. Ice Age
B6. Walked In Line
B7. The Kill (2)

Chakk - 10 Days In An Elevator

2011-11-10T11:56:00.006Z

I don't normally do requests, but this re-rip has been in the pipeline for quite some time. Each track has been lifted from the original vinyl individually, then digitally cleaned, balanced and normalised separately. Everything has been neatly repackaged as one lossless flac archive and it sounds great. The recent documentary The Beat Is The Law gives a lot of clues where MCA went so wrong with this album, but discerning, and now older ears may enjoy a listen.

After buying (& loving) the band's first two singles, I remember the great anticipation of this album back in the mid-80s. This was quickly followed by disappointment as signing to a major (MCA) had cost Chakk their edge. On stage, they were youthful, distinct, powerful and energetic, but the American giant had polished them and added even more gloss with the final production - they even roped in Sly & Robbie to assist on studio duties.

Nearly 25 years later, I've been giving the album a second chance. Yes, the production does polish off the band's edge but listen closely and the experimentation is still there from the early singles, Smykle has just pushed it back in the mix and replaced it with that tacky 80's passion for non-acoustic drums. John Stuart does have a wonderful soulful voice complementing Jake Harries' much harder vox very well, Mark Brydon's (he of Moloko fame) indie-funk basswork is lost in the mix at times but shines through occasionally and Sim Lister's sax work is quite magical. Murderer and Cut The Dust on the free 12" are great pointers as to where the band should have been - not surprisingly they are amongst the few self-produced tracks !

The label were desperate for a return on their investment and pushed out multiple singles in multiple mixes, all of them flopped and Chakk were dropped. Chakk were great but Hula were better!

10 Days In An Elevator : ripped from a vinyl album released on MCA Records (MCG 6006) in 1986 (I've also included the limited 12" single which came free with my copy)

A1. Stare Me Out

A2. Imagination (Who Needs A Better Life)

A3. Big Hot Blues

A4. Over The Edge

B1. Lovetrip

B2. She Conceives Destruction

B3. Falling

B4. Years I Worked

C1. Murderer

C2. Big Hot Mix

D1. Stare Me Out (Crash Mix)

D2. Cut The Dust

Syket - Let It Heal

2011-11-10T11:39:00.007Z

A short break with tradition as I now feature a 12" vinyl single released in 2011. As it now appears to be deleted, I can just about say that this lovely record fits at least part of this blog's brief.

Syket are a Swedish indie act who produce dreamy pop carefully crafted with intricate arrangements. Any band who can blend delicious plucked basslines, trumpets and congas are worth a listen. Let It Heal is my single of the year, even though you can't seem to buy it anywhere anymore. Disco -oriented chums will appreciate the AA-side dance remix which I'm told went down well in clubs this year.

There is an album, With Love (which is just as good) but it is almost as difficult to track down, though I'm told Rough Trade East in London may have a few copies.

Let It Heal : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Bassline Records (P 0011) in 2011 to lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Let It Heal

A2. Syket Disco

AA. Let It Heal (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)

Shriekback - Working On The Ground

2011-11-10T11:35:00.005Z

Working On The Ground : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Y Records (YT 104) in 1983 to lovely lossless FLAC audio. I've also included my rips of the 7" single in the archive too.

A. Working On The Ground (Extended Version)

B. Nightwork

Workforce - 2x12" Singles

2011-11-09T09:44:00.007Z

I think most of you will agree that these two singles deserve a lossless rip. Workforce were a five-piece industrial funk outfit from Sheffield, who managed just two 12" singles released in 1985/6. Key members were former Cabs and Hula drummer Alan Fisch, ex-The Box member Terry Todd andvocalist Paul Weatcroft who would later move on to form one half of Ashley & Jackson.

Skin Scraped Back : Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Doublevision (DVR13) in 1985 to high quality lossless flac audio.
A. Skin Scraped Back

B1. Heap The Blame

B2. Skin Revisited

Hear!

Back In The Good Books - Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Rorschach Testing (ROR 5) in 1986

A. Back In The Good Books (Body Mix)
B1. Back In The Good Books (Strip Mix)
B2. This is The One

Data - Living Inside Me

2011-11-09T09:34:00.005Z

Living Inside Me : lovingly re-ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Illuminated Records (ILL 2112) in 1983 to high quality lossless FLAC audio. For lovers of superb synthpop everywhere!

A1. Living Inside Me
B1. A-O (No Bungalow)
B2. Data Plata

Test Department - Compulsion

2011-11-09T09:24:00.007Z

My love of percussive music has already been hinted at in these pages. Now I feature a band who used to hit things really hard - usually sheets of metal with metal pipes and the odd mechanical tool or used for riffing purposes.

Test Department were the key UK act in this genre, Australia's SPK and German noise terrorists Einsturzende Neubauten have also featured on these pages.

Originally, they gigged in disused factories in London's East End before refining their shows to fit on the stages of the Europe's smaller venues. Compulsion is just pure brutal energy, whilst on the flip-side, Pulsations 1 & 2 feature sequencers programmed and produced by Cabaret Voltaire. I'll have a go at ripping my Beating The Retreat vinyl boxset and European Network tape soon.

Compulsion : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Some Bizarre Records (TEST 112) in 1983 to high quality lossless FLAC.

A. Compulsion (Machine Run)

B1. Pulsations 1 (Human Run)

B2. Pulsations 2 (Human Run)

The Unknown Cases - Masimbabele

2011-11-09T09:12:00.004Z

Lossslessly re-ripped for your audio pleasure : The Unknown Cases were an obscure German electronic duo, very similar to DAF. In 1983, they teamed up with Ghanaian percussionist Reebop Kwaku Baah (who sadly passed away before release) and unleashed this mighty track on the world. This is the original 1983 Rough Trade 12" UK pressing, not from the multitude of mixes pawned out by the band in an effort to make money all the way into the 90's. A fairly essential release.

Masimbabele : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Rough Trade Records (RTT 126) in 1983 to high quality FLAC audio

A. Masimbabele

B. Oëkikawai

Slab! - Descension

2011-11-04T16:23:00.006Z

A treat to liven up your weekend! My rip of the debut Slab! album has been sitting on a drive for a few weeks now. I've now gotten round to track splitting and tidying it up - losslessly of course.

The Slab! sound is immense, noisy, funky and dirty. To quote a blog follower: "the best fusion of brutal funk, industrial and noise aesthetics I have ever come across, like early Swans if they had got the funk."

The band had moved their sound on from the original singles and sessions, now experimenting with multiple layers of noise & distortion carefully constructed to form the basis of what we would recognise as a song, but with twists, meanderings and shock tactics to keep the listener enthralled.

Opener, Tunnel of Love is not a warm and comfortable place, it is frightening, painful and industrial. It builds to a crescendo of noise, you don't know or care what vocalist Stephen Dray is saying, you just know that you have to prepare for the rest of the aural onslaught to come. Undriven Snow tempts you with a catchy chorus until it drives itself into the space between your ears with a volley of dis-tempered feedback.

The stunning Dr. Bombay is a three-part symphony of distorted funk, abstract jazz and dirge metal, though it only clocks in at just under five and a half minutes. There is nothing sweet about Dolores, she kicks you in the teeth with a pounding snare and kick drum, flanged bass, guitar feedback, chorused with brooding horns. By know you should be able to work out how Gutter Busting sounds. Personal favourite Flirt is a cheery little number which should brighten up any dull party. ;-)

So what are you doing this weekend. Nothing ...until you have listened to and appreciated the majesty and magnificence of Descension in it's full lossless glory.

Descension : ripped from a vinyl album released on Ink Records (INK 032) in 1987 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1. Tunnel Of Love

A2. Undriven Snow

A3. Dr. Bombay

A4. Dolores

A5. The Animals

B1. Gutter Busting

B2. Flirt

B3. Mooseland

B4. Loose Connection Somewhere

B5. Big Sleeper

John Peel Day

2011-10-29T11:31:00.007+01:00

John Peel Day seems to have passed us by with minimal rumbles on the blogosphere. I think a tribute on these pages is highly necessary, so here is the complete JP show as broadcast on the 1st June 1982. Its a noteable broadcast as it featured the first broadcast of the second New Order session, which went on to be heavily bootlegged until Strange Fruit officially released it 5 years later. Peel is called during the show by NO manager Rob Gretton (not broadcast) to correct Peel incorrectly naming the first track.

From the excellent Peel Wiki, here is a breakdown of the broadcast:

Gang Of Four: Life! It's A Shame (LP - Songs Of The Free)

JP: Nag of Four(sic), and that's from the LP Songs of the Free. "Life! It's a Shame". And indeed it is, actually, because Neil came in while the record was playing, and was telling me about he's been invited to go to the derby tomorrow. Not me. Nobody invites me to go to the derby, but old Neil, he goes, and Mrs Neil and his producer, and everybody, just as many people as he wants to take along, but not me!

B Team: What Is This? (single)

Eek-A-Mouse: For Hire And Removal (7") Volcano

JP: I must ask DLT to get these cans of his fixed because they're most peculiar tonight. I sound like a castrate to myself, I hope I don't at your end.

New Order: Turn The Heater On (session) (mistakenly announced as 'Too Late')

Stanley Winston: No More Ghettos In America (7") Jewel

Vice Squad: Propaganda (session)

Inflatable Boy Clams: Skeletons (2x7" EP) Subterranean

Rip Rig & Panic: You're My Kind Of Climate (single) Virgin

Don Cherry: Total Vibration (LP - 'Mu' First Part) BYG

Noah House Of Dread: Murder (10") On-U Sound

JP: When I was playing that in the office earlier on, one of the Radio 1 secretaries actually stuck her head in through the door and said, "hey, that's pretty good." and that's not something that happens a great deal, I must admit.

New Order: 586 (session)

Vice Squad: Sterile (session)

Blue Orchids: Hanging Man (LP - The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain)) Rough Trade

Schlaflose Nächte: Flüstern (7") Armageddon

Yellowman: How You Keep A Dance (?) Greensleeves (tape flip)

Nightingales: Paraffin Brain (single) Cherry Red

Etta James: I Worship The Ground You Walk On (7") Cadet

New Order: Too Late (session)

Applicances: Paranoia Rap (12") no label

Dub Syndicate: Pounding Systems (LP - The Pounding System) On-U Sound

John Cooper Clarke: The New Assassin (LP - Zip Style Method) Epic

Vice Squad: Humane (session)

Bim Sherman: Revolution (LP - Across The Red Sea) On-U Sound

Adverts: Great British Mistake (LP - Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts)

New Order: We All Stand (session)

Tom Verlaine: Coming Apart (LP - Words From The Front) Virgin

Donald Abyssinians: Peculiar Number

Vice Squad: No Right Of Reply (session)

Sprung Aus Den Wolken: Warte

Bis - FACT2002 EP

2011-10-29T10:01:00.009+01:00

Here's a lossless re-rip direct from my vinyl copy and it sounds great!

The FACT2002 EP was a 4 track limited 12" vinyl released as a tribute to Factory Records by Glaswegian techno-pop band, Bis. They covered four of the best known bands on Factory, with thumping techno-disco versions of Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division), Hurt (New Order), Shack Up (A Certain Ratio) and Looking From a Hilltop (Section 25).

Of all the tracks the cover of Hurt works best as New Order's early electronic indie dance gets a serious techno work-over. I just can't get into the cover of Shack Up and their version of LWTUA is more like Kraftwerk with Stephen Hawkins guesting on vocals, but it does end nicely with Mandy's untreated backing vocals and some lovely keyboard melodies.

I'm pretty sure this has been long deleted as I've noticed that the very expensive second-hand online store at EIL have been asking for £40 a copy! Strangely, you can buy all four original Factory releases for less on eBay or Discogs.

FACT2002 : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on The Optimo Singles Club (OSC 004) in 2002 to lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Love Will Tear Us Apart

A2. Hurt

B1. Shack Up

B2. Looking From A Hilltop

Sir Horatio - Abracadubra

2011-10-28T16:33:00.005+01:00

Another re-rip! Again to lossless FLAC.

For those who don't know, Sir Horatio were A Certain Ratio, who released this anonymous 12" single. From Discogs.....

"They wanted people to believe that this was a authentic dub plate from some Reggae producer. But the name Sir Horatio sounded too much as A Certain Ratio. As a dub record it worked very well. Terrific deep dubby mixing and production. The cover showing a leaf of marihuana gave a clear impression on the condition you had to be to fully enjoy this record."

Abracadubra : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on 666 Records (MIX 1T) in 1981 to high quality lossless FLAC.

A. Abracadubra

B. Sommadub

A Certain Ratio - FACUS 4

2011-10-28T16:07:00.007+01:00

For me, this is ACR at their peak - sharp, tight and funky. Recorded over two seperate sessions, the flipside is Martin Hannett produced post-punk funk at Graveyard studios. The needle almost jumps of the grooves on Do The Du (Casse) and The Fox. We can only wish how good the debut To Each.. album would have really sounded, rather than the washed out mix on the final LP. We know the story ....but do we know the truth?

The hipside is the original four track sessions at Cargo self-produced with then manager Tony Wilson, and costing an alleged 50 quid. Shack Up found success and recognition for the Manchester five piece, Son And Heir is a re-recorded version of Crippled Child from the 1979 demos.

ACR play their 33 and a third anniversary concert at Manchester Band On The Wall over the weekend of 11 & 12th November - some tickets may still be out there.

FACUS 4 ; Ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on Factory Records (US) (FACUS 4) in 1981 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Do The Du (Casse)

A2. The Fox

B1. Shack Up

B2. Son And Heir

Various Artists - The Last Testament

2011-10-23T10:52:00.007+01:00

Continuing with my mini tribute to the wonderful Fetish label, here is a fine compilation of their releases. There is a depth of quality here which parralells the varied output of Factory, Illuminated, 4AD, Situation Two.

Superb art-punk from WKGB, the garage sound of The Bongos, industrial meanderings from Mal from the Cabs, Z'Ev and Throbbing Gristle, disco funk from Perry Haines & post-punk funk from Bush Tetras and 23 Skidoo. Highlights for many will be the two Clock DVA unreleased live tracks. Genesis P'O even gets to introduce two of the tracks.

The Last Testament : ripped from a vinyl album released on Fetish Records (FR 2011) in 1983 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Non-Stop : WKGB

A2. Nuts And Bolts : The Bongos

A3. What's Funk? : Perry Haines

A4. Lazy In Love : 8 Eyed Spy

A5. The Opening (Live) : Clock DVA

A6. Wipe Out : Z'EV

B1. Del Sol : Stephen Mallinder

B2. Das Ah Riot : Bush Tetras

B3. Last Words : 23 Skidoo

B4. Remain Remain (Live) : Clock DVA

B5. Discipline (Live) : Throbbing Gristle

B6. Hawaii 5-0 : 23 Skidoo

Stephen Mallinder - Temperature Drop

2011-10-23T10:47:00.004+01:00

Temperature Drop : lovingly ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Fetish Records (FE 12) in 1981 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Temperature Drop

B. Cool Down

23 Skidoo - The Gospel Comes to New Guinea / Last Words

2011-10-15T17:40:00.004+01:00

If you ever need to hear a stark comparison between the quality of a lossless vinyl rip and that of a mastered CD track, then you this is for you. I ripped this wonderful double A-side from an original Fetish Records 12" single. The pressing was of such a high quality, it only needed a light clean and minimal de-clicking during the mastering phase.

Strangely, the full length 12" version of Last Words has never found its way onto any of the 23 Skidoo reissue compilations, instead both Ronin Records and LTM Records chose to use the promo only 7" version. Here it is in its full 7 and a half minute glory.

The Gospel Comes To New Guinea b/w Last Words : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Fetish Records (FE 11) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. The Gospel Comes to New Guinea

B. Last Words

A Certain Ratio - Live In Holland 1982

2011-09-29T16:36:00.009+01:00

Here's a little something to keep you occupied for the next few weeks, as I am off doing other things. There are plenty more vinyl rips to come in mid-October.

In February 1982, Dutch Radio station VPRO recorded and broadcast a set by A Certain Ratio at Paard Van Troje in The Hague. Here is that show, captured from the mixing desk, restored and then digitised in a high quality lossless audio format from a cassette tape. There is a little evidence of hiss reduction in places, but please don't let that distract you from what is a fine and tight performance by the Manc funksters.

1. Showcase

2. Back To The Start

3. Showcase

4. Skipscada

5. Sommadub

6. Saturn

7. Knife Slits Water

400 Blows - Return Of The Dog

2011-09-23T16:49:00.006+01:00

One of the very first posts here was a compilation of the 400 Blows singles. I'm not going to recompile them as a lossless set, but I am going to work my way back through them re-ripping one by one as lossless posts.

Ripped from fantastic heavyweight vinyl, this moody, number jumps of the platter and bites you hard. Gruff treated vocals, funky bass and lots of congas - it's up there with Coup and Waterline in my book.

Return Of The Dog : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Illuminated Records (ILL 2712) in 1983 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Return Of The Dog

B. French Donkey

Out - Tough Enough

2011-09-23T16:38:00.006+01:00

I've put up the Stimulin Peel Session elsewhere, but soon after they split without releasing anything, Alex Sharkey went on to form Out with Simon Boswell. I love the quality of the pressing on the Illuminated 12" singles - ripping this was a joy! It would be a shame if it wasn't reposted lossless, especially as these singles never found their way onto digital formats.

This powerful 80's pop dance number by Alex Sharkey and Simon Boswell was never a hit, though if it had a major label support, it could have broken through. It's very much in the vein of the Tara Butler single and features the same musicians. The fact that it never was a hit, makes it rather special to me. Hope you think so too.

Tough Enough : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Illuminated Records (ILL 4612) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Tough Enough

B. Tough (Version)

Tara Butler - Up Against The Wall

2011-09-23T16:27:00.007+01:00

It's time for a couple of lossless re-rips from the Illuminated Records stable. I thought the two Simon Boswell produced dance singles would be a good place to start.

Up until its demise Illuminated Records were responsible for some fantastic indie dance 12" singles. There were the obvious mini-hits by 400 Blows and 23 Skidoo, but Up Against The Wall is fantastic and strangely now the most forgotten Illuminated release. I've no clue who Tara Butler is/was, save for her vocals on Electra's Italo disco fave Feels Good, but this 12" features production and instrumentation by then in house muso Simon Boswell, who went on to much greater things. This pounding indie-pop dance number comes in two mixes with the superb Up Against The Version bounding into Colourbox territory.

Those who downloaded my lossless rip of the Heavy Duty Breaks album will be very familiar with these beats.

Up Against The Wall : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Illuminated Records (ILL 4412) in 1984 to lush lossless FLAC audio

A. Up Against The Wall

B. Up Against The Version

X-O-Dus - English Black Boys

2011-09-21T11:13:00.006+01:00

Another very worthy re-rip to lossless audio. I don't own many reggae records and shamefully admit that I own this one for the wrong reasons.

A very early Factory Records release, produced by reggae maestro producer Dennis Bovell, though I still do wonder how it would have sounded if Martin Hannett had been allowed to produce this. The flipside See Them A'Come is superb. A dubby reminder of all that was bad about God's Cop : James Anderton, and what the then Greater Manchester Police commissioner stood for (and was allowed to get away with).

X-O-Dus, originally named Exodus, were a Manchester roots reggae band with members from Hulme and Moss Side. They initially formed in mid 1975 by Honey, Leddy, Trevor Bell, and shortly after, Dave Reid. They were joined in 1978 by Ricky Jones, Johnny Caton and Gayle Reid. They changed the name to avoid confusion with a London reggae band. Their aim was to give a new, young British sound to reggae. They recorded just one 12" on Factory Records, this FAC 11. A planned follow up single and LP failed to materialize.

English Black Boys : ripped from a first pressing 12" vinyl single (or is it a dubplate?) released on Factory Records (FAC 11) in 1979

A. English Black Boys

B. See Them A'Come

Japan - Nightporter

2011-09-20T09:32:00.004+01:00

Nightporter : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Virgin Records (VS 554) in 1982 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Nightporter

B. Ain't That Peculiar

Sylvian & Sakamoto - Forbidden Colours

2011-09-20T09:27:00.005+01:00

Forbidden Colours : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Virgin Records (VS 601-12) in 1983 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Forbidden Colours

B1. The Seed And The Sower

B2. Last Regrets

OMD - Maid Of Orleans

2011-09-19T13:50:00.004+01:00

Maid Of Orleans : lovingly ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Dindisc Records in 1982 (DIN 40-12) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Maid Of Orleans

B1. All Of The Things We've Done

B2. Navigation

Foreign Press - The Great Divide

2011-09-11T07:31:00.006+01:00

There was a time when anything featuring the production work of Dojo/BeMusic would find its way into my record collection. To quote a commonly used phrase, you can't polish a turd and as a song, this is one hell of a stinker. Donald and Barney's knob twiddling skills can be better appreciated on the Paul Haig single, The Only Truth which came out a year later.

The Great Divide : ripped from a 12" vinyl single releases on EMI Records (12EMI 5430) in 1983 to lossless flac.

A. The Great Divide (Dance Mix)

B1. The Great Divide

B2. Love In A Strange Place

Furniture - Brilliant Mind

2011-09-11T07:18:00.004+01:00

Re-ripped to FLAC and in its complete form, I only posted the 7" version last time. Sublime British pop released 25 years ago!

Furniture came and went so quickly for many as they were a victim of the failure of Stiff Records in 1986. This single peaked at No.21 and stands up so well today.

Subsequent releases on Arista never reached the heights of this song and with the band's back catelogue contractually tied up in the Stiff collapse, they never had the chance to capitalise on their best work.

Brilliant Mind : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Stiff Records (BUY IT 251) in 1986 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Brilliant Mind (Extended Version)

B1. Brilliant Mind

B2. To Gus

B3. Brilliant Strings

Blue Rondo A La Turk - The Heavens Are Crying

2011-09-11T07:00:00.006+01:00

I upped a few Blue Rondo 7" singles recently and somebody asked about this. I don't normally do requests, but felt I needed to give this 8 minute epic a post of it's own.

What starts off as a pretty ordinary jazz-pop ditty develops into a monster latin percussion jam much akin to Candido's (or maybe even Santana's) Jingo. It's not as commercial and catchy as the previous two singles but it does show the band to be fairly competent in their trade.

The Heavens Are Crying : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Diable Noir Recordings / Virgin Records (VS 516-12) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. The Heavens Are Crying

B. The Cities Are Dying

Colourbox - 3x12" Singles

2011-09-08T17:41:00.005+01:00

Breakdown (Second Version) : lovingly re-ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on 4AD Records (BAD 304) in 1983 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Breakdown

B. Tarantula

Punch : lovingly re-ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on 4AD Records (BAD 406) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Punch

B2. Keep On Pushing

B3. Shadows In The Room

Say You : caressed from a 12" vinyl single released in 1984 on 4AD Records (BAD 403) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Say You (Extended)

B. Fast Dump

So what does happen if you leave a fish too long in an elevator?

The Jazz Butcher - A Scandal In Bohemia

2011-09-08T11:07:00.004+01:00

Another worthy lossless re-rip from vinyl. If you have never heard and learnt to enjoy the sheer pop pleasure that is Southern Mark Smith, then you need a copy of this album, or if you really want to part with some cash - buy the original single.

Secondly, The Jazz Butcher is not a jazz band (nor is he a butcher) - they are far from it - just think Robyn Hitchcock without the acid. Pure guitar pop with witty lyrical observations. Soul Happy Hour is a tribute to heavy drinking like no other, Caroline Wheeler's Birthday Present is The Birthday Party (Nick Cave's version) with a sense of humour.

A Scandal In Bohemia : ripped from a vinyl album released on Glass Records (GLALP 009) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio

A1. Southern Mark Smith

A2. Real Men

A3. Soul Happy Hour

A4. I Need Meat

A5. Just Like Betty Page

B1. Marnie (Muscovite Mix)

B2. Caroline Wheeler's Birthday Present

B3. Mind Like A Playgroup

B4. Girlfriend

B5. My Desert

A.P.B. - Cure For The Blues

2011-09-08T11:04:00.006+01:00

Here is a lossless re-rip of the debut APB album which has been sitting on a drive for weeks. I've been meaning to upload this long deleted and very hard to find debut album by Scottish pop-funksters APB for some time.

Their classic 7" Shoot You Down was one of the first postings here, but some four years later, APB had developed a more commercial sound as they broke into American college radio. Still an enjoyable listen these days, this album features the single, Open Your Eyes which was missed off the recent Something To Believe In Double CD compilation.

Cure For The Blues : Ripped from a vinyl album released in 1986 on Red River Records (YTHAN LP4) to high quality lossless Flac audio.

A1. Wonderdrug

A2. Open Your Eyes

A3. Hypnotic Love Affair

A4. Partners Of Love

A5. Better Life

B1. Crooner's Lullabye

B2. Sunset Song

B3. Part Of The Deal

B4. Stop Before I Go

B5. Simone

Dead Can Dance - Garden Of The Arcane Delights

2011-09-07T16:35:00.007+01:00

Once upon a time, Dead Can Dance were a post-punk band heavily influenced by Joy Division and The Cure. Early live shows and their first self-titled album on 4AD bore this out, but as lead singer Brendan Perry's then girlfriend Lisa Gerrard gained in influence in the band, their sound transformed with more ethnic rhythms and they developed into a major force in experimental world music.

This is their only single (more an EP) which snuck out shortly after the debut album and bridges the gap, like the missing link between Joy Division & The Cocteau Twins, from the old to the new Dead Can Dance. There is no doubt that both Perry and Gerrard have amazing voices, Perry sounding very much like Scott Walker, whereas Gerrard has an amazing vocal range, very well documented on her highly successful film score work. The problem was that they were just too pretentious for their own good.

Garden Of The Arcane Delights : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP (excuse the occ. crackle) released on 4AD Records (BAD 408) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Carnival Of Light

A2. In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated

B1. Arcane

B2. Flowers Of The Sea

Clan Of Xymox - A Day/Stranger

2011-09-07T16:24:00.006+01:00

Out of Benelux came Xymox. Out of a Peel session came two great albums on 4AD and this fantastic double A-side 12" - the Goth Blue Monday. They are still around today in one format or another but have lost their direction & importance after many splits & fractures (I think they are no longer a clan), and now just record disposable euro techno. The first two albums on 4AD are well worth hunting down.

A Day : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on 4AD Records (BAD 504) in 1985 to lossless FLAC audio

A. A Day

AA. Stranger

The Sisters Of Mercy - Temple Of Love

2011-09-07T08:21:00.006+01:00

I was never a Goth, but I did spend too many nights in cramped, hot, dirty and dubious nightclubs in Manchester basements between 1982 and 1984. I did appreciate that some of the so-called goth bands were turning out some good music. I'm very pleased how this rip has come out considering the age and wear on my copy of this single.

Temple Of Love : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Merciful Release (MRX 027) in 1983 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Temple Of Love (Extended Version)

B1. Heartland

B2. Gimme Shelter

Rose Of Avalanche - L.A. Rain

2011-09-07T08:07:00.007+01:00

It's time for some goth-tinged fun. First up is the awful Rose Of Avalanche who exploited the Yorkshire love of all things goth (Sisters soon) and clearly listened to too much Lou Reed and a lot of The Ramones in their student days. I say they are awful because most of their recordings are just that!

However, this, their debut is actually really good, and still sounds great today - I remember Peel playing this to death, so much so that I actually went out and bought a copy. I just love the guitars, like a wall of sound and fuzz which grows louder and louder until it rounds off with some lovely acoustic guitar and synths as the song fades. Good stuff - this track will make you want to hear more, but honestly don't bother!

L.A. Rain : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Avalantic Records (12 LIL 01) in 1985 to high quality lossless FLAC.

A. L.A. Rain

B1. Rise To The Groove

B2. Conceal Me

Win - Unamerican Broadcasting

2011-09-07T07:59:00.005+01:00

Re-ripped and re-posted lossless - I love this record!! From the original 12" only release on Swamplands, long before London Records and then Virgin got their sticky hands on the band and turned them into ever-so-so sweet & sickly pop.

Most of you will have never heard the original as it was deleted very quickly. The track was re-recorded for the debut London album ...Uh! Tears Baby. The album is a fine piece of 80's pop but the re-recording lacked the power and guile of this version.

Also of note was the unusual peel-off sticker sleeve featuring the stars and stripes. Also check out the great use of a speak'n'spell which was missiing on the commercial major label release.

Unamerican Broadcasting : ripped from an original Swamplands 12" vinyl single (SWX 5) released in 1985

A. Unamerican Broadcasting

B. Unamerican Broadcasting (Version)

23 Skidoo - 2x12" Singles

2011-09-06T16:48:00.004+01:00

Coup : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Illuminated Records (ILL 2812) in 1983 to high quality lossless FLAC audio. To say that I'm pleased with the quality of this rip is an understatement.

A. Coup

B. Version (In The Palace)

Language : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Illuminated Records (ILL 3812) in 1984 to luscious lossless FLAC audio. This new rip sounds amazing.

A. Language

B. Language

Slab! - Death's Head Soup

2011-09-06T16:35:00.007+01:00

I doubt Slab! were trying to have a hit with this, but it does fit in the bargain bin where good indie bands of the eighties tried to make a more commercial sound aimed at the dance floor, as the clock clicked down to the nineties (I still blame Age Of Chance). Why on earth did they sample Cameo and bring in backing singers? I can't say this works well but thankfully they stuck to the trademark distorted funk basslines which saves this track from the bin.

The flipside Switchback Ride is truly fantastic and deserves to be played very very loud at every opportunity.

Death's Head Soup : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Ink Records (INK 1240) in 1989 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Death's Head Soup

B1. Death's Head Soup (Club Mix)

B2. Switchback Ride

Slab! - Music From The Iron Long

2011-09-06T16:22:00.005+01:00

We've covered Slab! elsewhere on these pages, but not in a lossless format. Music From The Iron Lung is a mini-LP compiling their first two 12" singles and is hard, dirty, noisy and very funky. Stand out is the huge sounding, 7 minute, flanged bass, workout Parallax Avenue, well worth the price of admission alone.

Music From The Iron Lung : ripped from a 12" vinyl mini album released on Ink Records (MINK 25) in 1987 to lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Mars On Ice

A2. Painting The Forth Bridge

A3. Oedipus T. Rex

A4. Big Mac

B1. Parallax Avenue

B2. Yukon

B3. Flirt

Vinyl should be killing the MP3 industry!

2011-09-05T18:46:00.003+01:00

Back to the vinyl rips soon...

...I watched the Steven Wilson movie, Insurgentes over the weekend, where he smashes up, shoots up, blows up, stamps on and drives over a good few I-Pods. Love or hate Wilson's music, he does put across a valuable perspective on where the music industry is going.

Do we all live in a world at tiny bitrates en-capsuled by our MP3 players - devoid of interaction with others, or do we appreciate the whole concept of the music, the album and the packaging and live in a world where our personality is defined by our taste in music ...and our music is enjoyed in the privacy of our homes?

In the movie there is a moment of chat between Wilson and Trevor Horn, where an album is played back through a high end stereo and Horn retorts "now playback the MP3 version through the same system and notice how shit is sounds."

I too have seen groups of kids hanging around bus stops listening to music being played back through tiny mono speakers on their mobile phones. Is this the JLS generation? Do they not know any better? Is it too late?

A friend recently sent me a link to a website on which a former Sub-Pop recording artist detailed the payments he received from Itunes for his reissued work. He claimed to be paid just 6 cents (US) for a single track download and an appalling 10 cents for an entire album. Do the maths and now you know where all the money is going. Just think - no packaging costs, no distribution costs and 10 cents to the original artist for a 9.99 download. And why are CDs now cheaper than downloads on Amazon?

So what is the resale value of that download? It's yours ...you have paid for it! Compare that to the resale value of that stack of vinyl you used to have, taking up valuable space, which you loved and cherished but sold on in your thirties as your life moved on. Pause to think the next time you crank up Itunes and ponder your next download.

Who owns your record collection now?

Ministry - Cold Life

2011-09-04T16:56:00.007+01:00

Back in the early days of this blog, I was very cruel about Al Jourgensen. I still believe this was quite justified as although he has shown flashes of genius (though aided by others) as a Revolting Cock and on Ministry's stunning Twitch album, the vast majority of his output is just awful. (cue more hate mail). This 12" EP (originally released in 1981) is however, rather good.

Before he was attempting to become an electro-pop icon (the Arista years) and well before he transformed himself into a goth-death-dirge monster, he released this superb 12" single on Chicago's seminal Wax Trax label. I've upped the UK Situation Two release before but the Wax Trax repressing from 1985 is much superior, and I'm posting it as lossless audio.

Cold Life is a superb slap bass driven East Coast indie funk number, the original a-side, I'm Falling is more new wave, Primental is another bass driven dance track - basically a souped up funky instrumental version of the Arista single, I Wanted To Tell Her.

Cold Life : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on Wax Trax Records (WAX 003) in 1985 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Cold Life

A2. I'm Falling

B1. Primental

B2. Cold Life Dub

Japan - 2x7" Singles

2011-08-31T16:34:00.007+01:00

Since the sad passing of Mick Karn earlier this year, I've rediscovered Japan and have spent a lot of time listening to their very varied output. From Glam Rock to Art Rock via Disco, Jazz and Avantgarde, I doubt any other act has encompassed so many genres and managed to build a fan base and then hold it together. The two Moroder'esque disco singles are featured in this post, and no matter how many times Hansa or Virgin released them, they were never hugely successful. It's strange that it took one of their most inaccessible of tracks, Ghosts to get them a top five hit. Anyway, these are two fantastic singles and deserve to be listened to again and enjoyed with fresh ears. Those wonderful chaps at Burning Shed have been reissuing some of the Japan back catelogue on heavy vinyl.

Life In Tokyo : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Hansa Records (HANSA 4) in 1981 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Life In Tokyo

B. European Son

Quiet Life : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Hansa Records (HANSA 6) in 1981 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Quiet Life

B. A Foreign Place

O.M.D. - Souvenir

2011-08-31T16:23:00.004+01:00

I was never one for tucking my jumper in my trousers and dancing without moving my feet, but I do have a sneaky admiration for early OMD - and this has to be one of the finest synth-pop records of all time.

Souvenir : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on DinDisc Records (DIN 24) in 1981 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Souvenir

B1. Motion And Heart (Amazon Version)

B2. Sacred Heart.

Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling

2011-08-31T16:12:00.006+01:00

It's time for some synth-pop. Currently enjoying a second coming (or is it a third), Blancmange turned out some fine pop songs (with great sleeves) after turning their backs on their experimental roots. The superb b-side, Running Thin is from a 1982 Peel Session, and reminds me a lot of Depeche Mode ...before the heroin and coke habits.

Living On The Ceiling : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on London Records (BLANC 3) in 1982 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Living On The Ceiling

B. Running Thin

Browse my Discogs Shop Here

The Farmers Boys - For You (Double 7" Pack)

2011-08-31T15:57:00.007+01:00

More from Norwich! Indie popsters The Farmers Boys were snapped up by EMI and released two great pop singles before finding chart success with a Cliff Richard cover version. Muck It Out is hiding elsewhere in these pages and this value for money double pack was the follow-up. For You is a great pop song and the wonderful demo of their soul-disco effort is on side three. The three tracks on side D are a hark back to their fine indie roots.

The Swan Lane address given on the postcard on the reverse sleeve is that of the local label/indie record shop, Backs Records.

For You : ripped from a 7" double pack of vinyl singles released on EMI Records (EMID 5401) in 1983 to lossless, pop-luscious FLAC audio.

A. For You

B. T.O.S.D.

C. Muck It Out (Demo Version)

D1. Drinking And Dressing Up

D2. Something That I Ate

D3. I Don't Know Why I Don't Like All My Friends

For You!

Selling Out - The Blogmeister almost gives them away!

2011-08-24T16:48:00.005+01:00

Hi Folks.

I'm having a little clear out here at ESWA Towers and have listed a few hundred CDs (and other bits) on The Discogs Marketplace. As an exclusive treat for Blog readers, I can offer an additional discount on these already silly prices.

To qualify for the discount just include the code below in the instruction box with your order:

ESWA10 for all orders over £5 and get 10% off the goods

ESWA15 for all orders over £10 and get 15% off the goods

ESWA20 for all orders over £15 and get 20% off the goods

The discount is only applied to the goods but orders do get multiple item shipping discounts.

At the moment I am running a buy 3 and get one more free on all CD singles. ESWA followers qualify for this deal in addition to the blog offer. The discount is applied to the total goods order value after this offer has been deducted. Paypal only I'm afraid but no Paypal fees. No time wasters please.

**Offer deadline is September 6th 2011, keep checking for additional items as I add them.

Popular Voice - Home For The Summer

2011-08-20T09:34:00.004+01:00

Staying in Norwich. I featured Popular Voice's superb pop single Temptation in an earlier post, and here is their excellent debut 7". It's much more in the style of indie funksters Maximum Joy and A Certain Ratio with a superb slap bass line, and is backed with a subtle, clever and jazzy flip. I've always had an admiration for the Backs Records catelogue (though I have so little of it) and the wealth of talent which came from it.

Home For The Summer : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Backs Records (NCH 002) in 1982 to lossless FLAC audio, packaged with high res scans.

1. Home For The Summer

2. Hear The Sound

The Higsons - 3x7" Singles

2011-08-20T08:56:00.003+01:00

The Lost And The Lonely : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Waap Records (WAAP 1) in 1981 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. The Lost And The Lonely

B. It Goes Waap

I Don't Want To Live With Monkeys : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Romans In Britain Records (HIG 2) in 1981 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. I Don't Want To Live With Monkeys

B. Insect Love

Conspiracy : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Waap Records (WAAP 2) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Conspiracy

B. Touchdown

Twang - Discography & Sessions

2011-08-14T10:10:00.010+01:00

I first discovered Manc punk-funksters Twang at a couple of low key gigs and then from a flexi disc that came with the great Debris magazine in 1985. Stabbing guitar riffs, manic drums and funky basslines always make me sit up and pay attention. Ripping this was not easy as there was a lot of surface noise, but as this was such an important release, I've stuck at it and it sounds ok. The other band on the flexi disc were the wonderful Laugh.

Ripped from a 7" flexi disc released with Debris Magazine (LYN 16630) in 1985 to lossless FLAC audio.

1. What's The Rub? by Twang

2. Take Your Time, Yeah! by Laugh

The debut single proper was a self-released local affair on their own Stet label in 1986. It was quickly reissued on Ron Johnson Records to give it greater distribution through The Cartel. It's funky and jerky, it's loud and manic, it is truly wonderful. Readers should remember that there were only two bands turfing out this kind of stuff at the time, Big Flame and Twang. The sound was miles ahead of anything else - it was the short-lived bastard sound of a post-Smiths, pre-Madchester scene which lay undiscovered away from the indie discos of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Years later, a bunch of Red Hot Chillis were to make a fortune replicating it.

Sharp : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Ron Johnson Records in 1986 (ZRON 14) to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Sharp

B. Eight At A Time

John Peel had already picked up on the Twang sound and the band were to record two sessions for his late night BBC Radio show in 1986, and one further in 1987. I don't have the third but the first two were superb and are featured in this archive.

BBC Radio Peel Session : Recorded 2nd February 1986

1. Big Dry Out

2. Eight At A Time

3. Law Suit Man

4. Cold Tongue Bulletin

BBC Radio Peel Session : Recorded 7th September 1986

1. What's The Rap?

2. Every Home Should Have One

3. Intrusion

4. Lukewarm

The first proper release on Ron Johnson was the four track Kick And Complain EP released in early 1987. It included studio versions of a couple of session tracks and a rerecording of Sharp.

Kick And Complain : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on Ron Johnson Records (ZRON 22) in 1987 to lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Cut Candidate

A2. Cold Tongue Bulletin

B1. Sharp

B2. Every Home Should Have One

I don't know if it was down to changes in the band line up or industry pressures, but Twang forgot their roots for their final output, maybe we can blame Age Of Chance (coming soon), and they went dance. Snapback is a heavy thumping, sample laden, attempt at following a scene rather than driving one. The good points: wonderful raw punk-funk guitar. The bad points: the fucking awful rapping, synth bass lines and horns! This was to be Twang's last effort and they split quickly afterwards.

Snapback : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Ron Johnson Records (ZRON 29) in 1987 to high quality lossless FLAC.

A. Snapback

B. Snapback (Defence Mix)

So there you are, the complete history of Twang. All neatly packaged up in one zip : here

Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls - Dream Sequences

2011-08-12T11:21:00.006+01:00

The Invisible Girls were Martin Hannett, Robert Blamire, Steve Hopkins, Vini Reilly and Wayne Hussey, but I'm not sure Reilly and Hussey feature on this release. Pauline Murray was of course the former lead singer of Penetration.

Easily the best (and most commercial) track from the band's only album on Robert Stigwood's RSO label, Dream Sequence (One) is a catchy new wave pop song with an uplifting chorus and a busy Hannett production. The single was released independently on Illusive and would have been a hit had RSO released it.

Dream Sequence (Two) on the b-side has a demo feel, but is more likely a typical Hannett experimental piece with the backing track well down in the mix with plenty of delay, distortion, reverb and lots of charlie.

Dream Sequences : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Illusive Records (IVE 1) in 1980 to high quality lossless FLAC.

A. Dream Sequence (One)

B. Dream Sequence (Two)

The Distractions - Time Goes By So Slow

2011-08-12T11:17:00.005+01:00

Time Goes By So Slow : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Factory Records (FAC 12) to lossless FLAC audio with high resolutions scans.

A. Time Goes By So Slow

B. Pillow Fight

Syncopation - Marking Time, Demos & Sessions

2011-08-11T10:56:00.004+01:00

I posted this a few years back, but do believe it now deserves a lossless re-rip.

Syncopation were new wave band from South Manchester who developed a strong local following and much national interest. They released a cassette only album of studio demos, of which Marking Time and Down became live favourites. Marking Time was also released on the Facsimile Liasons label in 1982 (cat. no. AFL4) b/w Syncopation. A rare Manchester classic! If anybody has a copy of the tape album, please post.

There were also two BBC Radio sessions on David Kid Jensen's Evening Show in 1982 and a 1983 TV appearance on BBC TV's YES Show, hosted by Janice Long. Look here.

Syncopation secured lucrative support slots with The Jam, on the Woking threesomes final tour, and a deal was signed with Polydor subsidiary Bronze Records, but the label was to close and the band split before any further output.

Marking Time : ripped from a 7"vinyl single released on Facsimile Liasons (AFL 4) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Marking Time

B. Syncopation

With thanks to the SalfordMusic.com website, I've also included the demo of the superb Down.

With thanks to a member of the Peel Yahoo Group, here is an mp3 version of the band's first and damn fine Kid Jensen Session, first aired in February 1982 (and recently rebroadcast on BBC6 Music in 2011). The track Rain is especially good.

1. Nothing Changes

2. Rain

3. Strange Things

4. Marking Time

...all neatly packaged with high resolutions scans in a neat little zipfile.

Here

James - Sit Down (Original 1989 Rough Trade Release)

2011-08-01T10:34:00.005+01:00

Far far superior to the multitude of re-recordings and remixes released on Fontana between 1991 and 1998, this is the original and best recording of the James class Sit Down in its full eight minute glory. The three tracks on the flip are pretty smart too. If you don't agree then I'm afraid you are reading the wrong blog.

Sit Down : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Rough Trade Records (RTT 225) in 1989 to high quality lossless FLAC with occasional realistic vinyl crackle.

A. Sit Down

B1. Going Away

B2. Sound Investment

B3. Sky Is Falling

Lester Piggott!

James - Village Fire : Five Songs From James

2011-08-01T10:30:00.006+01:00

Village Fire : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on Factory Records (FAC 138) in 1985 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. What's The World

A2. Folklore

A3. Fire So Close

B1. If Things Were Perfect

B2. Hymn From A Village

The Colour Field - The Colour Field

2011-07-28T18:03:00.005+01:00

I'll admit that I did not lose sleep when the Funboy Three split, but I was very pleased to hear Terry Hall's next incarnation, The Colour Field. This self-titled debut single is a dark brooding number with a huge nod to the Bunnymen.

It is just a huge pity that Hall did not ignore pressures from his label, Chrysalis. He remolded The Colour Field sound to a more commercial pop sound and they became The Colourfield who had a string of pop hits. This debut single was strangely left off their debut album released a year later (though it later was to appear on the CD). The flip side, Sorry is a good example of why Hall is/can be such a fine songwriter.

The Colour Field : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Chrysalis Records (COLFX 1) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC.

A. The Colour Field (Extended Version)

B1. The Colour Field

B2. Sorry

Pigbag - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag

2011-07-28T17:55:00.005+01:00

You should all know by now that I'm a sucker for British indie-funk from the early-mid eighties. Post-Pop Group Bristol funksters Pigbag came and went in a flash during this period. This is their legacy, ripped from a reissue 12" from a few years later as my 7" is beyond repair. Now which came first, this or Precious?

Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Kaz Records (KAZT 94) in 1986 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag

B. Sunny Day

The League Unlimited Orchestra - Love And Dancing

2011-07-28T17:40:00.004+01:00

Courtesy of Wikipedia....

Love and Dancing is a remix album released by The Human League in 1982. It was released under the name The League Unlimited Orchestra as a nod to Barry White's disco-era Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Principally the idea and work of producer (the late) Martin Rushent, it contained remixes of many of the songs from their multi-platinum selling album Dare, along with a version Hard Times, which had originally been the B-side of the single Love Action. It was conceived and released to take advantage of the unexpected huge success of Dare and was also designed to buy the Human League time to work on new material

Rushent described working on Love and Dancing during an interview in 2007:

The dub mixes started because we didn't have time to do 'B' sides, We'd send Virgin Records a track and they'd want to rush-release it. I'd been listening to Grandmaster Flash and played it to Phil. He liked it so I suggested doing a remix of "Love Action" by chopping it up and adding effects, then we could get Virgin off our backs!

When it was all finished I had four or five remixes. Phil wasn't sure about releasing them on an album and left me to make Love and Dancing on my own. It was mixed on a board, so I had the multitrack of Dare feeding in, a Harmonizer on send one, delay lines and phasers everywhere and I'd flick it about. I'd do a section and if I liked it I'd make a tape cut and splice it in. There were thousands of edits on the master and it took forever to do.

I've left the tracks on this post without splits or cues just as they were pressed on the vinyl. All lovingly ripped, de-clicked and FLAC'ed up for your enjoyment.

Love And Dancing : ripped from a vinyl album released on Virgin Records (LEAGUELP 1) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Love And Dancing (Part One)

Hard Times

Love Action (I Believe In You)

Don't You Want Me

B. Love And Dancing (Part Two)

Things That Dreams Are Made Of

Do Or Die

Seconds

Open Your Heart

The Sound Of The Crowd

Cabaret Voltaire - The Drain Train

2011-07-27T18:39:00.003+01:00

Another Cabs double pack, but this time on their own Doublevision label released between them hopping from Some Bizarre/Virgin to a new deal on EMI/Parlophone.

The Drain Train : ripped from a 12" double pack EP released on Doublevision (DVR 21) in 1986 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. (Shakedown) The Whole Thing

B1. Menace

B2. Electro-Motive

C. (Shakedown) The Whole Thing [Version]

D. (Shakedown) The Whole Thing [Dub]

Cabaret Voltaire - Drinking Gasoline

2011-07-27T18:24:00.006+01:00

How do you follow that? .... why with this! Here's four eight minute slabs of pure Cabs released as a 12" 45rpm double pack back in 1985.. I remember much confusion over titles back when it was released as it appeared the tracks were mislabeled according to the gatefold sleeve.(My copy is a first week purchase and so, has no correction sticker)

Looking back, I'm pretty sure the tracks were put in the wrong order on the sleeve as the etching on the run offs shows that Big Funk should have been side A, Kino on side C and so on. Anyway, it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of this fine electronic hard funk as only the Cabs could do, so I've left the running order as per the pressing.

Drinking Gasoline : ripped from a double 12" vinyl EP released on Some Bizarre Records (CVM 1) in 1985 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Big Funk

B. Ghost Talk

C. Kino

D. Sleepwalking

Cabaret Voltaire - Sensoria

2011-07-27T18:16:00.005+01:00

I know I've already posted the 7" single, but this just needs to be posted. This blog would be inferior if it's followers never got to hear this massive 8 minute monster of a track.

Sensoria : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Some Bizarre Records (CVS 312) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Sensoria

B2. Cut The Damn Camera

Hula - Murmur

2011-07-27T18:08:00.007+01:00

A lossless re-rip of Hula's very fine Murmur album. Here's what I wrote a few years back in the original post...

Sheffield's Hula were formed in 1981 by Mark Albrow, Alan Fish and Ron Wright. They all shared a house/squat with the Cab's Stephen Mallinder and Paul Widger (guitarist with They must be Russians, Clock DVA & The Box), which they named The Hula Kula. The band went through three bass players, Alan Watt, Chris Brain and Mark Brydon ( more well known for his later work with Chakk & Moloko), and original drummer Alan Fish was replaced by Nort (both drummed for the Cabs).

The immense and intense Murmur album was their most significant, fusing cut ups, samples, pounding rhythms, hard slap bass & vocal paranoia blended into a hard, industrial white-boy funk sound.

The band's sound developed more commercially with each release and three John Peel Sessions found them Nationwide recognition and eventually a route into Europe. Live shows were accompanied by video cut-ups by Peter Care much like their obvious influence, Cabaret Voltaire.

Hula's biggest exposure to the listening public was a support slot to Depeche Mode at Wembley Arena.

Murmur : ripped from a vinyl album released on Red Rhino Records (REDLP 53) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Ghost Rattle

A2. Invisible

A3. Delirium

A4. Pleasure Hates Language

B1. Tear-Up

B2. Hour By Hour

B3. Jump The Gun

B4. Red Mirror

B5. Cold Kiss

Hula - Black Pop Workout

2011-07-24T13:50:00.002+01:00

The debut EP from Sheffield's Hula was recorded and mixed at Western Works in 1981 and produced by Stephen Mallinder from Cabaret Voltaire. It's a dark & experimental affair, much in the vein of early Cabs, but with a greater use of guitar, bass and drums and less electronics, a direction the Cabs were to sample on their subsequent 2X45 album, which coincidentally featured both Hula drummers, Alan Fish and Nort.

Black Pop Workout : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on Red Rhino Records (RED 18) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Feeding The Animal

A2. Ignoring The Famine

B1. Sacred Serials (Circuits On Full Gush)

B2. Junshi

Portion Control - Purge

2011-07-19T17:17:00.003+01:00

Four years later, Portion Control were churning out high quality indie-electro dance singles, three of which were remixed and collected onto this fine EP released on Dead Man's Curve. I've re-ripped this on the new deck and of course posted it in lossless FLAC audio.

Purge : ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on Dead Mans Curve Records (DMC 001) in 1986 to high resolution FLAC audio.

A1. Raise The Pulse

A2. Go Talk

B1. The Great Divide

B2. Karateka

Portion Control - With Mixed Emotion

2011-07-19T17:06:00.006+01:00

A cassette compilation of early experimental works of East London electronic dabblers Portion Control lovingly packaged in a blue pvc wallet including a booklet of images of the band's film work. I'd like to thank a blog follower for this fine transfer of an original cassette, which I've uploaded as high quality lossless FLAC.

With Mixed Emotion : digitised from a cassette album released on In Phaze Tapes in 1982.

A1. Simulate/Sensual

A2. Held Back

A3. Come Alive

A4. Le Crunch

B1. One Choice

B2. Moving Towards A Waste

B3. New Phase

B4. Return To Situation

The Anti Group - Audiophile

2011-07-19T16:51:00.007+01:00

Audiophile : ripped from a compact disc released on Side Effects (DFX 22) in 1994 to lossless high quality FLAC audio. A compilation of the 12" singles released by The Anti Group on Sweatbox Records in the UK between 1985 and 1990.

1. Ha

2. Zulu

3. Shgl

4. New Upheavil

5. F.E.M.

6. Morpheus Baby

7. Sunset Eyes Through Water

8. The Ocean

9. Big Sex

10. Big Sex II

11. Broadcast Test

Japan - Cantonese Boy (Double Pack)

2011-07-17T12:31:00.004+01:00

Cantonese Boy : ripped from a 2x7" double pack vinyl single released on Virgin Records (VS 502) in 1982 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Cantonese Boy

B. Burning Bridges

C. Gentlemen Take Polaroids

D. The Experience Of Swimming

Martha And The Muffins - Echo Beach

2011-07-17T12:27:00.004+01:00

Echo Beach : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Dindisc (DIN 9) in 1980 to lossless high quality FLAC audio.

A. Echo Beach

B. Teddy The Dink

Swamplands Records - 4x7" Singles

2011-07-16T13:50:00.004+01:00

Pale Blue Eyes by Quinn & Collins : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Swamplands Records (SWP 1) in 1984 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Pale Blue Eyes

B. Burro

The Angels Know by James King And The Lonewolves : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Swamplands Records (SWP 3) in 1985 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. The Angels Know

B. I Don't Care If You Live Or Die

You Supply The Roses by Memphis : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Swamplands Records (SWP 4) in 1985 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. You Supply The Roses

B. Apres Ski

You've Got The Power by Win : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Swamplands Records (SWP 8) in 1985 to lossless FLAc audio.

A. You've Got The Power

B. In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)

The Kane Gang - Closest Thing To Heaven

2011-07-16T13:40:00.005+01:00

From Hull to Leeds, then to Manchester and now to Newcastle for some gorgeous Geordie white boy soul. Kitchenware were a great local label who picked up numerous Newcastle band's and licensed them through various major labels. After the success of Prefab Sprout, The Kane Gang gave their label their second successful chart act. Produced by Pete Wingfield.

The Closest Thing To Heaven : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Kitchenware Records (SK 15) in 1984 to luscious lossless FLAC audio.

A. The Closest Thing To Heaven

B. Mighty Day

Glasgow & Edinburgh next....

Easterhouse - Inspiration

2011-07-16T13:18:00.003+01:00

I don't think London Records realised what they had signed, and had certainly not done their research. Easterhouse were not your standard jingle jangle baggy jumper affair.

Named after a rundown Glasgow housing estate, Stretford's Easterhouse were a powerful & political rock outfit faced up by Andy Perry's powerful voice and brother Ivor's guitar. The band supported The Smiths on many occasions, and Ivor Perry was eventually to replace Johnny Marr in the dying days of The Smiths.

London Records let the band go after one single, and Easterhouse were to go on and release their finest work on Rough Trade. Courting controversy, Inspiration is a tribute to IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands (featured on the cover), with the flip-side playing homage to sectarian marching bands.

Inspiration : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Rough Trade (RT 174) in 1986 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Inspiration

B. Johhny, I Hardly Knew You

The Three Johns - Death Of The European

2011-07-16T13:06:00.005+01:00

Everybody should have a favourite Three Johns single. Here is mine. Two blokes called John plus an "honorary John" (I think his real name was Phil), two guitars, a bass and a drum machine. Wonderful stuff!

Death Of The European : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Abstract Records (ABS 034) in 1985 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Death Of The European

B. Heads Like Convicts

1000 Mexicans - The Last Pop Song

2011-07-16T12:56:00.006+01:00

The Last Pop Song : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Abstract Records (ABS 021) in 1984 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. The Last Pop Song

B. Chinese Whispers

Red Guitars - 3x7" Singles

2011-07-13T11:22:00.005+01:00

Good Technology : re-ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Self Drive Records (SD 006) in 1983 to lossless high quality FLAC.

A. Good Technology

B. Heart Beat Go (Love Dub)

Fact : re-ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Self Drive Records (SD 007) in 1983 to high quality FLAC audio.

A. Fact

B. Dive (Live)

Steeltown : re-ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Self Drive Records (SCAR 010) in 1984 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

A. Steeltown

B. Within Four Walls

Blue Rondo A La Turk - 2x7" Singles

2011-07-13T09:27:00.002+01:00

I've been threatening to post these for some time. ;-) Superb & silly East End London Latin pop, all dressed up in big suits, sharp shoes and hideous moustaches. Thirty years on and we still don't know what Klactoveesedstein means.

Klactoveesedstein : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Virgin Records (VS 476) in 1982 to lossless FLAC Audio.

A. Klactoveesedstein

B. Klacto (Part Two)

I still think this is the better single though Klacto was a "nearly hit" and this did little. A great party song which should be played loud at every opportunity. Quite unlike anything else of their time and very likely since, apart from Kid Creole, Blue Rondo A La Turk (well some of them) were eventually to fine pop fame under the Matt Bianco moniker.

Me And Mr. Sanchez : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Virgin Records (VS 463) in 1982 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Me And Mr. Sanchez

B. Sarava

The Monochrome Set - Jacob's Ladder

2011-07-10T09:43:00.004+01:00

Continuing through a big pile of 7" singles, here's a fantastic stab at commercialism by The Monochrome Set. The band resurfaced on Blanco Y Negro after the indie years on Rough Trade and Cherry Red with this slick, polished sing-a-long pop song. I (and many of my friends) loved it, though I understand many of the band's original fan base hated it. I don't think it ever charted but it is a truly great pop single. It's backed with the Hank Marvin'ish twang fest that is Andiamo.

Jacob's Ladder : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Blanco Y Negro (NEG 4) to luscious lossless high quality FLAC.

A. Jacob's Ladder

B. Andiamo

A.P.B. - 4x7" Singles

2011-07-09T09:43:00.006+01:00

A lossless re-rip of one of the very first posts on ESWA, featuring one of my favourite bands from the early-mid eighties. I've also taken time to rip the other three 7" singles I have in my collection for your enjoyment.

Wee Scottish laddies, APB, ignored the jangly Scottish sounds of Josef K, Orange Juice and The Fire Engines and latched on to the bass driven indie funk groove, so frownded upon by post-punks grey raincoats who still clung onto their macks and their Joy Division badges (remember Chelsea FC player Pat Nevin on the cover of NME?). This incredibly catchy little number has a fantastic bassline, stabby punk riffs and superb funky drumming. At the time, this new sound was so unique and so fresh. From memory Shoot You Down was APB's second single, and I clearly remember rushing out to buy this after hearing Peel and Jensen both playing it to death back in 1982.

The band went on to release a couple more singles in this style before moving to a more pop-funk sound. APB developed a large following on US college radio and even supported James Brown. A few compilations of APB's product have been recently released on the US label Young American Recordings and APB reformed to release a new album in 2007.

Shoot You Down : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Oily Records (SLICK 7) in 1982 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Shoot You Down

B. Talk To To Me

Palace Filled With Love : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Oily Records (SLICK 8) in 1982 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Palace Filled With Love

B. All Your Life With Me

One Day : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Oily Records (SLICK 10) in 1983 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. One Day

B. Help Yourself

Summer Love : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Albion Records (YTHAN 1) in 1985 to lossless FLAC audio.

A. Summer Love

B. Is The Music Loud Enough?

Fantastic Something - The Night We Flew Out Of The Window

2011-07-01T10:11:00.004+01:00

Something fantastic, some over-twee pop with lush production and super sickly sweet vocals. From memory they were Greek but lived in the UK. There was an album too which I only have as MP3, but if there's interest I'll up it too.

The Night We Flew Out Of The Window : ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Blanco Y Negro Records (NEG 11) in 1985 to high quality lossless Flac audio. High resolution scans are also in the archive.

A. The Night We Flew Out Of The Window

B. Perfect Napolean