Hicks From The Sticks

Various Artists - Hicks From The Sticks

I've had this rip on the back burner for quite some time. A few other blogs have MP3 rips of this fine compilation, but here for the first time is a 24-bit/96000hz vinyl extraction for your listening pleasure. Compiled by music journo Des Moines (aka Nigel Burnham) in 1980 as a vehicle for new bands in various UK cities (but not Manchester, Birmingham or London) - hence the title. Some of the acts went on to find national recognition, though only one, Pete Wiley's Wah! franchise from Liverpool, went on to find the charts, and these days Wiley still performs to a fan base. Blackpool's Section 25 were "signed" to Factory at the time, and Sheffield's Clock DVA had begun to release tapes on Industrial Records; both had significant careers since Hicks and both still record to date. Other bands such as Modern Eon, Medium Medium, I'm So Hollow, Music For Pleasure went on to release more and better product whereas most others vanished after just one or two self-released singles but Pete Burns of Nightmares In Wax went onto find fame in drag with Scouse disco band Dead Or Alive. 

The Stranger Than Fiction track is a particular favourite, such a pity they were only to release just one single. Other standouts for many will be the Cabs produced You're Without Sound which was mixed from the original Fragments tape session at Western Works, and Martin Hannett's dark production on Section 25's After Image (still a live standard up until Larry Cassidy's recent passing).

Bands like these don't exist these days (save for the current incarnations of the three bands mentioned) and nobody is recording this kind of music anymore. This album is an excellent tribute to the most productive era in British music when indie meant independent.

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Rockburgh Records (ROC 111) to high resolution 24-bit lossless FLAC audio.

A1. Airkraft – Move In Rhythm
A2. Expelaires – Sympathy (Don't Be Taken In)
A3. Clock DVA – You're Without Sound
A4. Music For Pleasure – The Human Factor
A5. Nightmares In Wax – Shangri-La
A6. Ada Wilson And Keeping Dark – Head In The Clouds
A7. Modern Eon – Choreography
A8. Medium Medium – Them Or Me
B1. Radio 5 – True Colours
B2. They Must Be Russians – Where Have I Seen You
B3. Section 25 – After-Image
B4. Art Failure – Gimmick
B5. I'm So Hollow – I Don't Know
B6. Wah! Heat – Hey Disco Joe
B7. Stranger Than Fiction – Immortal In Mirrors
B8. The Distributors – T.V. ME