Crowds

A Popular History Of Signs - Crowds

Ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Melodia Records (M 2) in 1981 to high resolution 24-bit flac. Just for the blog follower who mentioned that I had still to post a lossless version of this single. So ...here you are. APHOS borrow New Order or Section 25's early eighties synth sound with reasonable results.

A1 Crowds
B1 Crossing The Border

Here come the Commies again!

A Popular History Of Signs - Justice Not Vengeance

Ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Melodia Records (M 1) in 1980 to high resolution 24-bit flac. You may have noticed that I have been plundering the 7" box again (with a little help from Steve's collection of Daleks). I seem to have missed posting this with all the other APHS stuff years ago. It is their debut single released on 1980 which whilst it is based around a very simple drum machine beat and basic choral effect synth chords, it's the superb stabby guitar rips over everything which make this such a great track. I am sure the band want you to appreciate the lyrics and songwriting, but for me it is that guitar sound any day! Enjoy!

A Justice Not Vengeance
B Possession

Dancing With Ideas

A Popular History Of Signs - England In The Rain

Move on four years from Comrades to England In The Rain. A new line-up saw only Andrew Jarman surviving from the original APHOS with an updated direction to energetic, well produced and catchy pop which should have appealed to a wider audience, but they were sadly not listening. The intermediate (and excellent) single Art Of Persuasion (released in 1986) was a hint at the changes in APHOS, but what is essentially a mini-album, England In The Rain snuck out with no press, tour or appetizing single. 

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Jungle Records (FREUD 21) in 1988 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1 Western Wind
A2 Shoeshine Boy
A3 Salvation Train
B1 Word To The Wise
B2 Crawling 4 U
B3 City Don't Sleep

Protest Songs?

A Popular History Of Signs - Comrades

I have always struggled with APHOS brown shirt flag waving commie image. Not because of the political leanings but more that their weak agit-p(r)op facade didn't really fit with their minimalist but well structured synth-dance music. Seemingly more like gimmicky imagery for the middle class eternal student than genuine deep rooted beliefs - you need much more than brown caps, little red books and songs called Lenin to convince any sceptical non-believer. Thatcher's eighties Britain wasn't a great place to be if you were poor, but the eighties CCCP was a hell of a lot worse, and certainly not worthy of celebration. The Redskins and Billy Bragg did it much better.

The imagery spoils the perception of APHOS and they would pay for it by attracting only a very limited audience. I initially paid very little attention to A Popular History Of Signs but saw them support Shriekback in 1985 and was impressed. So, I acquired the Ladderjack EP (featured here many moons back) with it's superb Al Jourgensen remixes before picking up a copy of Comrades.

There are aspects of Comrades to like. Some tracks work very well, but these are easily lost amongst what are mostly just weak filler fodder. I do love the soulful synth-funk of Body And Soul, Jarman's subtle plucky funk bass over the squelchy minimal beats is superb, the re-recorded version of the Crowds single works well, and the dreamy Halcyon Days reminds me of what Drinking Electricity had done a few years before. Lenin starts really well as an electro-pop track but then really falls over lyrically. The sentimental Father And Son stands out on side two, the title track starts out as a good idea musically, but seems unfinished to me as it just fades away too quickly.

A Popular History Of Signs were clearly a good singles band, but when faced with the challenge of structuring a proper album, unfortunately they failed. Jarman was to relaunch the band with a new line-up and a revised vision a few years later, and although the follow up was a better record, maybe their moment had been missed.

Ripped from a badly pressed vinyl album released on Jungle Records (FREUD 5) in 1984 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1 Body And Soul
A2 Crowds
A3 Tidy
A4 Halcyon Days
A5 Lenin
B1 October Already
B2 Father And Son
B3 Five Towns
B4 Land Of The Free
B5 Comrades

Signs Of The Times

A Popular History Of Signs - Body And Soul

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Jungle Records (JUNG 19T) in 1984 to high quality lossless flac.

A. Body And Soul

B. Lenin

A Popular History Of Signs - House

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Jungle Records (JUNG 10) in 1984 to high quality lossless flac.
A1. House
A2. Sink Or Swim
B. Ladderjack

A Popular History Of Signs - Ladder Jack

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Wax Trax Records (WAX 005) in 1984 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1. Ladder Jack (Remix)

A2. House (Remix)

B1. If She Was A Car

B2. Stigma

A Popular History Of Signs - Art Of Persuasion

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Jungle Records (JUNG 25T) in 1986 to high quality lossless flac.
A. Art Of Persuasion (Extended Version)
B1. Art Of Persuasion (Radio Mix)
B2. Rock 'n' Roll

Here's a rundown on the four A Popular History Of Signs singles in my possession. I have always wished I picked up their earliest singles on Melodia as they are fine examples of quality minimalist synthpop. APHOS were known for their communist political leanings, but I always thought these were exaggerated given that these were the Thatcher years and any credible band of the time sympathised to the left. Body And Soul is just that, soulful alternative synthpop with a gentle slap bass courtesy of singer Andrew Jarman and some lovely squelchy synth. Lenin tries its best to remind us how great the man is wanted to be remembered with indifference. Among the four twelves are four of the Sign's best tracks, House, If She Was A Car, Stigma and Sink Or Swim. Ladder Jack gets worked over twice, once in its original form and then mangled by Al Jourgensen for the US release on Wax Trax. Weird Al was still trying to hone his pop chops in 1984 and his remix of House is quite credible. Art Of Persuasion could have been a great single, but it is let down by some poor production. 

I actually saw this lot live once, supporting Shriekback from memory and was impressed. There were two albums (which I no longer have), The dull Comrades which was for the beret wearing pop-crusty market, and the worthy follow-up England In The Rain which is excellent but I seem to have misplaced it. If anybody has the first singles or a copy of England In The Rain which they'd like to rip losslessly, then I for one would appreciate them greatly.

('a'-pop)* - Art Of Persuasion

I've covered A Popular History of Signs elsewhere, but for their final release they rebranded themselves as ('a'-pop)* for some strange reason. APOHS were trying to shrug off their commie agit-pop (sic) image - clearly this didn't work!

Art of Persuasion is a fine song given a dance pop remix by Jonathan Miles with some nice synth-pop washes and a funky bassline. The flip is a cover of Lou Reed's Rock'n'roll.

Art Of Persuasion : ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Jungle Records (JUNG 25T) in 1986.

A1. Art Of Persuasion (Extended Remix)
B1. Art Of Persuasion
B2. Rock'N'Roll

Listen

A Popular History of Signs - If She Was A Car

A Popular History Of Signs - If She Was A Car

Agit-pop/dance trio A Popular History of Signs, did turn out some damn good tunes. Originally an electro-pop duo formed in 1980, they never broke into the mainstream, however they did release some worthwhile contributions to early-mid 80's sounds.

Re:Upped