Pop!

Tones On Tail - Pop

Ripped from a vinyl album re-released on Beggars Banquet Records (BBL 51) in 1988 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. I don't think I have ever featured a vinyl rip of this goth-psyche-synth masterpiece - my original copy is long gone, so here is the repress in 24-bit from the penguinflight archives.

A1 Lions
A2 War
A3 Happiness
A4 The Never Never (Is Forever)
A5 Performance
B1 Slender Fungus
B2 Movement Of Fear
B3 Real Life
B4 Rain

Burning Skies

Tones On Tails - Burning Skies

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Situation 2 Records (SIT 21T) in 1983 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. To kick off a brief run of Bauhaus related posts, here is the excellent Burning Skies single from Tones On Tail. After a tricky start, these chaps found their feet with Burning Skies and the subsequent Performance and Lions/Go! singles. They rounded off their short career with the excellent goth-psyche Pop album.

A1 Burning Skies
A2 OK, This Is The Pops
B1 When You're Smiling
B2 You, The Night And The Music

A Bigger Splash

Tones On Tail - EP

Ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on 4AD Records (BAD 203) in 1982 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Tones On Tail began as a solo project for spiky Bauhaus guitarist (aided by roadie Glenn Campling) before developing into a full band once Bauhaus split ultimately breaking the US college market in 1984 with the mini-hit Go! The early releases (of which this is their second) were very dark and difficult listening before they found pop, introducing some lush melody into their work before they eventually became Love And Rockets . Thanks again to Steve from Norwich for digging out this rip from his pristine vinyl.

A1 A Bigger Splash
A2 Copper
B1 Means Of Escape
B2 Instrumental

Saved By The Rain

Tones On Tail - Pop

Did somebody mention Tones On Tail? It took a few dodgy singles for Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins and a roadie to find the perfect formula for an antidote to Bauhaus. The opening bars of Lions are a clear indication that the talented Ash had a great deal more to contribute than just his guitar and occasional sax with Bauhaus. His voice is dreamy and melodic, fitting neatly inside the gentle pop-synths - a great opener and a real surprise to all those who were expecting something darker. Aside from the splendid darkwave synth classic Performance, this album does struggle to keep up to the standard of the opening track. War borrows heavily from Kick In The Eye, and then you have to endure plenty of filler (like many of the worst Bauhaus b-sides) until you get to the proggy Real Life and the stunning space-pop of Rain.

The American version of this album came out in a much less controversial sleeve, and dropped much of the filler, replacing them with the missing singles Go! and Christian Says. I've ripped my copies of these singles, added the 12" version of Burning Skies and the goth-disco-club mix of Go! in a folder of bonuses.

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Beggars Banquet (BEGA 51) in 1984 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1 Lions
A2 War
A3 Happiness
A4 The Never Never (Is Forever)
A5 Performance
B1 Slender Fungus
B2 Movement Of Fear
B3 Real Life
B4 Rain