I admit that my IP address is easily recognized on the servers of MediaFire and Rapidshare, but I’m addicted to the thrill of acquiring sonically compromised versions of records I once owned, or am too lazy to pull off the shelf and digitize myself. After a number of exhaustive and unsuccessful web searches for .rars and .zips of some of my favorite vinyl cuts, I decided to pull up the boot straps, dust off some essential records, and upload them for others to hear. I hope you enjoy, or can at least appreciate how much some of these select tracks mean to me.
Breathless – “Bad Blood”
Nailing Colours to the Wheel EP (1987)
To this day, Breathless have not received the attention nor accolades I sincerely believe they are due, despite an impressive back-catalogue and singer Dominic Appleton’s presence on This Mortal Coil’s records (Gordon Sharp, and his non-4AD group Cindytalk, suffer a similar fate). “Bad Blood” has to be the paramount Breathless track, caressing then gouging with Appleton’s voice at it’s most visceral here. The band, for their own reasons (something to do with engineer John Fryer spoiling the drums with too much “Born in The U.S.A.” and Phil Collins-style effects) withheld “Bad Blood” from being included on Heartburst, a ‘best of’ collection of sorts, or as a CD bonus track. Most fans only familiar with their CD output have yet to hear this gem.
Ear Trumpet – “No Spill Over”
Bring On The Dirt LP (1987)
I’m dumfounded this record went under the radar and never got much press considering it’s so damn good, not to mention the line-up included Wire’s B.C. Gilbert, Siouxsie & The Banshees’ Steve Severin, and future Buzzcock’s bassist Tony Barber—perhaps the credits should have listed the members last names? Regardless, Bring on The Dirt (and 1989’s follow up Being a Dog is For Life EP) provides a vigorous shot of post-punk in line with Mesh and Lace-era Modern English, early PIL, The Fall, and Birthday Party. This track is a little more subdued than the rest of the album, but is a good mark of Ear Trumpet’s brilliance.
Fur – “St. Petersburg”
St. Petersburg 10” EP (1994)
Ché Trading existed for a very short time, but man, oh man, did they put out some knock records (Disco Inferno, Slipstream, 18th Dye, Lilys, and Magic Hour). Among them was Fur’s St. Petersburg 10” EP, which along with a 7” single titled “Chamomile”, were the band’s only recorded output. It’s a real shame, because the hazy melancholic vibe and vocal sincerity (think Slowdive meets Red House Painters vibe) displayed here were quite promising.
This track from Crocodile Ride appeared with one other song as part of a split 7” with shoegazing forefathers 14 Iced Bears. The band never released a proper album, having only a promo 7”, and a handful of contributions to compilations to show for. Their timing could have been off, as they were active during the heyday of the twee and anorak pop scenes, having just stopped short of the dawn of shoegazing—a movement that could have invigorated the band.
A.R. Kane – “Baby Milk Snatcher”
Up Home! EP (1988)
This is the original version of “Baby Milk Snatcher”, which at twice the length is sexier and even more engrossing than the abbreviated version that was re-recorded for 69. During this period of A.R. Kane’s career, the band were beautifully balancing equal parts dub and oceanic noise pop—to this day, no band has come close to recreating this type of warm humming atmosphere with such succulently soulful results.
Carmine – “Cat Bird”
Hood/Carmine split 7” (1995)
French trio Carmine offered up two of their best tracks (including this one) for a limited run split 7” single with U.K. mood-collagists Hood. As far as I know, “Cat Bird” didn’t appear on any other releases, and certainly pre-dates the space odysseys that Broadcast would later embark on.
Lovely blast of femme pop à la Lush, released by the superb Grimsey Records imprint. Unfortunately, Ninotchka only left us with this one stellar single before discarding plans for a full length and calling it a day.
Modern Eon – “Mechanic”
Mechanic 7” (1981)
I was sixteen the first time I heard this song, and due to the nature of the unlabeled mystery mix tape (with artsy photo ripped out of fashion magazine sufficing as cassette case insert), it would take me until I was eighteen to figure out that Modern Eon were responsible for the song that wore out the rewind button on my Walkman. Another version of “Mechanic” appears on the Fiction Tales album, but this is the one burned in my memory.
The Sound – “Winter”
Shock Of Daylight Mini-LP
Such a chilling and beautiful song birthed from the genius of Adrian Borland, another great artist who we lost too soon. I’m not sure what happened to the mini-LP format, but Shock of Daylight is exemplary of the configuration—6 songs perfectly selected and sequenced. “Winter” opens up Side 2 with a deep breath of crisp artic air, and for me stands up to any of the driving tension filled songs (eg. “Winning” and “Heartland”) The Sound are celebrated for.
Nagamatzu – “Muslim”
Life at the Top / Various Artists LP (1984)
Aside from the irksome dialogue for intro, this Nagamatzu track sounds like an instrumental outtake from This Mortal Coil’s It’ll End In Tears album. “Muslim” appears on the LP compilation included with issue #4 of Abstract Magazine; a wonderful relic of the mid 80’s British industrial and independent scenes (especially 4AD), featuring unreleased tracks and alternate versions. Creator and curator Rob Deacon would go on to start the excellent Sweatbox Records and Volume CD/Magazine before losing his life in a freak canoeing accident in 2007.
