Bristol Archive Records Blog

Archive for September, 2009

Apartment – Album Review

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

http://www.3rdgenerationnation.de/ReviewsSeptember2009.htm

APARTMENT
„House Of Secrets“ CD-R
( Bristol Archive Records / BristolArchiveRecords.com , Release Date: Juli 2009 )
Dieses Trio ist mir noch bestens bekannt durch ihre grandiose erste Doppel-A-Seiten-Single „The Car“ zu Beginn des Jahres 1980. JOHN PEEL hatte sie bei sich im Programm und spielte beide Seiten, wobei ich den Track „Winter“ favorisierte. Dieser unterkuehlter Ton in der Stimme von Alan Griffiths und das dazugehoerige melancholische Gitarrenspiel machten diesen Song zu etwas ganz Grossem. Bis heute gilt „Winter“ als einer der besten Momente im PostPunk-Bereich ueberhaupt. „The Car“ hingegen ist ein schneller gradliniger PowerPop-Song, der ebenfalls von dem originellen Gitarrensound lebt. Ebenfalls auf der 15-Song-CD ist der Song „The Alternative“ vertreten, der 1979 auf dem „Avon Calling“-Sampler vertreten war. Diese drei Tracks sind natuerlich der perfekte Opener. Und insgeheim hatte ich gehofft, dass sich noch weitere Perlen dieser Art auf der CD befinden. Und tatsaechlich mit Track 4 „Distractions“ geht es in diese Richtung weiter. Man wird zwar unweigerlich an alte CURE-Songs erinnert, was aber voellig in Ordnung geht. Ein Song, der mir auf Anhieb gefaellt. Leider ist dann aber Schluss mit Lustig. Die nachfolgenden Songs werden groesstenteils von einer zu schwermuetigen Last getragen. „Shot Down“ macht den Anfang, obwohl dieser noch so halbwegs im gruenen Bereich anzusiedeln ist. Ich weiss nicht genau woran es liegt, aber ich finde einfach keinen Zugang zu diesen Songs, die wohl von einer Demo-Cassette stammen und eine erstaunlich gute Qualitaet vorzuweisen haben. Leider ist diese Aussage nicht ganz spruchreif, da es nicht eindeutig belegt ist. Demzufolge also keine brauchbaren Infos ueber die restlichen Songs zur Hand. „Distractions“ bleibt ganz klar der grosse Gewinner dieser CD!

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http://www.3rdgenerationnation.de/ReviewsSeptember2009.htm

The English translation:

 

This trio had until now been best known for its grandiose first 
Double A-side single “The Car” at the beginning of 1980. John Peel 
had it in his program and played both sides, whereby I favored the
track “Winter”. This super-cooled tone in the voice of 
Alan Griffiths and the accompanying melancholy guitar made 
this song into something quite epic. To this day, “Winter” is one of the 
best moments in the field of post-punk in general. “The Car” is however 
a fast PowerPop straight-forward song, & from the 
original guitar sounds alive. Also on the 15-song CD is the 
Song “The Alternative” represented on the 1979″Avon Calling” – 
Sampler. These three tracks are of course the perfect 
opener. And secretly I had hoped that even more beads 
of this kind are on the CD. And indeed, with Track 4 
“Distractions,” it continues in this direction. It indeed 
inevitably reminds of old Cure songs, but this is just fine. 
Its a song that I liked right away. Unfortunately, but 
Schluss mit Lustig. The following songs are mostly from 
too melancholy burden borne. Shot Down “is the beginning, 
although this still so reasonably settle in the green area. I 
do not know exactly why it is, but I find no access to 
these songs, which probably originate from a demo-tape and a 
track record are astonishingly good quality. Unfortunately, this statement is 
not quite ripe, as it is not clearly documented. Accordingly, therefore, 
no useful information about the rest of the songs are at hand. 
“Distractions” is quite clearly the big winner of this CD!

 

The Escape – Album Review

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

 

http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&reviews=5944

After the melodious ’77 punk of The Apartment, frontman Alan Griffiths and drummer Emil decided to go to the next level and team up with the new post-punk movement. As a three-piece, bassist Stuart Morgan completed the line-up, their aim was to create compelling  music with modest means. This resulted in a sound that grabbed you instantly, but never got so catchy that it would make for succesful top-40 material. Their passioned cool did however attract the attention of Radio One DJ Peter Powell and a recording session was the result. Then suddenly Phonogram offered them a contract and stardom was within reach. Emil however unexpectedly decided to leave the band which left Alan and Stuart to handle the deal. Just what happened to a likewise talented band at that time, The Comsat Angels, the major label was pushing the band to go for a poppy, radio friendly sound. Even with the help of several producers, including Associates’ Alan Rankine, the outcome was disappointing. In their original form however they were a very solid and vital band. Is Nothing Sacred compiles the complete recordings of The Escape, with the exception of “Relapse collapse”.
From shimmering to stern, the guitar play on the melodious “Eden” is diverse, the passionate vocals of Alan come out clear. Crescendos that seductively unfold add to the tension. With “Twenty four hours” that tension is turned into anxiety, delivered in well-placed doses. The piercing guitars and Alan’s dramatic voice make for a stirring track. “The retrospect” starts melancholic with low-key glistening guitar, the tense percussion however casts its shadow on the agitated chorus. “Nogo”, The Escape’s lone single, is a lost post-punk classic. Emotional, restless and grievious, it grabs you and doesn’t let go. The pronounced bass and elementary yet invigorating percussion of that single’s B-side, “I’ll pretend to kill you”, form a nice combination with the rather high-pitched yet amiable lead guitar. Again some suspenseful passages provide for additional intensity. “The difference between” features synths, a rare element in The Escape’s instrumentation. Thanks to an urgent groove this is a driving track. The resemblance to Bauhaus crops up, also because of Alan’s vocal timbre. Strident yet tuneful guitars characterize “Unknown war” and “Desolation”, a sticky bass is on the forefront on “Truth drug”. “Girl in the phone box” is remarkably subdued, although you expect it to increase in ferocity at any moment. On the swirling “Murder” that contained viciousness is unleashed. The strolling title track and the yearning, plaintive “Silent running” close this striking overview.

Band: Escape, the (UK)(int)
Label: Bristol Archive Records
Genre: gothic (gothic rock / (dark)wave / postpunk / batcave)
Type: cd  
Grade: 8.3
Review by: Nightporter

THE PIGS

Monday, September 14th, 2009

The band reformed to play a show supporting Vic Goddard and The Stingrays at the Thunderbolt in September 2009.

Here they are follow the link….      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KvokKX55yk