"The Studio Albums 1973-1983" by ROBIN TROWER – Ten Solo Albums [ex Procol Harum] Including "Twice Removed From Yesterday" (1973), "Bridge Of Sighs" (1974), "For Earth Below" (1975), "Long Misty Days" (1976), "In City Dreams" (1977), "Caravan To Midnight" (1978), "Victims Of The Fury" (1980), "B.L.T." (1981), "Truce" (1982) and "Back It Up" (1983) - featuring Vocalist and Bassist James Dewar of Stone The Crows, Bassists Rusty Allen of Sly & The Family Stone and Jack Bruce of Cream with Drummers Bill Lordan of Sly & The Family Stone & Gypsy, Reg Isidore and Dave Bronze formerly of Procol Harum (February 2019 EUROPE Chrysalis Records 10CD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro Artwork and Peter Mew Remasters Done at Abbey Road in 2010) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...We Were Spellbound... "

 

Back in late July 2010 in the UK (the 26^th to be exact) – EMI/Chrysalis put out two Fat Jewel Case Anthologies for Procol Harum’s ace axeman ROBIN TROWER (4 CDs in the Volume 1 and 3 in the second). The first was "A Tale Untold: The Chrysalis Years 1973-1976" on EMI/Chrysalis 642 1542 (Barcode 50999652154226) – and the second - "Father On Up The Road: The Chrysalis Years 1977-1983" on EMI/Chrysalis 301 3862 (Barcode 5099930138629). Between them they offered eleven albums (10 studio and one live), five rare single-sides and a singular session outtake. But they have been deleted many years now and in 2023, both have acquired hefty price tags at times on the open market.

 

What you have here is a February 2019 truncated reissue out of EUROPE in a 10-CD Clamshell Box Set with the bulk of those two fatties combined.

 

Downsides: As this 10CD Clamshell is clearly stated Studio Albums 1973-1983, the March 1976 "Robin Trower Live!" album that was on the first 4CD fat jewel case anthology is missing, as are three single-only edits, two Non-LP B-sides ("Take A First Train" and "One In A Million") and one unreleased rarity ("Let Me Be The One") – all six included across both sets as Bonuses. There is no booklet either in this Mini Box Set when there were at least inlays inside both of the 2010 Anthologies (albeit in small form).

 

Good News: you get all ten studio albums put in those dinky Mini LP repro artwork card sleeves (which has not been done before outside of Japan). Each singular card is typically not as crystal clear as say Japanese attention to detail issues, but at least full artwork has been used front and rear and they are not those squared off ones with rim-lines that Columbia uses in their 'Complete Collection' boxes. "Wrap it Up" uses the UK and European white-background cover artwork and not the black variant that was used on American copies.

 

So not only does it look way better than the cumbersome two fat jewel cases of 2010, it costs less that twenty-eight quid from most online sites – a frankly impressively low amount of roughly £2.80 per album. OK – you do lose the amazing Robin Trower Live! Set with James Dewar and Bill Lordan on top period form, five single edits and a genuine rarity in an amazing unreleased song "Let Me Be The One" (a "Long Misty Days" outtake that reeked of Thin Lizzy mid Seventies bars and drowning your sorrows in whiskey). But make no mistake; "The Studio Albums 1973-1983" is still big time value for money.

 

This Euro-only 2019 reissue has also used the 2010 Peter Mew Remasters done at Abbey Road Studios for the original 4CD anthologies (copyright Date on each CD is 2010) – so it Rocks like the proverbial amped-up Harley Davidson his albums are. The band featured Vocalist and Bassist James Dewar of Stone The Crows, Bassists Rusty Allen of Sly & The Family Stone and Jack Bruce of Cream with Drummers Bill Lordan of Sly & The Family Stone & Gypsy and Reg Isidore. Trower's old mucker Dave Bronze from Procol Harum joined him as Drummer for the "Back It Up" album of 1983 (session drummer Alan Clarke too). Here are the Fender Bender details...

 

EUROPE-only released Friday, 8 February 2019 - "The Studio Albums 1973-1983" by ROBIN TROWER on Chrysalis CRB1075 (Barcode 5060516091263) is the mega label's first anthology for the guitar virtuoso and breaks down as follows:

 

CD1 "Twice Removed From Yesterday" (41:21 minutes):

1. I Can't Wait Much Longer [Side 1]

2. Daydream

3. Hannah

4. Man Of The World

5. I Can't Stand It [Side 2]

6. Rock Me Baby

7. Twice Removed From Yesterday

8. Sinner's Song

9. Ballerina

Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut solo album "Twice Removed From Yesterday" released March 1973 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1039 (Produced by Matthew Fisher of Procol Harum)

 

CD2 "Bridge Of Sighs" (37:26 minutes):

1. Day Of The Eagle [Side 1]

2. Bridge Of Sighs

3. In This Place

4. The Fool And Me

5. Too Rolling Stoned [Side 2]

6. About To Begin

7. Lady Love

8. Little Bit Of Sympathy

Tracks 1 to 8 are his second studio album "Bridge Of Sighs" released April 1974 on Chrysalis CHR 1057 (Produced by Matthew Fisher of Procol Harum, Engineered by Geoff Emerick)

 

CD3 "For Earth Below" (36:10 minutes):

1. Shame The Devil [Side 1]

2. It's Only Money

3. Confessin' Midnight

4. Fine Day

5. Alethea [Side 2]

6. A Tale Untold

7. Gonna Be More Suspicious

8. For Earth Below

Tracks 1 to 8 are his third studio album "For Earth Below" released February 1975 on Chrysalis CHR 1057

 

CD4 "Long Misty Days" (34:19 minutes):

1. Same Rain Falls [Side 1]

2. Long Misty Days

3. Hold Me

4. Caledonia

5. Pride [Side 2]

6. Sailing

7. S.M.O.

8. I Can't Live Without You

9. Messin' The Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are his fourth studio album "Long Misty Days" – released October 1976 on Chrysalis CHR 1107 (Produced by RT and Geoff Emerick)

 

CD5 "In City Dreams" (38:28 minutes):

1. Somebody Calling [Side 1]

2. Sweet Wine Of Love

3. Bluebird

4. Falling Star

5. Farther On Up The Road

6. Smile [Side 2]

7. Little Girl

8. Love's Gonna Bring You Round

9. In City Dreams

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "In City Dreams" released September 1977 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1148 (Produced by Don Davis) – Rustee Allen on Bass with James Dewar on Vocals

 

CD6 "Caravan To Midnight" (37:39 minutes):

1. My Love (Burning Love) [Side 1]

2. Caravan To Midnight

3. I'm Out To Get You

4. Lost In Love

5. Fool [Side 2]

6. It's For You

7. Birthday Boy

8. King Of The Dance

9. Sail On

Tracks 1 to 9 are the studio album "Caravan To Midnight" released August 1978 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1189 (Produced by Don Davis) – Rustee Allen on Bass with James Dewar on Vocals

 

CD7 "Victims Of The Fury" (32:41 minutes):

1. Jack And Jill [Side 1]

2. Roads To Freedom

3. Victims Of The Fury

4. The Ring

5. Only Time [Side 2]

6. Into The Flame

7. The Shout

8. Mad House

9. Ready For The Taking

10. Fly Low

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Victims Of The Fury" released January 1980 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1215.

 

CD8 "B.L.T." (37:37 minutes):

1. Into Money [Side 1]

2. What It Is

3. Won't Let You Down

4. No Island Lost

5. It's Too Late

6. Life On Earth [Side 2]

7. Once The Bird Has Flown

8. Carmen

9. Feel The Heat

10. End Game

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "B.L.T." released February 1981 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1324. The B.L.T. refers to the Guitarist, Bass and Drummer - Robin Trower, Bill Lordan and Jack Bruce.

 

CD9 "Truce" (32:55 minutes):

1. Gonna Shut You Down [Side 1]

2. Gone Too Far

3. Thin Ice

4. Last Train To The Stars

5. Take Good Care Of Yourself

6. Fall In Love [Side 2]

7. Fat Gut

8. Shadows Touching

9. Little Boy Lost

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Truce" released January 1982 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1352 (credited to Robin Trower and Jack Bruce). Drummer is Reg Isidore who played for Peter Bardens of Camel, Richard Wright of Pink Floyd and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac (and many others).

 

CD10 "Back It Up" (38:29 minutes):

1. Back It Up [Side 1]

2. River

3. Black To Red

4. Benny Dancer

5. Time Is Short [Side 2]

6. Islands

7. None But The Brave

8. Captain Midnight

9. Settling The Score

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Back It Up" released September 1983 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1420 and in the USA on Chrysalis FV 41420. James Dewar is back on Bass and Vocals, the Drummer was Dave Bronze formerly of Procol Harum.

 

EMI-UK did Barclay James Harvest, Frankie Miller, Ian Hunter and Ten Years After in those 4 to 5CD Fat Jewel Case Anthologies – but only Frankie Miller and Ian Hunter have made this 2019 Euro reissue transition to Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Card Sleeves. Also very much worth noting is the 2010 PETER MEW REMASTER (done at Abbey Road). I've raved about this guy's touch at the tape before - even set a tag of his remastered issues for those interested in quality sound (there's hundreds) - and this double jewel-case set is no different. The sound is truly fantastic - full and clear without being over-hyped or amped up for the sake of it. Each is a new remaster excepting "Bridge Of Sighs" which Mew had already revisited in 2007.

 

Speaking of moaning and wailing, the entire "Bridge Of Sighs" album from 1974 was a vast improvement over the good-rather-than-great debut "Twice Removed From Yesterday" from 1973. The debut had its charms too, the beautiful "Daydream" sounding glorious in Remastered form (lyrics above). But in truth there are so many goodies on here – and not all of it is straight-up rocking. I love it when the band move out of the guitar pyrotechnics and got funky – the opening track "Shame The Devil" from "For Earth Below" or the Side 2 ender "Messin' The Blues" from "Long Misty Days" are good examples. Trower even has a go at The Sutherland Brothers "Sailing" (the hit Rod Stewart covered too and sent to No.1).

 

Although he had hit on a signature sound and winning formula, for years Procol Harum's Robin Trower seemed locked into those Hendrix comparisons because of it - pumping out album after album of Hard Rock Riffage - simple no-nonsense guitar classics. But then come the late Seventies and his inner Bernard Edwards and Chic seemed to grab him by the short and curlies and the Englishman went for it. And I for one - loved it to bits. I've always thought his "In The City" and "Caravan To Midnight" LPs from 1977 and 1978 (with the mighty James Dewar on vocals) to be Funky Rock meisterworks where Trower and his Flange Pedal got real familiar ("Somebody Calling" and "I'm Out To Get You" are prefect examples from those LPs). Cleaning produced by Don Davis, it helped of course that the Bass player Rustee Allen used to ply his plank with Sly & The Family Stone.

 

The album that tail-ended the Seventies was "Victims Of The Fury" (issued January 1980) is a furious fusion of both Heavy Rock and Funk and is another forgotten gem in his voluminous catalogue. A fantastic down and dirty geetar greets the listener when "Jack And Jill" comes sailing out of your speakers as the Side 1 opener (from "Victims Of The Fury") – James Dewar and his doubled-vocals as Soul-Rock as ever. Slow Blues is never far - "Roads To Freedom" giving us singing gypsies with fire in the soul and an ever-eager eye on the horizon ahead. Trower goes into shimmering floating notes for the title track "Victims Of The Fury" – a murky brooder that builds into a heavy-heavy sonic soundscape. "Only Time" is another "Bridge Of Sighs" moody shiver in the dark – his grungy guitar setting sail once again.

 

By the time we enter the Eighties proper, Trower has linked up with Jack Bruce of Cream and along with Bill Lordon sort of began to call the band B.L.T. after their three recognizable initials. It probably came as a shock to longtime Trower fans to be confronted with vocals from Jack Bruce instead of James Dewar as "B.L.T." opened with "Into Money" – but that voice so steeped in Cream Rock works. Pretty comes in the shape of "Won't Let You Down", but Bruce did not have the Soulfulness of Dewar, so his vocal delivery feels a bit leaden. Quickly back to huge riffage for the superb Classic Rock of "No Island Lost" – the singer drowning on dry land. The sheer musicality of his playing gets to shine on the mid-paced "It's Too Late" but "Feel The Heat" feels a tad too close to them trying to find a Radio Friendly. The album ends on something better – the no-safety-belt Blues of "End Game".

 

Reg Isidore took the Drummer Seat for the second BLT album "Truce" in 1982 – another collection of Rockers many co-written with either Procol Harum longtime lyricist Keith Reid or Pete Brown of Battered Ornaments fame (they were on Harvest Records in 1969 and 1970). Jack Bruce doesn't just get double billing with Trower for the album "Truce" – Bruce co-wrote four of the songs - "Thin Ice", "Last Train To The Stars", "Fat Gut" and "Shadows Touching". For "Wrap It Up" Trower wisely went back to James Dewar to get that classic combo sound and feel – his Soulful Vocals bolstering up the riffage. Produced by Trower - Bobby Clouter (of Legend with Mickey Jupp) and Alan Clarke (of Fusion and The Reg Webb Band) were drafted in for Drums and you got another Rock vs. Funk album - "River" even sounding so Free or Bad Company. The Side 1 finisher "Benny Dancer" is a typical Trower shuffler – his heavily echoed axe amped up to deafening Bonamassa levels of Blues-Rock deliverance. And on it goes...Rory Gallagher and Jimi Hendrix smiling in admiration...

 

For us old farts and our remaining hairlines - "The Studio Albums 1973-1983" by Robin Trower is a very cool little treat indeed – all 10 slices of pouting Classic Rock. No sighing on this Bridge Baby...

 

PS: FRANKIE MILLER and IAN HUNTER - see my reviews for their Box Sets in this Chrysalis Records out of EUROPE reissue series...

"Silhouettes & Statues: A Gothic Revolution 1978-1986" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Specimen, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Theatre Of Hate, Dead Can Dance, Flesh For Lulu, The Associates, Balaam And The Angel, The Sisters of Mercy, Public Image Ltd., Southern Death Cult, Fields Of The Nephilim, The Damned, Alien Sex Fiend, The Mission, Ausgang, Nico, The Birthday Party with Nick Cave, Love And Rockets, Penetration, Dali's Car, Tones On Tails, Blood And Roses, Attrition, Cocteau Twins and more (June 2017 UK Cherry Red 5CD DigiBook Set of Nick Watson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Release The Bats..."

 

Not really aimed at your Pot Pourri Laura Ashley marketplace for sustainably sourced Moccasins – there is more disruptive, lurid and rowdy musical noises on this fabulously dark and doomy 83-Track 5CD Digibook of Remasters than you can shake a UK House of Commons Happy Hour stick at (let me at the subsidised bar boys).

 

Compiled with serious gusto by RICHARD ANDERSON whilst phone and e-mail hogging help from Genre knowledge fountains like NATASHA SCARF and JOHN REED - "Silhouettes & Statues: A Gothic Revolution 1978-1986" does what it says it will do on yet another brilliantly compiled Cherry Red Records tin.

 

I know/knew about half of this stuff – but the rest is the kind of bonkers deep dive digital firsts into late Seventies & mid Eighties Punk, Worldwide New Wave, Indie, Goth Rock and Alternative that turns up the collectors volume button to eleven. 45-single A&B-sides, rare stand-alone twelve-inch singles, mini LPs and cassette compilations, unappreciated album cuts (the Hula song "Ghost Rattle" from their 1984 LP "Murmur" is a typically clever choice). All the labels famously associated with Goth and its environs are here – 4AD, Red Rhino, Situation Two, Factory, Jungle, Fiction, Virgin, In Phaze, Statik and of course, oodles of brave Indies. Hair, make-up and double-barrel fangs at the ready...here we go...

 

UK released 30 June 2017 - "Silhouettes & Statues: A Gothic Revolution 1978-1986" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Cherry Red Records CRCDBOX34 (Barcode 5013929103405) is a 83-Track 5CD Hardback Digibook Set of Remasters that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (69:16 minutes):

1. Shadowplay – JOY DIVISION (from the June 1979 UK LP "Unknown Pleasures" on Factory Records FACT 10)

2. Release The Bats – THE BIRTHDAY PARTY (September 1981 UK 45-single on 4AD Records AD 111, A-side)

3. Rema-Rema – REMA-REMA (from the April 1980 UK "Wheel In The Roses" 12-inch single EP on 4AD Records BAD 5)

4. Shattered Glass – PARANOIA (from the June 1984 UK LP "Shattered Glass" on Rot Records ASS 11)

5. Charnel Ground – SECTION 25 (October 1980 BELGIUM 45-single on Factory Benelux BN 3-006, A-side)

6. Floorshow – THE SISTERS OF MERCY (November 1982 UK 45-single on Merciful Release MR 015, B-side to "Alice")

7. The Female Mirror – CLOCK DVA (from the 1981 UK LP "Thirst" on Fetish Records FR2002)

8. The Black Cat – UK DECAY (February 1980 UK 45-single "U.K. Decay" on Plastic PLAS 002, Track 1 on Side 2 of a 4-Track EP)

9. Dead And Buried – ALIEN SEX FRIEND (August 1984 UK 45-single on Anagram ANA 23, A-side)

10. Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven – LOVE AND ROCKETS (from the October 1985 UK LP "Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven" on Beggars Banquet BEGA 66)

11. Q Quarters – THE ASSOCIATES (July 1981 UK 45-single Situation Two SIT 4, A-side)

12. Carnival Of The Gullible – IN EXCELSIS (November 1983 UK 4-Tracks 12-Inch single "Carnival Of Damocles" on Jungle Records JUNG 9, Last Track on Side 2)

13. Feels Like Dancing Wartime – NEVILLUXURY (from the 1984 Mini-LP "Feels Like Dancing Wartime" on Red Rhino Records LP 46)

14. Vaguely Human – FLESH FOR LULU (from the November 1985 UK LP "Big Fun City" on Statik Records STAT LP 28)

15. Crow Baby – THE MARCH VIOLETS (May 1983 UK 45-single on Rebirth Records RB 18, A-side)

16. D For Desire – ALL ABOUT EVE (July 1985 UK 12-Inch Single on Eden Records 1 Den, A-side)

17. Beautiful Monsters – FOLK DEVILS (from the September 2016 UK 2LP set "Beautiful Monsters: Singles And Demo Recordings 1984-1986" on Optic Nerve Recordings OPT 4.022)

 

CD2 (70:03 minutes):

1. Flowers Of Romance – PUBLIC IMAGE LTD (March 1981 UK 45-single on Virgin VS 397, A-side)

2. Bed Caves – DANIELLE DAX (from the April 1983 UK LP "Pop-Eyes" on The Initial Recording Company IRC 009)

3. Moya – SOUTHERN DEATH CULT (December 1982 UK 45-single on Situation Two SIT 19, Double A-side with "Fatman")

4. Caged – 1919 (June 1982 UK 45-single on Red Rhino RED 14, A-side)

5. The Hanging Garden – THE CURE (July 1982 UK 45-single on Fiction FICS 15, A-side)

6. Solitary Habit - S-HATERS (May 1984 UK 45-single on Midnight Music DING 6, A-side)

7. The Arcane – DEAD CAN DANCE (August 1984 UK Debut 4-Track 12-inch Single EP "Garden Of The Arcane Delights" on 4AD Records BAD 408, First Track Side 2)

8. Saving Face – YEARS ON EARTH (from the 1982 Self-Published Cassette-Only Album "Site" on Years On Earth Records YOE 2)

9. Breach Birth – IN THE NURSERY (October 1985 UK 4-Track 12-Inch single EP "Temper" on Sweatbox SOX 008, Side 1, Track 1)

10. The Tenant – PLAY DEAD (from the April 1983 UK LP "The First Flower" on Jungle Records FREUD 3)

11. Ghost – PART 1 (October 1982 6-Track 45-single EP "Funeral Parade" on Paraworm Records SRTS 82 CUS 1452 (Played at LP Speed))

12. Cuts Of Love – 13th CHIME (1981 UK 45-single on Ellie Jay Records EJSP 9700, A-side)

13. Ice Cold In – THE TEMPEST (from the June 1984 UK LP "5 Against The House" on Anagram Records GRAM 15)

14. Night Creatures – SCREAMING DEAD (September 1983 UK 5-Track 12-Inch single on No Future Records 12 OI 25, Track 1, Side 1)

15. Among The Ruins – BUSHIDO (November 1984 UK 12-Inch single on Third Mind Records TMS 02)

16. Friends – PORTION CONTROL (November 1982 UK LP "I Staggered Mentally" on In Phaze Records CP007)

17. Creation – ACTIFIED (August 1983 UK 12-Inch single "Dawn Of A Legion" on Jungle Records JUNG 7, Track 1 on Side 1)

 

CD3 (76:19 minutes):

1. Tabletalk – ADAM AND THE ANTS (November 1979 UK LP "Dirk Wears White Sox" on Do It Records RIDE 3)

2. The Darklands – BALAAM AND THE ANGEL (March 1986 UK 12-Inch single on Virgin VS 842-12, Track 2 on Side 2)

3. Love Puppets – THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS (August 1983 UK LP "Curse" on In Phaze Records PHA 2)

4. Into The Garden – ARTERY (September 1982 UK 7-Track Mini-LP "Oceans" on Red Flame RFM 4)

5. Girlsoul – SALVATION (October 1983 UK 45-single on Merciful Release MR 025, A-side)

6. In Shreds – THE CHAMELEONS (February 1985 UK 45-single on Statik Records TAK 29, A-side)

7. Fugitive Kind - SCHLEIMER K (1982 UK 4-Track 12-inch single on Glass Records GLASS 028, Track 1 on Side 1)

8. By The River – THE BOLSHOI (October 1985 UK 5-Track Mini-LP "Giants" on Situation Two SITUM 15)

9. Screaming (For Emmalene) – GENE LOVES JEZEBEL (April 1983 UK 12-inch single on Situation Two SIT 20T)

10. Gallery Of Shame – LOWLIFE (1985 UK Mini-LP "Rain" on Nightshift Records LOLIF 1)

11. Out Of The Moving Life Of Circles – AND ALSO THE TREES (February 1984 UK LP "And Also The Trees" on Reflex Records LEX 1)

12. Is Still – Siiiii (Recorded in 1984 but unreleased at the time, finally issued 2006 on the CD album "Ancient" on King Sol Records KSR001)

13. Heroin (Live) – TABATHAS NIGHTMARE (October 1985 UK 45-single Privately Pressed on Be-wicked Label – First CD on "Silhouettes & Statues..." 5CD Book Set)

14. Angel Of Vengeance – BRIGANDAGE (from the 1986 UK 7-Track Mini LP "Pretty Funny Thing" on Gung Ho GHLP 001)

15. Stone Heroes – PENETRATION (from the October 1978 UK LP "Moving Targets" on Virgin V 2109)

16. L.A. Rain – THE ROSE OF AVALANCHE (1985 UK 12-inch single on Leeds Independent Label 12 LIL 01)

 

CD4 (71:46 minutes):

1. Andante - Legacy – FURYO (October 1984 UK 12-inch single EP "Furioso" on Anagram Records 12 ANA 24, Track 1, Side 1)

2. Stay With Me – THE MISSION (from the December 1986 UK debut album "Gods Own Medicine" on Mercury 830 603-1)

3. Saēta – NICO (September 1981 UK 45-single on Flicknife Records FLS 206, A-side)

4. Fragments Of Fear – IN CAMERA (December 1980 UK 12-inch 4-Track EP "IV Songs" on 4AD Records BAD 19, Track 1, Side 2)

5. Anonymity – DANCE CHAPTER (December 1980 UK 45-single on 4AD Records AD 18, A-side)

6. Sink Into You – AUSGANG (1984 UK 4-Track 12-inch EP "Head On!" on Criminal Damage Records CRI 12-124, Track 1 on Side 1)

7. In Our Angelhood – COCTEAU TWINS (from the October 1983 UK LP "Head Over Heels" on 4AD Records CAD 313)

8. Morbid Silence – SUNGLASSES AFTER DARK (1984 UK 4-Track 12-inch single on Anagram Records 12 ANA 20, Track 1 on Side 1)

9. Trees Come Down – FIELDS OF NEPHILIM (1985 UK 4-Track 12-inch single "Burning The Fields E.P." on Tower Release N1, Track 1 on Side 1)

10. Tracey’s Burning – ANOREXIC DREAD (1984 UK 12-inch single on Criminal Damage Records CRI 12-114, Track 1 on Side 1)

11. Take It All – RED LORRY YELLOW LORRY (April 1983 UK 45-single on Red Rhino Records RED 28, A-side)

12. Burning Skies – TONES ON TAILS (May 1983 UK 4-Track 12-inch single "Burning The Skies EP" on Situation Two SIT 21T, Track 1 on Side 1)

13. Spit Upon Your Grave – BLOOD AND ROSES (from the 1985 UK LP "Enough Is Never Enough" on Audiodrone Records SIN 1)

14. High Cost Of Living – THE THREAT (1980 IRELAND-Only 45-single on One Web Records 001 WEB, B-side of "Lullaby In C")

15. Storm Pause – I’M DEAD (Self-released 1982)

16. Last Year’s Wife – ZERO LE CRECHE (May 1984 UK 45-single on Flicknife Records FLS 029, A-side)

 

CD5 (74:12 minutes):

1. Stigmata Martyr – BAUHAUS (from the November 1980 UK debut LP "In The Flat Field" on 4AD Records CAD 13)

2. Patrol – THE WAKE (from the October 1982 UK LP "Harmony" on Factory Records Fact. 60)

3. Returning (From A Journey) – SPECIMEN (1983 UK 45-single on London Records LON 24, A-side)

4. Original Sin – THEATRE OF HATE (November 1980 UK 45-single on SS Label SS3, Double A-side with "Legion")

5. Birthrite – ATTRITION (from the 1982 Various Artists UK Cassette-Only Compilation "Ruptured Gut" on Twisted Tapes TWISTED 1)

6. Things We Never Did – SAD LOVERS AND GIANTS (October 1981 UK 45-single on Last Movement LM005, B-side of "Colourless Dream")

7. Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde – THE DAMNED (from the November 1980 UK 2LP set "The Black Album" on Chiswick Records CWK 3015)

8. The Hill – GLORIA MUNDI (from the February 1980 UK LP "The Word Is Out" on RCA Victor PL 25244)

9. His Box – DALI’S CAR (from the November 1984 European LP "The Waking Hour" on Paradox Records 206 709 – featuring Mick Karn of Japan and Peter Murphy of Bauhaus)

10. The Diseased Stranger's Waltz – INCA BABIES (from the January 1985 UK Debut LP "Rumble" on Black Lagoon Records INC LP005)

11.Ghost Dance – DEATH CULT (July 1983 UK 4-Track 12-inch single "Death Cult" on Situation Two Records SIT 23T, Track 2 on Side 1)

12. Euthenics – MODERN EON (March 1981 UK 45-single on Dindisc DIN 30, A-side)

13. Mind Disease – RITUAL (October 1982 UK 45-single on Red Flame RF 712, A-side)

14. She Cries Alone – SKELETAL FAMILY (January 1984 UK 45-single on Red Rhino RED 41, A-side)

15. Jack – BONE ORCHBARD (September 1984 UK 45-single on Jungle JUNG 18, A-side)

16. Ghost Rattle – HULA (from the November 1984 UK LP "Murmur" on Red Rhino RED LP 53)

17. Twister – RUBELLA BALLET (from the 1985 UK LP "At Last It's Playtime" on Ubiquitous Records DAYGLOW 2)

 

In its Hardback Digibook stood-tall presentation, the front and rear glossy artwork makes this superb Cherry Red outing something of a looker. After two pages of introduction on the genre entitled "Stepping Out Of The Shadows" by NATASHA SCARF (she tries to go past the clichés of black clothing, vampirism lore and I-like-my-head-in-the-oven landscapes) – the first two CDs are slid into attached hard card pages with lipped entries – the final three at the rear.

 

From Page 4 to the final credits list on Page 48 – Natasha pours on the factoids. And scouring the attached 48-page booklet for the historical lowdown, a very cool thing happens as you read the liner notes to each song – you begin to notice that without too much ballyhoo, some of the entries have blurbs from the band themselves or the song’s principal writer. Included are Danielle Dax (all hair and glorious make-up), Years On Earth, Balaam And The Angel, Gene Loves Jezebel, Attrition, Penetration, Into the Garden and The Mission, Ausgang, Blood And Roses, Anorexic Dread, Inca Babies and more. Those entries are high on personal reminiscences and are fascinating – the others ramp up the Discography facts as they set out their place in Goth history. Either the rare 45 or twelve-inch single or mini LP is pictured alongside Promo photos of these lesser-seen artists – and as you can imagine – the music is by its very nature both rare and an acquired taste.

 

NICK WATSON at Fluid did the Mastering (he has done loads of work for Universal, Ace Records and others) and given the topic involved that practically screams DIY Punk Attitude, as you can imagine the Audio Quality rambles from good production values to Indie lo-fi. But I must admit, at least 80 to 90% of this stuff is kicking anyway (jam-packed CD paying times too) – hammering at your speaker stack like a demented banshee outside the suddenly foggy window on a sea-view cottage off the coast of Cornwall (the less populated part). To the music...

 

I have to admit that listening to Nick Cave pre solo material in The Birthday Party (over 42 years old now in 2023) - "Release The Bats" on CD1 – is not exactly a joyful dip into the soothing waves of a Third Eye Oasis of Zen Wonderment. But then that is the point (or was) – a lot of the time. Super smart choice in The Sisters Of Mercy B-side "Floorshow" (brilliant) while I have to don a cap at Love And Rockets – a group I kind of ignored – and their edgy "Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven" is a forgotten wunderbar. Great production values for The Associates spacy "Q Quarters" – cuckoo never sounded so good. In Excelsis give it some Siouxsie in the shouted sneer of "Carnival Of The Gullible" – such a cool guitar break too – almost King Crimson dare we say it. Tremendous choice in terms of Goth and Cult-type-rocker with the Flesh For Lulu cut "Vaguely Human" – someone absorbed a lot of the Velvet Underground. We cruise to a manageable ending on CD1 with a cool trio - "Crow Baby", "D For Desire" and "Beautiful Monster" by The March Violets, All About Eve and Folk Devils – the shadow of Joy Division looming so large (love those phasing guitars complimenting singer Julianne Regan in the All About Eve angst ridden cut).

 

For CD2 we bring on the public menace in the Public Image Ltd. – don’t you just love their sound - "Flowers Of Romance" – and again I have not listened to it in decades and wish I had (give us a wobbly vocal John). Darling Danielle Dax gets all Buzz Bass and Ants In My Pants drum patterns with the truly excellent "Red Caves" – bring your spitting camel to the Morris Dance dear. Would not be a Goth set without some Death Cult – Southern or otherwise – and their "Moya" has all those sonic culprits – off-kilter guitar and that huge build-up to even bigger drum whacks and cavernous vocals. Speaking of genre defining spectres – The Cure give us "The Hanging Garden" – caged and trashing – how many teens did their bedroom carpet some damage pogoing around to this. Have always held a candle for the magnificent Dead Can Dance – Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard dreaming of Gladiators and W.B. Yeats flaying sinners with sustainably sourced whips oh shiny black leather. Both Years On Earth and In The Nursery are new to me – spooky floating synth notes punctuated by treated guitars, an unyielding echoed bass drum and a singer who seems to be channelling Latin at an all-are-welcome-to-try-the-dips witch-hunt. Fantastic rapido-rhythms audio on the Screaming Dead contribution "Night Creatures" – little fuzzy though on the strangely beautiful piano-plink of Bushido and their "Among The Ruins" (where we first made love)...and on to the hard-to-like Portion Control cut...

 

Perfect sound for the Adam and The Ants "Tabletalk" – his vocals even then barely controlled pirate meets Steve Harley. Balaam And The Angel go channelling Patti Smith, The Velvet Underground and Ennio Morricone driving home for Christmas - "Darklands" being so very Cure let loose in the studio with authentic sleigh bells. Set on their path by the sound of Korg MS-10 synth, The Legendary Pink Dots give us widows-and-wives in "Love Puppets" that also talks of too much therapy. There is almost a slick UK New Wave professionalism permeating the taught Bass lines and Hi-Hats of "Into The Garden" – Artery shuffling towards some sort of more grungy New Order. Despite its rather nonplussed reception at the time by the UK musical press – Salvation and their "Girlsoul" has stood the moody test of time. And what a great debut 45 "In Shreds" is – The Chameleons rocking it out but in a very British Band Goth kind of a way. Other highlights on CD3 include the clever strummed Acoustic Guitars meets treated Electric Guitars of The Bolshoi – their "By The River" sounding not unlike an early Icehouse – the melodious racket made by Lowlife and "Gallery Of Shame" – lyrics only appearing after a long hummed intro. That genre-defining strummed electric guitar opening starts "Angel Of Vengeance" – when a young person has got a gun, and now that she is all grown up, has decided to use it in the defence of waylaid maidens.

 

CDs 4 and 5 continue the river of broken glass moments – The Mission wanting you to lay with me "Stay With Me" – possibly the most commercially applicable sound on here. Always a blast to hear the distinct whine of Nico – obsession with shuffling beats – the line of choice turned into a song (forgotten how good this 45 was). Love that ethereal piano opening to "Anoymity" before it goes (without warning) into the most brilliant guitar flicking riffage and doubled vocals – Dance Chapter doing the business here. There is an early-years-hedonism to the Cocteau Twins entry "In Our Angelhood" that unfortunately drowns out Elizabeth Fraser and her angel voice – and yet you can still so hear the magic is there in this most special of 4AD groups. Love the doomy distorted guitars of "Trees Come Down" – Fields Of The Nephilim feeling their pain – while Red Lorry Yellow Lorry grunge up that sound even further with their cleverly arranged "Take It All" (so many good ideas here). And again the long musical shadow of Robert Fripp and his Frippotronics-guitar-sound haunts "Burning Skies" – Tones On Tails anchoring the doom with a note-sliding Bass before it launches into a full on treated guitars assault.

 

You can actually a tiny Metallic inside Bauhaus as they get all bleeding Stigmata while the genre-defining Specimen up the musicality a huge amount with their brilliant "Returning (From A Journey)" – riffage, catchy chorus, hell – it might even be a hit (say it is not true). Theatre Of Hate re-arrange their hair for "Original Sin" where they sound not unlike a raw U2 circa 1980 – all postures and big produced guitars and Bass. And you have heard (or will hear) the harmonic pings of "Things We Never Did" by Sad Lovers And Giants in a Stranger Things episode coming to you in an Upside Down soon. Amnd on it goes...

 

Late Seventies and mid Eighties GOTH and its lippy musical babies fit into a very specific genre of Alternative Music that will not be for everyone – that's for damn sure. But the converted will drool over "Silhouettes & Statues: A Gothic Revolution 1978-1986" like it's a day pass to the catacombs of Gomorrah. And the doom-curious will finally know why mama warned you about dead-eyed boys with smeared blusher and posters of arachnids that eat their partners after making love by a grave-digger's shovel...