November 7, 2004 by A.S. Van Dorston

I’m licking my chops over this: Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-84 by Simon Reynolds, due for release, at least in the UK, on April 21, 2005 on Faber. I’ve heard bits about his progress over the last several years, even did some CD trades with him, and it’ll definitely be a landmark, covering stuff no one else has.

I can’t wait to read it. Some of the lesser known stuff he gave me which will likely get heavy coverage in the book are (some blurbs taken from James Nice):

Crispy Ambulance
Throughout their short recording career, Manchester band Crispy Ambulance were unjustly dismissed as substandard Joy Division plagiarists, notable only as proof that Factory was as fallible as any other label. The truth is very different, for as their Factory Benelux recordings unarguably prove, Crispy Ambulance were perhaps the most maligned and undervalued bands of their time.

Frozen Blood 1980-82 (Factory/Ltm)
The Plateau Phase (Factory Benelux/Ltm) 82

Desperate Bicycles
Along with the far more heralded Soft Boys, this legendary post-punk Chocolate Watch band predated the neo-psychedelic movement by several years with a series of self-released singles and an LP of ten pop gems. The interplay of agile bass and near-perfect guitar on Remorse Code helps kick things along, and songs like “Sarcasm” and “It’s Somebody’s Birthday Today” are utter classics. Sly humor is exhibited with silly tape and sound effects, not to mention the guitarist’s savvy pseudonym: Dan Electro.

Remorse Code (Refill UK) 79

The Fire Engines
Back around 1980 or so, the London based music press had one of its rare remissions from the parochialism that usually afflicts it and noticed that, wonder of wonders, there was a music scene in the desolate wasteland that was everywhere outside London. The focus of this attention was the central belt of Scotland and on four groups from that area in particular. On the west coast they found Orange Juice and Aztec Camera and through in Edinburgh in the east they found Josef K and The Fire Engines.

Lubricate Your Living Room: Background Music for Action People! (Pop: Aural) 80

In Camera
4AD group widely ignored in their lifetime, but who left behind three uncompromising and jet black singles which will appeal to anyone enamoured with the first Section 25 album.

13: Lucky For Some (4AD) 80-81

Ludus
The brainchild of Manchester figure Linder Mulvey, Magazine sleeve artist and later Morrissey’s muse. While their early, free-jazz tinged work is rather difficult, the later pop orientated material with guitarist Ian Devine and ex-Magazine keyboards man Dave Formula on board is pure magic.

The Visit EP (New Hormones/LTM) 80
Pickpocket (New Hormones/LTM) 81
The Seduction (New Hormones/LTM) 82
Danger Came Smiling (LTM) 82
Nue au Soleil EP (LTM) 82

The Names
During their short three year career, little information on Belgian group the Names spread outside France and the Low Countries. Likewise their appeal was equally removed, the bulk of their records selling on the strength of their association with the Factory label and producer Martin Hannett, rather than the excellent music they invariably contained. Yet Michel Sordinia’s group deserved better, as creators of a brand of sophisticated alternative rock far superior to that purveyed by the majority of their English peers.

Swimming (Crepuscule/Ltm) 82

The Passage
Manchester three-piece led by the rather self-consciously intellectual Dick Witts, comprising guitar, drums and predominating keyboards. Recorded for several labels between 1979 and 1983, but chiefly Object Music and Cherry Red. The approach is something like the Fall alloyed to complex keyboard lines and corruscating lyrics. The band consistently produced driving, memorable material, more latterly with an accomplished pop edge. Check out:

Pindrop (Cherry Red/Ltm) 80
For All And None (Cherry Red/Ltm) 81
Enflame (Cherry Red/Ltm) 82
Degenerates (Cherry Red/Ltm) 83

Pink Military
One of the few groups to come from Liverpool during the post-punk era of the late ’70s and early ’80s that took from non-rock scenes like disco and reggae. While most of the acts that came from the Liverpool club Eric’s were more rock-based (Echo & the Bunnymen, Wah!, the Teardrop Explodes), Pink Military had more in common with the non-Liverpool groups of the time that looked outside of rock & roll’s history for inspiration.

Buddha Walking Disney Sleeping EP (Last Trumpet) 79
Do Animals Believe In God? (Epic) 80

Random Hold
Superb group that languishes in almost utter obscurity. Much like Magazine and Crispy Ambulance, the group bridged the gap between progressive rock and the new wave. It therefore comes as no surprise to learn that bassist Bill MacCormick previously played with Matching Mole and 801, while guitarist David Rhodes later played with Peter Gabriel and Talk Talk. None of which should put you off, since their first LP is a really solid collection of challenging but accessable modern rock, produced with edge by Peter Hamill. Nice keyboards too. As well as the first LP there is also a good 12″ single by the original group, although the second Polydor album is in effect by a different band and best avoided. So check out:

The View From Here (Polydor/Voiceprint) 80

Section 25
Section 25 were formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in April 1978 by brothers Lawrence and Vincent Cassidy, taking their name from a provision of the Mental Health. Unlike the majority of their peers the group survived beyond 1982, and in 1984 not only scored an international dance hit but also synthesized acid house avant la lettre. Then Section 25 imploded.

Always Now (Factory/Ltm) 81
From The Hip (Factory/Ltm) 83

Stockholm Monsters
The youthful Stockholm Monsters came together in South Manchester in the summer of 1980, initially around the core of vocalist Tony France, bassist Jed Duffy and drummer Shan Hira. Their unusual name was conjured by France, and represents a combination of Bowie’s then-current Scary Monsters album and a pleasant-sounding Eurocity.

All At Once: The Singles 1981-87 (Factory/Ltm)
Alma Mater (Factory/Ltm) 84

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