The Essence- Purity CD
I’ve got a pair of early Essence records to upload for you folks. Here’s the first of the lot, the band’s 1985 debut, Purity. The band originally formed as a three piece in 1984, hailing from Rotterdam, a region in the Netherlands. Over the course of time, the band grew in both popularity and personnel, releasing four full length LPs and several 12” singles before their demise in the mid-nineties. Most of the band’s material was released on Midnight Music, the label who also were responsible for Sad Lovers and Giants and The Snake Corps, two of the band’s closest sonic peers.
Speaking of which, it’s difficult to avoid comparing The Essence to The Cure, as the band walk similar sonic territory, straight down to the melodies, lyrics, and even the chimes in the instrumentation. For those who can’t avoid the comparison, the touchstones are close enough to consider it a lost record from The Top/Head on the Door era! Otherwise, it’s a rather solid guitar record from the mid-80s, with a hint of gloom and doom thrown in for good measure.
A surprising fun fact about this record: It was recorded in Alaska, of all places! Perhaps it was the allure of the near darkness and hopes of bringing the state’s icy edge to the record. Did they succeed? You decide. Here’s the information below.
The Essence- Purity CD
1. The Last Preach
2. A Reflected Dream
3. The Cat
4. The Blind
5. Never Mine
6. Endless Lakes
7. Forever in Death
8. Salivation
9. The Waving Girl
10. Purity
11. Confusion*
12. From My Mouth**
13. The Swaying Wind**
*bonus track from The Cat 12”, 1986
**bonus track from Endless Lakes 12”, 1986
both bonus tracks included on the 1996 CD reissue of Purity.
Stay tuned for the band’s sophomore record, which I will be uploading shortly!
November 18, 2009 at 4:58 am
Finally someone is upping these records. A million thanks!
November 28, 2009 at 6:39 am
A question is Midnight (the label) related to the record shop that had the same name in Crouch End, London back in the late 70's/early 80's? I used to shop there all the time and the owner (whose name I have forgotten) also did the psyche magazine 'Dark Star'…curious!
Regards/
November 28, 2009 at 4:47 pm
the greatest among The Cure-alike bands, I was missing this CD in my collection – thanks a lot:)
December 5, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Great post, as usual! Thank you!
December 22, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Live at WGT Leipzig May 2010… 🙂
July 18, 2010 at 3:24 am
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this one!
I have been looking for this album everywhere so that I can recreate an old mix I made for my radio show.
If you are interested in hearing my show check out: IHUNGAROUNDINYOURSOUNDTRACK.COM
Thanks again!
April 13, 2012 at 5:57 pm
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March 30, 2018 at 11:54 am
They told me Alaska was the name of the recording studio, I think in London. Whilst recording, they had to keep an eye on the train’s timetable as it was underneath the tracks… At least, that’s what I remember from the time when I was playing the bass with them.
August 15, 2020 at 11:18 pm
Thank you very much!
January 15, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Alaska was the studio at Elephant and Castle in London. All the early Creation bands also used to record there, it was apparently very cheap.
July 24, 2022 at 9:06 am
Hello, was wondering if you have this in FLAC or WAV? If u could post lossless version. Thank you so much for this rarity!