Secession- A Dark Enchantment CD
Another request fulfilled today, ladies and gentlemen. This one’s for short lived Scottish synth band Secession’s lone LP, entitled A Dark Enchantment. The four piece band formed in 1983 and split after a few singles and the aforementioned record, calling it quits by 1987. They were involved briefly with both Siren Records and the infamous Beggars Banquet label.
After Secession’s split, members Charlie Kelly and James Seenan co-formed Scottish pop band the Vaselines with Charlie’s brother Eugene and Frances Mckee. Coincidentally, we just caught the Vaselines in concert, as they’ve just reformed for a few US dates, but Charlie and James were nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, lead Secession vocalist Peter Thomson passed away in the late 1990s.
A Dark Enchantment is apparently limited to 1000 copies on LP, and is the only record the band has released on compact disc (which is the version I’ve uploaded, complete with a handful of bonus tracks). If you see either, snap them up, as they’re both incredibly scarce. Otherwise, here’s the digital details:
Secession- A Dark Enchantment CD
01. Eventide
02. Promise
03. Love Lies Bleeding
04. Sneakyville
05. Winifred
06. The Box That Holds A Secret
07. Ocean Blue
08. Radioland
09. The Magician
10. Love Lies Bleeding (Reprise)
11. The Wolf
12. Eventide (Theme From A Dark Enchantment
13. All The Animals Come Out At Night
14. Michael
15. Havoc
16. Promise (Dub)
*download it here* (NEW 320 CD rip courtesy of Jeffo!)
July 16, 2008 at 8:50 am
hello
thanks for this one, i only know a few songs and would like to listen to this album. cheers:) jacyk
July 22, 2008 at 4:26 pm
welcome! i also have a 7” recording i may post in the near future.
July 24, 2008 at 2:47 am
Beat me to it!
At least its you..
Promiseeeee!
July 27, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Hey, thanks! Recently discovered this band on a compilation CD and meant to look for more.
August 27, 2008 at 12:04 am
Hello … new here. THANKS SO MUCH for this! Been looking for a copy of the album for a while now. THANKS!
November 13, 2008 at 8:03 am
my fave band of the 80s
November 13, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Love this group. Got the LP and a few 12″ singles at the time, such as the Magician and Michael. Was very surprised they didn’t get anywhere.
January 12, 2009 at 3:56 am
Gorgeous! Thank you for this darkly enchanting music!
October 15, 2009 at 8:29 pm
As a DJ I was a big fan of Secession and have several of the 12" vinyl selections, at some point I would like to get these over to mp3 and digitally cleaned up as they are not represented on A Dark Enchantment, anyway, I will try to find my way back here….
February 16, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Wow 1000 copies i have this on LP vinyl i never knew it was so rare, i also have a few of the 12" singles on vinyl, still a little suprised it was such a limited release
September 2, 2010 at 5:43 am
I had the vinyl, CD and most of the 12"s! I recorded them and sold them a while back. Bougt the CD for 3$ @ a second hand shop and ended up selling it on Amazon for 100$ +. Great addition to your blog! This anonymous person is (Rob Feutz – DJ RAF, out of MKE & CHI).
September 29, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Hello, are the lyrics somewhere on the web?
December 12, 2010 at 1:29 am
Thanks for saving us $108 on amazon. This music is so awesome and obscure and it's great that other people have great taste in music and are willing to share!
February 27, 2011 at 2:19 am
Thank you for posting info about Secession. I acquired A Dark Enchantment on vinyl back in 2000, but could never find info on the band until now. I love rare and forgotten 80's music!
May 25, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Pete Thompson (who was actually known on the Glasgow music scene as "Pete The Facist") used to beat his girlfriend up & was a horrendous homophobe and racist….he actually took his own life by hanging himself in a London hotel room and put through an early morning call so that his wife would discover the body…..Charlie Kelly's brother is Eugene Kelly from another Glasgow band The Pastels…..
February 7, 2013 at 6:28 am
@Evandro – if this is true, then FUCK PETER THOMSON, FUCKING ASSHOLE MOTHERFUCKER – Now rotting in a grave, his white racist skin a cesspool of putrid gelatinous matter. may he burn in hell forever and ever.
July 28, 2015 at 11:24 pm
Oh well at least he wrote and sang Class
March 8, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Thank you.. It’s hard to get this album.
November 19, 2013 at 7:10 pm
OMG the story of vocalist Peter is saddening…another example of the cursed artist…such a horrible story and end to a group that produced such a touching album. The Magician’s lyrics got me through some very tough times…
It just goes to show you despite our own human frailties and
Misgivings something beautiful can still come from us
That even if we lived and produced a painful existence for those who loved us
Indirectly, the love deep within our art somehow still managed to touch someone else’s heart and make the world a better place
August 18, 2015 at 3:16 am
Is Peter the one singing in the video “Touch?”
December 9, 2015 at 1:35 pm
I always thought he looked very gay. What is that Fire Island single about? LOL
February 4, 2016 at 6:50 pm
I downloaded a copy of the song “The Magician” many, many years ago and today, it is still one of my favorite songs ! Thank you ! Thank you ! Thank you !
September 21, 2018 at 3:21 am
Thansk for this post. Good job
August 9, 2019 at 9:40 am
First of all. Don’t believe everything you read. That band was a true genius. It’s hard enough to have one hit song. They had at least 8 incredible tracks. True classics. Last test of time. Vocals were incredible. Arrangements of the songs were great. Club Nrg use to play the magician dance mix every night back in 1987. Truly a awsome time. I don’t like to say anything negative to a band who made soang people so happy. And one who lead singer died so tragic.
Peace out. Nrgman
July 5, 2020 at 7:06 pm
A big thanks! Secession was ahead of their time and gone way too soon. An outstanding band! Synthpop Legends!
December 10, 2021 at 3:49 pm
I actually discovered a copy of this in my loft. Whats it worth?