Archive for the the sound Category

Cassell Webb- Llano LP/CD

Posted in 1980s, 1986, adrian borland, cassell webb, ethereal, the sound, uk on June 14, 2016 by Frankie Teardrop

I’ve had this LP for YEARS- picked it up on a whim when I was carpet bombing Academy Records’ old Williamsburg location every other week. I recall liking it ok, but it took until yet another vinyl purge to rediscover it and finally appreciate it. Better late than never, I suppose!

Anecdotes aside, this is the first LP from Cassell Webb, released in 1986 on both New Rose and Statik Records, respectively. The sounds here are definitely moody and ethereal, quite delicate in some spots, but also not without its post-punk charms. Upon re-listening, I found touches of Fleetwood Mac and Area to be found throughout. Most notably for some readers, this record was a collaboration with Adrian Borland of The Sound, complete with guitar work, backing vocals, and even a cover of “Total Recall” from Heads and Hearts. Pretty cool!

Unlike most of the records featured here, this album was released on CD in 1988, which is the version I’ve uploaded here. That said, I much prefer the spacious LP cover… Either way you slice it, hope you folks enjoy!

Cassell Webb- Llano LP/CD
1. Llano
2. Voices to Rivers
3. In Arcadia
4. Every Time I Get Around You
5. Total Recall
6. Gypsy Solitaire
7. Wandering Ones
8. When the Rain Stops Falling

*download it here*

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The Pollen- Contrasts/Factory Hours/Colours and Make Believe

Posted in 1980s, 1989, adrian borland, coldwave, dreampop, french, indie, post-punk, the pollen, the sound on December 12, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

Updated 12/16/24!

For those who enjoyed the Pollen LP posted a few entries back, here’s a post that is both supplemental and one which renders the previous post obsolete. Contained within we have pristine CD rips of the band’s output, including both albums and the Factory Hours single (both the 12” and 7” tracks appear), all of which were released on the legendary Danceteria label. Contrasts also comes with bonus tracks from the Nurturing Desire 12”, which completes the discography, more or less (missing are a handful of live tracks from a best of as well as the single for River of Life, which has two remixes and a unique b-side)*

After The Pollen called it quits, two members formed shoegaze band The Park, who released one album in 1992*.

If you dug the Adrian Borland-produced mini-LP, be sure to download this one as well, for additional songs, higher fidelity, and as of December 2024, their sophomore record, which has grown on me considerably over the years… “Factory Walk” is also a killer track, complete with that cold post-punk sound we all know and love, with poppier and folkier-inspired b-sides. Fans of bands like The Popguns and Darling Buds as well as French coldwave/The Sound/etc. will hopefully adore this band as much as I do!

Have at it, folks!

*2024 update – stay tuned!

The Pollen- Contrasts (1988)
1. Nurturing Desire
2. Passionate Reading
3. Military Tactics
4. Dream
5. Like the Wind
6. Killer
7. Heathen World
8. Peel the Skin
9. Faraway
10. Hard Times
11. Breaking Out

Tracks 1, 2, and 7 from Nurturing Desire 12”. The rest appear in different order on the Contrasts mini-LP.

The Pollen- Factory Hours (1989)
1. Factory Hours
2. (In Your) Head
3. Bushes and Briars
4. Passionate Reading (Remix)

Tracks 2 and 3 from the 12”. Track 4 from the 7”.

The Pollen – Colours and Make Believe (1989)
1. Wake Up And Fight
2. No Stranger
3. River Of Life
4. Watching Silently
5. In The Country
6. Jeune D´Esprit
7. The Darkness Is Around You
8. The Journey
9. A Better Past
10. Colours And Make Believe
11. 1990

*download all three here*

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The Pollen- Contrasts Mini-LP

Posted in 1980s, 1989, adrian borland, coldwave, dreampop, french, indie, post-punk, the pollen, the sound on October 14, 2011 by Frankie Teardrop

A recent, but welcome discovery, I’ve had this record in my possession for a few weeks now, and I’m just now finally able to offer it up here for you all to enjoy. Here we have a mini-LP from French band The Pollen, produced by The Sound’s Adrian Borland. Naturally, you can expect some great post-punk sounds here, more of the dreamy variety. The album strikes me as a cross between Lush & Lively Art acts, with a little bit of that Borland magic thrown in for good measure.

Released in 1988, this record is more my cup of tea than their second LP Colours and Make Believe, which was released a year later. The follow up seems a little more indie-flavored, as opposed to the cold sounds on this release, but perhaps I’ll reassess it down the line. I also have a 12” from the same era that fits more with this album, and will post that as soon as I have the chance!

The Pollen- Contrasts Mini-LP
1. Killer
2. Military Tactics
3. Faraway
4. Like The Wind
5. Peel The Skin
6. Breaking Out
7. Hard Times

Check here for the CD rip for this & a bonus 12”.

 

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The Sound

Posted in 1980s, british, post-punk, the sound on October 19, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Today’s band is a lesser post-punk classic, UK act The Sound. The band formed in 1978 as the Outsiders, switching up their name in 1979 after a quick lineup shift.

Their sound was akin to the likes of the intitial wave of post-punk, and the band toured with the likes of friends and cohorts the Chameleons, Echo & the Bunnymen, Au Pairs, and the Comsat Angels. Singer Adrian Borland’s lyrics would often ruminate on existentialist affairs and paranoid observations, while the music would mix synthesizers and horns with fast-paced rhtyhms and guitars.

Throughout their tenure, the band recorded five full length records, a few peel sessions, and a slew of EPs and singles before their split in 1987, just after a canceled European tour. Adrian would persue a solo career, but the band would never reunite, as keyboardist Colvin “Max” Mayers would pass on in 1993 and Adrian Borland would commit suicide in 1999. However, the band lives on- several reissues of the Sound’s catalog and tributes to their material have since materialized, and the band’s influence can be heard in many modern post-punk acts.

I’ve uploaded two tracks- the first from their second record, 1981’s From the Lion’s Mouth and the second a track from their 1980 debut Jeopardy.

download The Sound- ‘Fatal Flaw’
download The Sound- ‘Heartland’

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a video of the Sound performing ‘Sense of Purpose’ (From the Lion’s Mouth‘s lead-off single) on the Old Grey Whistle Test:

Even though most of the band’s material was released for the first time on CD earlier this decade, those copies are still hard to come by. Keep your eyes peeled for them!

2 Comments »