Bauhaus: Dark Entries (1980/AXIS 3|BEG37)

         While technically not the first 4AD release, being not the first cataloged release under that moniker; due to its release in the AXIS name in January 1980 and its later release by 4AD that same year, this is the first release that I will review. Bauhaus A the only bandsof the AXIS four to have recorded before and the only one to continue making music after this single. This single of course is Dark Entries and was originally released on January 16th. Bauhaus around this time were becoming quite a famous name after their debut single ("Bela Lugosi's Dead") HAD last year attracted much radioplay and sales. That single was released on Small Wonder and is considered, by popular lore, to have kicked off the Goth movement. With having success but lacking a proper label, they approached Beggars Banquet with a tape, of which Peter Kent managed to receive and eventually sign the band to AXIS.
         The track Dark Entries is a rollicking, thunderous track that is continuously spiraling downward, with chords after chords seeming to get lower in tone after each other. It is quite a theatrical track that rushes towards the end with  dynamics building and Peter Murphy's singing becoming more increasingly chant like. It's a fairly decent A-Side which I think, while not maintaining the same level of excellence of their last single, is something intense and concentrated enough to warrant a few listenings. The funny thing with Bauhaus and their B-Sides is that most of the time they are at best throw-away tracks. Here the B-Side is Untitled, which consists of a minimalist guitar riff, some whisperings by Murphy about tissue and other none sense, and nothing else. Luckily it goes on for a abouts 2 minutes max. Because of its brevity and how different in mood it is from Dark Entries, I find Untitled actually fairly funny even though I doubt Bauhaus even considers it a real song. Overall it is a good single and if you wanted to own it on CD it can be found on the reissue of their album In the Flat Field.

4AD (1980-1993): An Introduction (Re-posting)

      

            With the release of the excellent "Facing the Other Way: The Story of 4AD" by Martin Aston, along with a thirst for some project to bide my time with, I've decided to take a stab at reviewing all the releases from 1980-1990 of one of my favorite record labels of all time. To describe 4AD in this period, one could use the words ethereal, dark, contemplative, introverted. This was really only one facet of the 4AD sound which could swing from electronic dance to alternative funk to American college rock to straight up goth.

            The main connection all the groups had under this time is a similar overall aesthetic as well as  guidance from Ivo Watts-Russell, a co-founder and the head of the label in this era. "Facing the Other Way" goes into good detail on Ivo's life, however where I begin is with the English music scene in the late 70's.  By 1979 the initial punk scene had came and went leavimg behind the beginnings of what would be a promising indie label society. Labels such as Rough Trade and Factory, initially inspired by the punk DIY ethos, had started around '78 signing bands like the Swell Maps and the Raincoats and Joy Division and A Certain Ratio respectively that were to represent the beginnings of the new post-punk era.
           The start of 4AD began with Ivo and Peter Kent while they were working for the Beggars Banquet record store. They had been listening to demos bands sent for the label division of Beggars  and decided after a discussion with the Beggars Banquet label, to create a sub label for groups that they were interested in. They initially called the label Axis.
              In early 1980 Axis released its first and only 4 releases, all of which were singles. Three out of the four weren't much to talk about; they overall were very different from what 4AD would represent. Bearz's She's My Girl was a bit of new wave that was accessible but floated along with subpar melody and a vaguely catchy handclap chorus. Fast Set's Junction One is a decent piece of minimal synth that wasn't too far from what Kraftwerk were doing three years before. The B side is a rather maudlin cover of a T Rex track that sounds to have been produced from someone's Super Nintendo MIDI card. The third single was Shox's No Turning Back which was a bouncy up-beat early synth pop track that was largely forgettable. The fourth single I will cover in the first official review as it was the only Axis single reissued on 4AD. That was Bauhaus's Dark Entries.
              As Ivo and Peter were preparing to release the singles, a foreign label also called Axis had caught wind that they were using that name to start a label and mailed them a letter asking to change their name, while conveniently allowing them to sell off their first and only axis issues. After this 4AD was created after a quick glance at a poster (Neither Pete or Ivo can remember who came up with the name though) with 1984 AD written on it. And thus the proper beginning of the label begin.
                     

April 17th and 24th (80's Weeks)

Part 1:

Coil: First Five Minutes After Death '86
The Go-Betweens: I'm Allright '88
This Heat: SPQR '81
Meat Puppets: Split Myself in Two '84
Lush: Thoughtforms '89
The Jesus and Mary Chain: Living end '85
The Chameleons: Second Skin '83
David Sylvian: When Poets Dream of Angels '87
Dead Can Dance: Windfall/In the Wake of Adversity '87
Galaxie 500: Strange '89
Cowboy Junkies: To Love Is to Bury '88
The Field Mice: Emma's House '88
Peter Gabriel: Games Without Frontiers '80
Sonic Youth: Shadow of a Doubt '86

Part 2:
Cocteau Twins: The Itchy Glowbo Blow '88
The Specials: Ghost Town '81
My Bloody Valentine: No More Sorry '88
Dinosaur Jr: Sludgefeast '87
Spacemen 3: Call the Doctor '87
The Style Council: Long Hot Summer '83
The Stone Roses: Fools Gold '89
Simple Minds: A Brass Band in African Chimes '84
Kate Bush: Cloubusting '85
The Cure: Figurehead '82
Siouxsie and the Banshees: Dazzle '84

Part 3:

Talk Talk: Wealth '88
The Smiths: Cemetry Gates '86
Felt: All The People I Like Are Those That Are Dead '86
The Birthday Party: Nick the Stripper '81
Steve Roach: Quiet Friend '84

Part 4:
Harold Budd: The Gunfighter
House of Love: Christine '88
Loop: Arc-Lite (Radar) '89
Godflesh: Tiny Tears '89
Glenn Branca: the Spectacular Commodity '81

Harold Budd: Gypsy Violin
Skinny Puppy: VX Gas Attack '87
Bathory: The Golden Walls of Heaven '88
the Jam: Man in the Corner Shop '80
Husker Du: Newest Industry '84
Kitchens of Distinction: Prize '89

Part 5:
Wipers: When It's Over '81
Roky Erickson and the Aliens: Cold Night for Alligators '80
Einsturzende Neubauten: Fuerio '89
Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Two Tribes '84
Swans: Like a Drug '87
Manuel Gottsching: Ruhige Nervositit '84
AR Kane: The Sun Falls Into the Sea '88
Young Marble Giants: Searching For Mr. Right '80
Colin Newman: B '80
Big Black: Jordan, Minnesota '87
The Soft Boys: You'll Have to Go Sideways '80
The Replacements: Swingin Party '85

Part 6:
Clan of Xymox: Theme 1 '86
Pixies: Silver '89
Killing Joke: Change '80
Durutti Column: Piece Out of Tune: grand Piano (actually '91)
The Gun Club: Preaching the Blues '81
Sisters of Mercy: Marian (Version) '85
Philip Glass: Opening '82

April 3rd and 10th (70's weeks)

 Part 1

 Japan: Transmission '78
Jefferson Starship: Fast Buck Freddie (Request) '75
Genesis: Cinema Show '73
Brian Eno: Spider and I '77
Peter Hamill: Nobody's Business '75
Neu!: Isi '75
Big Star: Holocaust '78
Wire: I Should Have Known Better '79
Public Image Ltd: Death Disco '79
Milton Nascimento/Lo Borges: Clube da Esquina No. 2 '72
Camel: Lunar Sea '76

Part 2
Comus: The Herald '71
The Pop Group: Theif on Fire '79
Funkadelic: You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks '70
Suicide: Frankie Teardrop '77
Gene Clark: No Other '74
Iggy Pop: Funtime '77
Hawklords: Free Fall '78
Curtis Mayfield: Freddie's Dead '72
Serge Gainsbourg: Ballade de Melody Nelson '71
Robert Wyatt: Alifib '74

Part 3

Talking Heads: Cities '79
Pere Ubu: Street Waves '78
Kraftwerk: The Model '78
Lou Reed: Lady Day '73
Klaus Schulze: Frank Herbert '78








Part 4

Magazine: The Great Beautician in the Sky '78
New York Dolls: Trash '73
The Modern Lovers: Hospital '76
Spirit: Animal Zoo '70
Popul Vuh: Kyrie '72
Magma: Khai '75
Faust: Meadow Meal '71
Sparks: Equator '74
Amon Duul II: Surrounded by the Stars '72
Tangerine Dream: Stratosfear '76

Part 5
Roy Harper: Another Day '70
Mahavishnu Orchestra: Sanctuary '73
Marek Grechuta: Kantata '71
Black Sabbath: A National Acrobat '73
The Damned: Machine Gun Etiquette '79
Television: Venus '77
XTC: Making Plans for Nigel '79
Brian Eno: Discreet Music '75
John Cale: Andalucia '73
T2: No More White Horses '70
The Jam: It's Too Bad '78
Stray: Jericho '71

Part 6

The Residents: The Making of a Soul '78
Captain Beefheart: Tropical Hot Dog Night '78
Todd Rundgren: Little Red Lights '72
Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells '73
Jean Michel Jarre: Oxygene '76

March 20th/27th (60's Shows)

Part 1

Velvet Underground: Sunday Morning '66
The Stooges: I Wanna Be Your Dog '69
Os Mutantes: Le Premier bonheur du jour '68
The Byrds: Everybody's Been Burned '67
The Beach Boys: Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) '66
Pink Floyd: Matilda Mother '67
Monks: Higgle-dy Piggle-dy '66
The Doors: Alabama Song '67
Nico: I'll Keep it with Mine '67
The Zombies: Care of Cell 44 '67
Nick Drake: River Man '69
United States of America: Love Song for the Dead Che '68
King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King '69
Silver Apples: Program '68

Part 2

Buffalo Springfield: Expecting to Fly '67
Van Morrison: Sweet Thing '68
Pretty Things: Private Sorrow '68
Jackson C Frank: I Want to Be Alone (Dialogue) '65
Tim Buckley: Hallucinations '67
Scott Walker: Seventh Seal '69
Donovan: Celeste '66
The Sonics: The Witch '64
Love: Old Man '67
Simon and Garfunkel: For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her '66
Walker Brothers: Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore '66
Flying Burrito Brothers: Christine's Tune '69
13th Floor Elevators: Roller Coaster '66

Part 3

Bob Dylan: Mr. Tambourine Man '65
Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze '67
Leonard Cohen: Sisters of Mercy '67
The Beatles: Maxwell's Silver Hammer '69
Fairport Convention: Crazy Man Michael '69

March 27th Part 4
Jackson C Frank: I Want to Be Alone (Repeat!)
Dr. John: I Walk on Gilded Splinters '68
Ewa Demarczyk: Taki pejzaz '67
Small Faces: Tin Soldier '67
The Millenium: Prelude/To Claudia on Thursday '68
 Moody Blues: Day Begins '67
Terry Riley: A Rainbow in Curved Air '69
Procol Harum: All This and More '69

Part 5

 Scott Walker: Seventh Seal (Repeat!)
Ennio Morricone: Farewell to Cheyenne '68
Yardbirds: Still I'm Sad '65
John Leyton: Johnny Remember Me '61
Dillard and Clark: Get It On Brother '68
Can: Outside My Door '69
The Band" The Weight '68
The Pentagle: Way Behind the Sun '68
John Lee Hooker: Shake it Baby '66
The Creation: How Does it Feel to Feel '67
Caetano Veloso: Lost in Paradise '68
Nina Simone: Four Women '66
Left Banke: Walk Away Renee '67
David Bowie: Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed '69

Part 6
The Rolling Stones: In Another Land '67
Colosseum: Elegy '69
Cream: Spoonful '66
Soft Machine: Joy of a Toy '67
Electric Prunes: Kyrie Eleison '68
Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood: Some Velvet Morning '67

Mar 24th (Dead White Guys)

Part 1

John Adams: Shaking and Trembling (Shaker Loops)
Samuel Barber: Allegro Moderato (Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 22)
Marcel Granjany: Aria in Clasic Style for Harp and Organ, Op. 19
Jean Sibelius: Luonnotar Op. 70
Erik Satie: Ogives
Aram Il'yich Khachaturian: Circus

Part 2
Gabriel Faure: Madrigal, Op. 35
Maurice Ravel: Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String QUartet
Gordon Mumma: Large Size Mograph 1962
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Valsa da Dor
Gordon Mumma: Jardin
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Lord, Thou hast been our refuge
Giuseppe Verdi: Act III, Scene 1 (Il Trovatore)
Arvo Part: Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten

Part 3

Ned Rorem: Capriccio (End of Summer for Clarinet, Violin and Piano)
Franz Liszt: Inferno (Eine Symphonie zu Dantes Divina Commedia)
Issac Albeniz: Suite espagnole: Asturias
Claude Debussey: Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune
Frederic Chopin: Nocturne in E minor
Sergei Prokofiev: Folk Dance (Suite No. 1, Op. 64a)

March 13th

Part 1

Robert Rich and B Lustmord: Undulating Terrain
Robert Fripp/Peter Gabriel: Here Comes the Flood
Teenage Fanclub: Star Sign
Christian Death: Cavity - First Communion
Bark Psychosis: Absent Friend
Telescopes: I Fall, She Screams
The Stooges: Gimme Danger
Swervedriver: Son of a Mustang Ford
Rem's Theme from Death Note
David Bowie: Soul Love
Raymond Scott: Tin Soldier w/Converstional Spanish
The Church: Ripple
Clan of Xymox: Stumble and Fall

Part 2
Robert Rich and B Lustmord: Elementrall Trigger
Einsturzende Neubauten: Wasserturm
Porcupine Tree: Footprints
Manco Baris: SOS Aman Hocom
Siouxsie and the Banshees: 92%
Robert Rich and B. Lustmord: Syngergistic Perceptions
Acid Mothers Temple and Melting Paraiso UFO: L'ambition dans le miroir
Arvo Part: O Weisheit
7% Solution: Lost
Jesus Lizard: Whirl

Part 3

Fugazi: Ex-Spectator
Antonion De Lucena: Malaguena
Cheap Trick: Surrender
Death in June: Blood of Winter
Sebadoh: Freed Pig