Glider

Glider
1985 Stride
United Kingdom

New 7th Music performers: Tony Clough, Ashleigh Marsh, Heather Rolfe, Phil Kelday, Rebecca, and Steve Hildreth
Face in the Crowd performers: Rupert Loydell and Russell Kirk

1. New 7th Music – Mata Hari (recorded 7-28-1985)
2. Face in the Crowd – The White Man Does not Understand (recorded live 1-28-1985)
3. Rupert Loydell – Artaud Cut-Up (from Mad as Fire)

I think this is technically a split album, but the inclusion of the song from Loydell’s solo tape Mad as Fire changes it into either a three-way split, or a compilation. I’m never really sure how to describe these experimental improvisation albums – they kind of play various instruments and objects (sometimes with spoken or sung words or vocal noises) in a free-flowing matter, but also often with structures (that were created on the spot). I enjoy listening to it myself, but I know it is not everyone’s thing. Side 1 is one long session (29+ minutes) by New 7th Music, while Side 2 has a live session by Face in the Crowd and then a track from Loydell’s 1983 solo tape. I wasn’t really sure where to make the cut for these two songs, but I at the 28 and a half minute mark there was a distinct change from improv with instruments to a short 1 minute plus track with found noise from television news broadcasts. I hope that was the correct place.

Face in the Crowd – Phoenix

Face in the Crowd
Phoenix
1984 Stride
Cheshire, England, United Kingdom

Side 1:

Rupert Loydell – Vocals (1-8, 9-11, 12), bass (1, 2, 4, 6, 9-11), synth (12)
Russell Kirk – Guitar (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9-11, 12), bass (3), synth

Simon Dangerous – Drumatix (1, 2, 5, 7, 8), dangerous guitar (2)
Kathryn – Vocals (7)
Het Zweet – Backing tapes (9 & 10)
Tom of Megaton – Music (1, 2)

1. I Can Play
2. How Much Do You Know?
3. So You’re All Little Anarchists?
4. Don’t Go
5. Poem to Order
6. Total Eclipse
7. Somebody Else’s Stranger
8. For Simon Pitt
9. No Sweat
10. Timeless
11. Call Them Us
12. The Sudden Stain of Music Across an Empty Page

Side 2:

Live performance 4-25-84
Performers: Sue, Katheryn, Russell, Rupert

1. Seduced by Colour
2. Corrugated Shadows
3. Breath of Warm Air
4. Chunter and Podge in the Friedhof
5. Huge Metropolis
6. Blister Already
7. Closed to the Public
8. Heavy Breathing
9. Phoenix
10. Feckless
11. Brick.Shadow

This is quite the eclectic collection of songs. The first few tracks are lo-fi indie experimental alt rock songs with vocals, but the music gets more experimental as it goes along. Side one is a collection of different recording sessions. There are some spoken word-type songs as well. Side 2 is a live recording that becomes more and more experimental / improvisational noise (the genre, not an insult). Instruments and sounds listed are “found percussion, whistles, recorders, acoustic guitar, voices, and radio.” There are also statements and words spoken randomly during the performances. I’m not really sure if people that get into side one will get into side two, but you never know. This appears to be their first album, followed by The Family That Blows Up Buildings in 1985.

Graham Palmer – If the Face Fits

Graham Palmer
If the Face Fits
1984 Stride
Cheshire, England, United Kingdom

Graham Palmer – Vocals
Leszek Gasiorek – Synth
Chris Gasiorek – Synth, bass
Brian Freeney – Guitar
Paul Freeney – Drums
Justin Fisher – Drums

Side 1:

1. Creation
2. Pavement Gazing
3. Firework Factory
4. Down Where the Children Played
5. Monkey Puzzle Tree
6. Music as Music
7. The Anvil
8. Suburban Nightmare
9. Cybernetic Alternative
10. Masterclass
11. Cat & Mouse
12. The Identi-Kit People’s Revolt

Side 2:

1. Darkened Danger
2. Out on the Tiles
3. ‘I was Here’
4. The Blue-Movie Blues
5. Two Faced
6. Hampton Court
7. Remix (by ‘Graham goes to Hanwell’)
8. The Lunatic
9. Skydrop
10. Song of the Firebird

While this looks like a really long album, most of the tracks are under 2 minutes long – many being less than a minute. Only two barely clock in over 2 minutes. This is mostly a spoken word project. There is music underneath the words, but mostly as sound effects and ambiance. Occasionally something like “Monkey Puzzle Tree” comes blaring out with near-punk intensity… but only lasts 43 seconds. There are also songs like “Music as Music” which has a kind of… circus-like alt rock groove under the spoken words? As you can see from the song titles, the song themes are all over the place. This is from the same label that brought us acts like Face in the Crowd and Griff.

Centre of Gravity

Centre of Gravity
1985 Stride
Cheshire, England, United Kingdom

Side 1:

1. Pacific 231 – Psycho Moon
2. Pacific 231 – Gare De L’est 1943
3. The Dangerous Bros – On 45
4. Vox Populi – Pygmies in the Park
5. Vox Populi – Mind
6. Vox Populi – Glassy Stare
7. Face in the Crowd – Clown
8. Face in the Crowd – Love is Like a Cancer

Side 2:

1. Griff – Wrant – U – Wrant
2. Griff – Poser
3. Griff – Match’s Mate
4. Celestial Orgy – Pig to the Abbatoir
5. Celestial Orgy – Feminist
6. Celestial Orgy – Maths
7. Inlaws and Outlaws – Foot Inside Your Door
8. Face in the Crowd – Summer Fool
9. Face in the Crowd – A Strong Voice
10. Face in the Crowd – Justice

This is a mysterious compilation from Stride that serves up several songs from mostly noise/industrial/experimental bands – with a few exceptions. So who is on it? First off is Pacific 231, a noise/experimental project by Pierre Jolivet of Paris that has been going since the early 80s. If the band name sounds kind of familiar to you, Pacific 231 has been on some split albums with Psyclones, also an early noise/industrial band that was composed of Brian Ladd (aka Blackhouse) and Julie Frith. I can’t find these songs listed on any Pacific 231 releases, so they might be exclusive to this comp? I can’t find any information on The Dangerous Bros, but they appear to be an experimental free-form band with guitars. Vox Populi has also collaborated with Pacific 231, but is a band from France that has been around since the early 80s. They have an experimental noise sound as well, with some vocals and instruments. Face in the Crowd has released many tapes in the Christian tape underground, usually of a more experimental band sound, with some spoken word parts, some sung parts, random instrument playing, etc. Griff has also been featured here before, but he is experimental folk rock with an extreme British sense of humor. Don’t know much about Celestial Orgy, but it seems they only have compilation appearances listed on Discogs. They appear to be the closest thing to a rock band on here – definitely some alternative guitar and drums, but still more experimental than most alt rock. When they hit the high pitched vocals, it almost reminds me of Danielson. Inlaws and Outlaws is another band I can’t find much on, but they also are the most traditional industrial/electronic band on the compilation (although many others use industrial elements).