Tag: Death in Vegas

Five Lost Albums

I thought I would mix it up this week and look at some treasured records that in my personal view, and for whatever reason, did not receive the acclaim they deserved. I have listed these in chronological order: –

Squirrel Bait – Skag Heaven 1986

Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky they were quantified in the emo/mathcore genre (1983-1988).  Influenced by peers Black Flag and more distinctly Husker Du who they supported. I discovered  them via a Bob Mould quote in the NME singles review ‘as the finest thing he’d ever heard’

This second and final album contains 10 songs but is only 25.45 in length. Standout track is ‘Kid Dynamite’ with bracing intro and alarming refrain ‘I don’t need no pig stomping on my buzz’ and has muttered unintelligible incantations. Others to note are ‘Choose Your Poison’ with Black Sabbath War Pigs intro and ‘Slake Train Coming’ which thunders along.    

The record is scuzzy and full of youthful vigour and dark lyrics. It sounded utterly vibrant as an 18-year old and still holds up to scrutiny now.

Former members played with the Breeders and Lemonheads and original member Britt Walford subsequently formed semi legendary Slint.  

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Squirrel Bait -‘Skag Heaven’ album cover. Image Credit reddit.

Dumptruck – For the Country – 1987

Formed in 1983 in Boston Massachusetts. This was their third album and they decamped to Rockfield Studio in Wales for some solitude to record it. It is country rock in the finest tradition evoking comparisons to Neil Young, Green on Red and Buffalo Tom.

It has a yearning timeless quality and it is a ‘go to’ album for me. Standout tracks are ‘Friends’ ‘Brush me Back’ ‘Hung Out on the Line’ and ‘Dead Weight’.

Through no fault of their own the band got sucked into a record label contract dispute meaning no new material could be recorded and subsequently disbanded in 1991. Half of the band reformed and recorded new material as recent as 2018, but with diminishing returns.

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Dumptruck – ‘for the country’ album cover. Image Credit you tube – Tony Fivek

Joy Zipper – American Whip – 2002

Dream pop duo from New York, Tabitha Tindale and Vincent Cafiso, who are also a married couple.

Album recorded initially in Glasgow and then co-produced and mixed by Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine. It has a wonky sugar-coated beauty with a 60’s vibe and razor-sharp lyrics. Gorgeous sultry vocals complement each other perfectly and it is lovingly recorded. I hear snippets of Mercury Rev, Raveonettes and Velvets in there.  

‘Christmas Song’ could just possibly be the most shimmering gem of a Xmas song ever written. I also like ‘Baby you should know’, ‘33x’ and the fine outro ‘Valley Stream’ book ends the record.

Their last known recorded material was a contribution to a Smith covers album in 2011.

Former Cellmates – Who’s Dead and What’s to Pay 2008

Formed in Sunderland by ex-Leatherface bassist. Leatherface received Husker Du comparisons but I never really saw that link and much prefer this album.

The record could arguably be vaguely derivative at times and I can imagine not to everyone’s tastes but for me it is imbued with a lot of soul and passion and chugs along mercilessly and has a shambolic charm. There is a bit of Buffalo Tom and Springsteen in there and it has a country rock tinge.

Stand out tracks are ‘Always’, ‘Here’s to the Pretty Girls’ and ‘Why would you Pray for Me?’. They recorded 4 albums between 2005 and 2014 and I am not sure whether they are still operational.

Sennen – Where the Light Gets In (2008)

Based in Norwich in 2002 before decamping to London. They are named after a Ride track, and they are the only one of the five listed I have seen live.

I bloody love this band, who have produced five fine albums between 2005 and 2016 and I could have picked any of them but have selected the second album. Strictly in the post-rock shoegazing genre, displaying a hypnotic lush yearning sound, coruscating guitar and whispered harmonies resembling Loop and MBV.

Standouts are ‘Your Hand in Mine’ and ‘A Lifetime Passed’ which are gentler lovely tracks, that recall Teenage Fanclub ‘Grand Prix’ era. Also ‘Just Wanted to Know’ which morphs into a long thunderous outro.

My overall favourite track of theirs is ‘Falling Down’ off third album Age of Denial which builds layer by layer to a tumultuous conclusion, resembling ‘Ithica 27/9’ by Mogwai and ‘Dirge’ by Death in Vegas.

In my humble opinion, they remain the most criminally underrated band I have encountered.

Now, I would be fascinated to know what would be contained on your lost album list, even if you can only think of one.

Manchester Venue 6 – The Ritz (Part 1)

The Ritz has always been a grand old venue with Northern Soul roots and its spacious old ballroom vibe and sprung dance floor. It has a capacity of 1500 which allows it capture some medium sized bands without the impersonality of playing in an arena setting. It was built in 1927 and was designated a Grade 2 listed building status in 1994.

Taking into account a Ladytron gig planned there in February 2020 this will make a round total of 30 visits, placing it at No 4 on the all-time venue attended list.  The venue is handily placed on Whitworth St West, literally stumbling distance from Oxford Road station making it an ideal location for last minute dashes for late trains back to Preston (occasionally missed!).

Ritz in 1964. Image Credit pinterest.co.uk
Ritz today. Image credit pinterest.co.uk

My first foray there was in October 1987 to see the Swans supported by AC Temple and Twang. I recall distinctly the DJ playing some rather fine Cajun music between bands. The Swans had semi-legendary status at that stage due to their immense volume and there were urban legends circulating that members of the audience had been physically sick due to the decibel effect earlier in the same tour. They had a sludgy sound which was at that stage the loudest band I had witnessed and there was one brave nay foolish punter with his head in the speaker – it was an odd gig.

Swans on stage. Image credit Revoly.com

In 2000 we purchased tickets for a Death In Vegas gig who were in their pomp at that stage and on receipt of the tickets discovered they were playing a late set commencing at 12.15am like the old days. Undeterred we gained a couple of extra hours in the boozer supping dangerously strong Moonraker in the Rain Bar. It was a tad hazy after that but I recall a mosh pit where my good pal John Dewhurst lost his specs necessitating an escort back to the station for the late train.

Around that time I saw an early Mogwai gig there. You will henceforth notice a reoccurring theme as they are the band I have witnessed the most times (current total is 33). They fall into the post rock category (you may have to look that one up) and are the standout purveyors of that particular genre.

They are primarily instrumental with a quiet/very loud dynamic and their white noise is positively grandiose and blissful. I would also contend their music is built in a classical structure with layers of sound added throughout and has been utilised effectively in cinematic circles to soundtrack ‘Zidane’ and the French TV series ‘The Returned’.

The venue was probably not even half full and they were as spellbinding as ever. It was relatively early days for them and quite a lot of lucky souls were seeing them for the first time. I recall heading to the loo mid gig in the midst of one of their sonic assaults and the look of wonderment on the barman’s face as I headed past was a sight to behold! Without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite live band ever.