Showing posts with label Glass Records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glass Records. Show all posts

9/11/2010

Bron Area - Different Phrases EP



Download Different Phrases from 1982.

A1 Different Phrases
B1 You Would Be Amazed
B2 Dancing


Bron Area: A Biography

To start at the beginning: Bron Area started life as a duo in March 1979, emerging from an embryo of musicians in Nuneaton. Martin Packwood and Steven Parker had been involved in a number of these before meeting a wider and more competent group of musicians. Notably among these was Peter Becker who supported and encouraged them in the early stages of Bron Area. With the reorganization of The Reluctant Stereotypes, resulting in the departure of Martyn Bates and Chris Dunne (later to drum on all later Bron Area records) the former arrived at a Bron gig to be introduced to Peter and thus Eyeless In Gaza came into being. Ambivalent Scale Recordings was later established and saw the release of Bron Area’s One Year cassette album and Fragile Sentences Ep as well as Eyeless In Gaza’s Kodak Ghosts Run Amok Ep and Kevin Harrison’s On Earth 2 cassette (later released as a Cherry Red album [remixed]). As Eyeless moved on to greater glory via their deal with Cherry Red Records, the momentum of Nuneaton’s music scene diminished, Bron Area subdued their efforts somewhat until David Barker of Glass Records, having heard 2 songs from the Alternative Sounds fanzines compilation tape Facet 1 asked them to appear on his Wonderful World of Glass Vol. 1 Lp at the end of 1981. So impressed was Mr. Barker that on the strength of a recent demo tape Bron Area were signed to Glass at the beginning of 1982. The first vinyl was a 12” Ep entitled ‘Different Phrases’ released in March ’82 and later released as a 7” on Posh Boy Records in the USA. Now, after the best part of 1982 being spent in the recording studio Bron Area’s first album is ready. The album is The Trees and the Villages – a title which suggests the sentiments of their present music. Although not quite as described in Stringent Measures fanzine “a modern day country music … with a little organic additive” it does through different means seek to fulfill the same role as that music. Martin Packwood: “The album doesn’t take risks, but I really don’t see how any music could claim to do so. The only thing you risk in being avant garde is that no one is going to buy the record and listen to what you have to offer. People take risks in their lives – in their decisions, their lifestyles and so on – not when they listen to a record.”

From http://www.eyelessingaza.com/bron.html

8/31/2010

Kevin Harrison - Views of the Rhine

Here's one for the kids who like to dance. Kevin Harrison is a recent discovery of mine who was first brought to my attention by way of the Cherry Red compilation Perspectives and Distortion. His song "People in Space" was so full of intriguing sounds and atmosphere. Crazy dub rhythms. He's also collaborated with Steven Parker of Bron Area on an album called "Against the Light."

Kevin Harrison - Views of the Rhine.mp3
This song is absolutely fucking addicting. Originally released on the Fly EP Glass Records 1981.

I believe this is him - http://www.youtube.com/user/spectro52 (looks like he's uploaded an interview for the interested)
http://isotope23.vox.com/

...which brings me to the Glass Records Story, an interview with owner Dave Barker brought to us by Iain McNay of Cherry Red. There's even some discussion of In Embrace so obviously this comes highly recommended!



Personally I don't see why Glass isn't as revered as a labels like Creation or Sarah. Scrolling through their list of releases and you'll see what i mean, mighty impressive!