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OK, I'm forever being told by other music fans that if I like JD and early NO (which I do), then the bands worth investigating are The Chameleons, Wire and Pere Ubu. Anyone got any opinions they'd care to pass on any of these groups? Heard "Nathan's Phase" by the Chameleons before, and it was pretty impressive, quite like U2 before they got all arsey.
Any ideas?
Originally posted by Atrocity Exhibit OK, I'm forever being told by other music fans that if I like JD and early NO (which I do), then the bands worth investigating are The Chameleons, Wire and Pere Ubu. Anyone got any opinions they'd care to pass on any of these groups? Heard "Nathan's Phase" by the Chameleons before, and it was pretty impressive, quite like U2 before they got all arsey.Any ideas?
I've often wondered about Wire and thought I should try listening to them, but never get round to it.
They seem to be a really super-trendy band to name drop these days, though the only Wire track I ever heard was some godawful song about tinnitus (Buzzbuzz in the eardrum?) that was on some 80's indiepop compilation. I remember I heard that back then and wrote them off as irritating indie janglers and never listened to them again. Possibly I was wrong.
Early Wire and Pere Ubu stuff is essential. I would start with
Wire - Pink Flag, 154, Document and Eyewitness
Pere Ubu - you should maybe just get the 'Datapanik in the Year Zero' box set, but if you aren't that sure about it the logical choice would be 'The Modern Dance', their first LP which has some of the same songs as their early singles.
Actually my favorite Ubu material is all from before their first album, I have some live tapes of their earlier lineups that are great, and the early singles on Hearthan are all pretty much classics.
It has long been said that they were an influence on JD, and it certainly sounds that way comparing, say, 'Heart of Darkness' to 'Shadowplay'. The bass sound - that's right, Hooky's trademark open string plus fretted notes on another string, pretty high up on the neck of the bass - is the same on the early Ubu material with Tim Wright (who would later play in the great No Wave band DNA) or, later, Tony Maimone on bass.
Pere Ubu has been compared to Joy Division and Magazine, two of my favourite bands. Since all these groups are very individual, they really sound different from one another. Ubu uses pretty obscure chord sequences They sound sort of like slowed-down punk, with less attitude.
The influence on JD is definitely there. You really should also try Magazine.
Lady 21 wrote : "They sound sort of like slowed-down punk, with less attitude. "
with some exceptions, notably 'Life Stinks'
Also, Ubu's use of a modular analog synth in most of their early stuff is similar to JD blending in synths and tape collage on their studio recordings
come to think of it, David Thomas' lyrics are not unlike Ian's.
Heart of Darkness (originally released on 7", 1975)
Maybe you see further than I can see, or maybe things just look differently Maybe I'm nothing but a shadow on the wall Maybe love's a tomb where you dance at night Maybe sanctuary is an electric light I get so tired it's like I'm another man, and everything I see seems so underhanded I don't see anything that I want, and I don't see anything that I want
Image, object, & illusion go down to the corner where none of the faces fit a human form, where nothing I see there isn't deformed, where in a secret lab works a Doctor Moreau, and no private eye's gotta tell me it's a long goodbye I get so tired it's like I'm another man, and everything I see seems so underhanded I don't see anything that I want, and I don't see anything that I want Looking into the heart of darkness
Wire are a decent enough band. The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is A Cup are the albums I listen to most.
Also check out the track Ahead...it "borrows" quite heavily from Temptation. Oh, and Barney makes a brief cameo appearance in the vid for Eardrum Buzz...
Originally posted by teleharmonium come to think of it, David Thomas' lyrics are not unlike Ian's.
Indeed not. Notebooks out plagiarists ?????? IC gets less original and visionary by the day.....
if you want to get into the Chameleons - don't buy the album released last year during their comeback phase. It is a poor imitation of their former glories. Go for "The Script of the Bridge" with the excellent Second Skin on it, or look up what many people regard as their best song - Swamp Thing. Nathan's phase pails into insignificance.
Originally posted by phil if you want to get into the Chameleons - don't buy the album released last year during their comeback phase. It is a poor imitation of their former glories. Go for "The Script of the Bridge" with the excellent Second Skin on it, or look up what many people regard as their best song - Swamp Thing. Nathan's phase pails into insignificance.
Script of the bridge; a true classic. I really like that album 
Benny wrote: "IC gets less original and visionary by the day..... "
I don't think it is as bad as all that, everyone is shaped a bit by what is around them but it's not like he was only copying and it doesn't take away the meaning. Ian said something comparable in some of his lyrics, but in a different way, in the context of the group's unique blend and style. (or maybe you were being facetious to make your point ?)
Originally posted by Atrocity Exhibit OK, I'm forever being told by other music fans that if I like JD and early NO (which I do), then the bands worth investigating are The Chameleons, Wire and Pere Ubu. Anyone got any opinions they'd care to pass on any of these groups? Heard "Nathan's Phase" by the Chameleons before, and it was pretty impressive, quite like U2 before they got all arsey.Any ideas?
Never heard of any of them. Glad i could help.
The rest......well 
