invisible limits - golden dreams (new order edit) and other Clones

Andy wrote: I was thinking more the early singles and first LP, although I also appreciate their later stuff to a lesser extent.

I finally saw them live in 1991, and they did not disappoint.

Bonus: Danielle Dax was the opening act. I really, really tried to appreciate her music, but have to admit that it was her appearance that held the main appeal.

I love the Sisters. Have been a fan since the late 1980s.

Early Sisters (i.e. the EPs) were excellent - Alice, Floorshow, Heartland, Temple Of Love. Love the first LP too (even the Hussey penned stuff on side A, although the Marx/Eldritch side B is better, IMHO). Nine While Nine, Amphetamine Logic and Marian are just great.

I saw them live a few years back (a lot later than you, Andy), but they were still good. Would love an Eldritch/Marx/Adams reunion. Maybe even throw Gunn/Hussey in there too. Seems more likely that Hook would rejoin New Order than that happening though.

I've never really spotted similarities between 'Amen Yves' and The Sisters. However, I think I've probably become quite 'blind' to similarities, due to liking both bands independently for years.

I do recommend checking out other stuff by For Against though.

If you want the darker stuff, the first LP ('Echelons') and aforementioned compilation 'In The Marshes' are the ones to go to. If you want something a little bit lighter, the second LP ('December') should serve you well.

In respect of Ms Dax, I've liked a handful of her tracks (Cathouse, White Knuckle Ride, Big Hollow Man etc.) but, yes, there are definitely 'other reasons' for liking her.

Haven’t checked in on this thread for a while but I see there’s been a lot of chat about Xymox.Yes I remember them well and I was really into that Clan Of Xymox LP they released in 1985, I used to play that a lot with songs like A Day and Stranger being stand out songs,great stuff back in the day. The last album of theirs I bought would’ve been Medusa I guess back in about 1986? Kind of lost track of them after that and I didn’t even know they were still together and that they’ve been doing many albums in the years since.

Fotz wrote: Haven’t checked in on this thread for a while but I see there’s been a lot of chat about Xymox.Yes I remember them well and I was really into that Clan Of Xymox LP they released in 1985, I used to play that a lot with songs like A Day and Stranger being stand out songs,great stuff back in the day. The last album of theirs I bought would’ve been Medusa I guess back in about 1986? Kind of lost track of them after that and I didn’t even know they were still together and that they’ve been doing many albums in the years since.

vinyl version of peel sessions coming soon:

https://www.discogs.com/Clan-Of-Xymox-The-John-Peel-Sessions/release/17406175

Clan Of Xymox ‎– The John Peel Sessions Label: Dark Entries ‎– DE-280 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered Country: US Released: 19 Mar 2021 Genre: Electronic, Rock Style: New Wave, Goth Rock, Darkwave Tracklist A1 Stranger 5:30 A2 Muscoviet Mosquito 3:59 A3 Seventh Time 4:45 B1 After The Call 7:20 B2 Agonised By Love 5:03 B3 Mesmerised 6:16 Total Time: 32:53

lots of hit and miss on their albums, depends on what you like in their sound.

also, muscoviet mosquito is probably their best non-album song, that i liked.

later -1

clan of xymox - muscoviet mosquito

later -1

negative1 wrote: clan of xymox - muscoviet mosquito

later -1

This is pretty great.

It reminds me of this underrated / mostly unknown track, especially the bassline:

Incidentally, the above track features friend of New Order and former Mr Factory Berlin, Mark Reeder. I believe Die Unbekannten changed their name to Shark Vegas (who Bernard produced).

On the subject of Mr Reeder, I’m going to use this opportunity to gush over his film “B-Movie: Lust and Sound in West Berlin 1979-1989” which is thoroughly excellent. I know I’ve mentioned it before here, but it’s really worth labouring the point, that if you haven’t watched it, do so. Especially if you have an interest in 1980s alternative music / West Berlin.

negative1 wrote:

Fotz wrote: Haven’t checked in on this thread for a while but I see there’s been a lot of chat about Xymox.Yes I remember them well and I was really into that Clan Of Xymox LP they released in 1985, I used to play that a lot with songs like A Day and Stranger being stand out songs,great stuff back in the day. The last album of theirs I bought would’ve been Medusa I guess back in about 1986? Kind of lost track of them after that and I didn’t even know they were still together and that they’ve been doing many albums in the years since.

vinyl version of peel sessions coming soon:

https://www.discogs.com/Clan-Of-Xymox-The-John-Peel-Sessions/release/17406175

Clan Of Xymox ‎– The John Peel Sessions Label: Dark Entries ‎– DE-280 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered Country: US Released: 19 Mar 2021 Genre: Electronic, Rock Style: New Wave, Goth Rock, Darkwave Tracklist A1 Stranger 5:30 A2 Muscoviet Mosquito 3:59 A3 Seventh Time 4:45 B1 After The Call 7:20 B2 Agonised By Love 5:03 B3 Mesmerised 6:16 Total Time: 32:53

lots of hit and miss on their albums, depends on what you like in their sound.

also, muscoviet mosquito is probably their best non-album song, that i liked.

later -1

Clan of Xymox/Xymox have a few other non-album tracks that are well worth hearing:

Scum Released on an EP between 2nd and 3rd albums, it was their first hint of a dance oriented direction. I've never found a version other than the "Dance Mix".

Shame Blind Hearts b-side. A bit more of an industrial edge with vocals by both Ronny and Anka.

Twisted B-side to Phoenix of My Heart. Another excellent ballad from Anka. I guess she had surplus to what ended up on the album.

All Fold Up Another b-side to Phoenix of My Heart. Sounds like classic Peter Gabriel, or perhaps the synthy side of Joshua Tree era U2. If you're open to that stuff, this is great.

Dreamhouse B-side to At the End of the Day. Housey track that is made distinctive by the breathy vocals of Anka.

Down to Earth Another b-side to At the End of the Day. Solid track that probably was just too similar in mood to a couple of other tracks on the Phoenix album to make the cut.

Soul Free B-side to Dream On, Ronny's first,essentially solo, release after the band split. Synth pop with moderately gritty guitar that is indicative of the 3rd and 4th albums. He sounds optimistic here. It's too bad he didn't continue, at least partially (as he also does gloom so well) in this style...

negative1 wrote: clan of xymox - muscoviet mosquito

This is the only song I know by Clan of Xymox, because it was on the 1987 4AD compilation, Lonely Is An Eyesore. I preferred some of the other tracks from: This Mortal Coil, The Cocteaus and Dead Can Dance. So I never investigated Xymox any further. The next album I bought after this comp was probably Substance.

Andy wrote:

negative1 wrote:

Fotz wrote: Haven’t checked in on this thread for a while but I see there’s been a lot of chat about Xymox.Yes I remember them well and I was really into that Clan Of Xymox LP they released in 1985, I used to play that a lot with songs like A Day and Stranger being stand out songs,great stuff back in the day. The last album of theirs I bought would’ve been Medusa I guess back in about 1986? Kind of lost track of them after that and I didn’t even know they were still together and that they’ve been doing many albums in the years since.

vinyl version of peel sessions coming soon:

https://www.discogs.com/Clan-Of-Xymox-The-John-Peel-Sessions/release/17406175

Clan Of Xymox ‎– The John Peel Sessions Label: Dark Entries ‎– DE-280 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered Country: US Released: 19 Mar 2021 Genre: Electronic, Rock Style: New Wave, Goth Rock, Darkwave Tracklist A1 Stranger 5:30 A2 Muscoviet Mosquito 3:59 A3 Seventh Time 4:45 B1 After The Call 7:20 B2 Agonised By Love 5:03 B3 Mesmerised 6:16 Total Time: 32:53

lots of hit and miss on their albums, depends on what you like in their sound.

also, muscoviet mosquito is probably their best non-album song, that i liked.

later -1

They have a few other non-able tracks that are well worth hearing:

Scum Released on an EP between 2nd and 3rd albums, it was their first hint of a dance oriented direction. I've never found a version other than the "Dance Mix".

Shame Blind Hearts b-side. A bit more of an industrial edge with vocals by both Ronny and Anka.

Twisted B-side to Phoenix of My Heart. Another excellent ballad from Anka. I guess she had surplus to what ended up on the album.

All Fold Up Another b-side to Phoenix of My Heart. Sounds like classic Peter Gabriel, or perhaps the synthy side of Joshua Tree era U2. If you're open to that stuff, this is great.

Dreamhouse B-side to At the End of the Day. Housey track that is made distinctive by the breathy vocals of Anka.

Down to Earth Another b-side to At the End of the Day. Solid track that probably was just too similar in mood to a couple of other tracks on the Phoenix album to make the cut.

Soul Free B-side to Dream On, Ronny's first,essentially solo, release after the band split. Synth pop with moderately gritty guitar that is indicative of the 3rd and 4th albums. He sounds optimistic here. It's too bad he didn't continue, at least partially (as he also does gloom so well) in this style...

nice list, i've heard a few those back in the vinyl days, some of those made it to cd i think.

but twist of shadows was the final straw for me, way too commercial and bland, and i couldn't stand imagination.

but i did like back door, as the only song from medusa, wish there was a remix of it:

later -1

Back Door is great, but from Medusa (and possibly their entire catalogue) it's got to be Louise for me. A "Darkwave" (as John Peel described them) classic with an epic, dramatic feel and emotive lyrics and vocals about a girl that ran poor old Ronny through the ringer. The way the bass is presented in the mix has always intrigued me.

But then I also really like Michelle from that album. Which is probably too poppy for your tastes. Well, "poppy" in an quirky Siouxsie/Cure way, at least.

these guys aren't clones or are they.

this came out in 1979, and sounds like an early blue monday (the first part):

later -1

negative1 wrote: these guys aren't clones or are they.

this came out in 1979, and sounds like an early blue monday (the first part):

later -1

It seems like we've been here before.

If I were Gerry I would have sued for royalties. When you consider that Hooky said NO made more money out of Shut Up & Drive (using Blue Monday chords) than the entire WFTSC album, then you have some idea how well NO have ultimately done out out of BM (sleeve issues aside). Gerry has potentially missed out on a fortune here.

Not exactly a revolutionary chord sequence.

I know this song from the Rolling Stones cover version. But this is the original from 1962:

Fortune Teller

depthcharge wrote:

Hailed from Brisbane so I bet Dennis Remmer has some stories.

I do!

We managed to get them to reform when we launched our BNE Book (in which they're heavily featured) in 2014 ... much fun. I've known Dave & co since about 1989 and we're in touch quite regularly. Here are some pix from that night - that's me in the last shot.

Before they left for Sydney they gigged regularly around Brisbane, and we'd often catch them in the most random of places with a tiny audience at the same time they were charting on the US dance charts. Still have some handy artefacts from the time.

Dave has been busy re-issuing the Vertigo-period singles which you can find on Bandcamp here and Vertigo itself (which for me is a very essential album in my collection) has just been remastered and reissued.

D

Dennis Remmer wrote:

depthcharge wrote:

Hailed from Brisbane so I bet Dennis Remmer has some stories.

I do!

We managed to get them to reform when we launched our BNE Book (in which they're heavily featured) in 2014 ... much fun. I've known Dave & co since about 1989 and we're in touch quite regularly. Here are some pix from that night - that's me in the last shot.

Before they left for Sydney they gigged regularly around Brisbane, and we'd often catch them in the most random of places with a tiny audience at the same time they were charting on the US dance charts. Still have some handy artefacts from the time.

Dave has been busy re-issuing the Vertigo-period singles which you can find on Bandcamp here and Vertigo itself (which for me is a very essential album in my collection) has just been remastered and reissued.

D

I knew you'd come through :)

That'd be you backstage in the New Order tee as well, no doubt?

Heard Dave interviewed recently on Mixcloud by Mark Dynamix (Electronique). Another big NO fan. It was amusing to hear there are some early lost Boxcar tracks that only now exist on cassette, care of their first demo release. Thus making them quite hard to find, let alone remaster.

depthcharge wrote:

That'd be you backstage in the New Order tee as well, no doubt?

Well it would be 😄

depthcharge wrote: It was amusing to hear there are some early lost Boxcar tracks that only now exist on cassette, care of their first demo release. Thus making them quite hard to find, let alone remaster.

Got plans for those... Vision Four 5's early Brisbane stuff is imminent too.

D

Dennis Remmer wrote: Vision Four 5's early Brisbane stuff is imminent too.

V45 Deep Fantasy Redux is releasing this Friday.

Also Dave Boxcar is doing a promo event with Mark Dynamix in SYD and BNE for their current reissues. Will be at the Brissie one.

Cool things going on downunder...

The Killers have that link to New Order but rarely sound like them. This is from their new LP and is one where you definitely can hear the JD/NO influence.

In the Car Outside