Young Marble Giants

Anyone heard anything of/by this band? I ran across their name in an article about Joy Division a few months back, was just wondering if they're any good.

From what I remember, they were a trio from Wales, with two brothers and a female singer. They had one album and at least one single on Rough Trade. The music is sparse (guitar, bass and organ with vox) and the songs are brief. The album still sounds pretty good 20+ years after its release, and I liked them more than I ever did the Spinanes. Can't remember which artists have rated their album Colossal Youth highly, but I have seen it on quite a few all-time fave lists.

Yeah, I think it's a real cult album...

I listened to them because, someday, someone told me the songs I made sounded a bit like them and had never heard them before. :D

Pretty good, indeed...

And, btw Huntsmania, I don't forget about our little trade. It's just taking some time... But, in the end, it shall be done...

The band are three Cardiffans : Alsion Statton: vocals, guitars, Stuart Moxham: guitars, bass, beat box, organ and his brother Philip Moxham: guitars, bass, beatbox, vocals. Their sole album, "Colossal Youth" was a Peel fave and they were the ultimate bedroom DIY cult band of the early 80's. Incredibly the LP - a minimalist analogue masterpiece - is still available. You could also check out their "TestCard EP" from 1980 - a six-track instrumental release. The band broke up soon after, and Stuart formed The Gist - an experimental collective which featured guest musicians and also , funnily enough, his former YMG colleagues: one of their best songs: "Love at First Sight" (an absolute peach!) was covered by my old band Lunatic Fringe about 10 years ago (the much-missed 4AD band Lush also covered it in 1994). Phil went into enforced hibernation whilst Alison teamed up with a fellow Cardiffan Spike and Londoner Simon Booth to form the acclaimed jazzy outfit Weekend: who lasted two LPs and a handful of singles before splitting in 1984. Alison then teamed up with another Welshman, Ian Devine to form the duo Devine & Statton who released their debut LP "The Prince of Wales" in 1989 which - and this is where it gets really interesting - featured a gorgeous acoustic version of the mighty NO song "Bizarre Love Triangle" (definitely worth checking out if you can get hold of it). So Young Marble Giants ARE linked with New Order after all!!!

Originally posted by Green From what I remember, they were a trio from Wales, with two brothers and a female singer. They had one album and at least one single on Rough Trade. The music is sparse (guitar, bass and organ with vox) and the songs are brief. The album still sounds pretty good 20+ years after its release, and I liked them more than I ever did the Spinanes. Can't remember which artists have rated their album Colossal Youth highly, but I have seen it on quite a few all-time fave lists.

A Real Audio version of the Devine/Stratton BLT cover can be found on the Multimedia/covers section of this site. If anyone wants an MP3 version of the song, there's one lurking on my (non-NO, but no other webspace to put it) site

http://www.worcestercityfc.co.uk/bltacoustic.mp3

Originally posted by Tim Jauncey A Real Audio version of the Devine/Stratton BLT cover can be found on the Multimedia/covers section of this site. If anyone wants an MP3 version of the song, there's one lurking on my (non-NO, but no other webspace to put it) site http://www.worcestercityfc.co.uk/bltacoustic.mp3

Just listened to that cover. Fabulous indeed and far much better than the Frente one.

The Frente version, believe it or not was a direct lift of YET ANOTHER version of BLT - this time done in 1993 by an obscure Aussie band (but a good one too!) called EVEN AS WE SPEAK. They (EAWS) recorded a few singles and one album for SARAH RECORDS (yes, the indie label from Bristol, now Shinkansen Records, whose biggest selling act The Field Mice also followed the New Order blueprint right down to their LP/single sleeves [The Field Mice split in 1991 after their last single - the mighty MISSING THE MOON, which is pure New Order existential angst disco - check especially the huge, epic ending - catalogue number Sarah 57 (12" only)].

Anyway: the scary coincidence is that Frente are also Australian: so what is it with Aussie bands doing identically-styled covers of BLT. You can seek out EVEN AS WE SPEAK's nearly-identical-to-Frente's cover of Bizarre Love Triangle on their 7" EP on Sarah records entitled "Nothing Ever Happens" (No, NOT the DEL AMITRI cover version!!) cat no: Sarah 37. But then, I think it's deleted now!

Originally posted by Geoffroy Klompkes > Originally posted by Tim Jauncey> A Real Audio version of the Devine/Stratton BLT cover can be found on the Multimedia/covers section of this site. If anyone wants an MP3 version of the song, there's one lurking on my (non-NO, but no other webspace to put it) site > > http://www.worcestercityfc.co.uk/bltacoustic.mp3

Just listened to that cover. Fabulous indeed and far much better than the Frente one.

I just listened to the D-S version, it really brings out the melancholy of the lyrics. I'll definitely have to look for some YMG stuff next time I'm out. Thanks again.....

Originally posted by Martin Gray The Frente version, believe it or not was a direct lift of YET ANOTHER version of BLT - this time done in 1993 by an obscure Aussie band (but a good one too!) called EVEN AS WE SPEAK. They (EAWS) recorded a few singles and one album for SARAH RECORDS (yes, the indie label from Bristol, now Shinkansen Records, whose biggest selling act The Field Mice also followed the New Order blueprint right down to their LP/single sleeves [The Field Mice split in 1991 after their last single - the mighty MISSING THE MOON, which is pure New Order existential angst disco - check especially the huge, epic ending - catalogue number Sarah 57 (12" only)].

I totally agree about The Field Mice as I have their Missing The Moon 12 inch.

I loved them, really.

Afterwards, some of them formed Nothern Picture Library. Don't know what they're doing today, though.

Originally posted by Sébastien Boisvert Speaking of cover versions (and honestly I'm quite surprised nobody gave a shit before because by all means I think we managed to build a fookin' incredible database of covers!!!) --

I gave a shit before, Seb, but, as you said, you managed to build suchn an incredible database it's impossible to listen to them all. So you tend to choose the ones that attract you or the ones when you say it's a very good one in your comments.

Buster, my song is waiting with eagerness for the showdown betwixt Huntsy and Klumpy. Just to get the anticipation raging my song is titled 'San Francisco' and if push comes to shove, is perhaps the best song I have ever created. (A no.1 cult hit if ever I've heard one)

Just give me the nod BK and I will provide the link.

Originally posted by Huntsman Buster, my song is waiting with eagerness for the showdown betwixt Huntsy and Klumpy. Just to get the anticipation raging my song is titled 'San Francisco' and if push comes to shove, is perhaps the best song I have ever created. (A no.1 cult hit if ever I've heard one)Just give me the nod BK and I will provide the link.

I'm waiting for the fucking software. 'Like A Doberman' is not our best song, although it's one of our few fans favorites. Our best songs are in french, I'm afraid.

Buster... I don't mind a French song, that would be cool. Remember, I can speak fluent French and German and at a push could stomach Czech for a few sentences.

Check it.

Ma mère consomme des haricots et mon père préfère des poissons et des puces.

Originally posted by Huntsman Buster... I don't mind a French song, that would be cool. Remember, I can speak fluent French and German and at a push could stomach Czech for a few sentences.Check it.Ma mère consomme des haricots et mon père préfère des poissons et des puces.

Not bad, not bad at all...

OH GOOD! Someone else who remembers The Field Mice - tip my hat off to you GK! - In answer to your question, you're right, three of them went on to form Northern Picture Library - a more ambient, instrumental - but equally eclectic and unpigeonholeable - outfit who made one LP "Alaska" (again worth investigating) and three singles "Love Song For The Dead Ché" (cover of a song by cult band United States of America), followed by "Blue Dissolve" (a damn fine EP, featuring the schizophrenic first track "Dear Faraway Friend" with its awesome, huge relentless fuck-off white-out of an ending that keeps building and building until it snaps); and finally "Paris/Norfolk Windmills EP" before this band, too, split in 1994 due to mainman Robert Wratten falling out with colleague/girlfriend AnneMari Davis. In 1995, Wratten formed a new project, TREMBLING BLUE STARS (who you may or may not have heard about as they've quietly snuck out THREE LPs worth and a few singles for Shinkansen Records, garnering universally favourable reviews in the process) which is really a solo venture but augmented by, wait for it, various ex-Field Mice / Sarah persons (in fact all former members once again - including a reunited AnneMari !! - excepting the latterday drummer). Having said all that, to date I only possess one TBS album - "Lips That Taste Of Tears", which is very vintage Field Mice really, so check them out!

Originally posted by Geoffroy Klompkes

I totally agree about The Field Mice as I have their Missing The Moon 12 inch.

I loved them, really.

Afterwards, some of them formed Nothern Picture Library. Don't know what they're doing today, though.

Thanks for the info, Martin. I only have "Alaska". One of the best works has been done for the Field Mice anthology, I may say.

I will investigate that solo-not-that-solo project.

And remember, even in oktober, september's not, september is not so far away...

O, I once said I did my own "Temptation". I also did my own "If You Need Someone"... :)

Is NPL's "Still Life" worth a buy ? Found it on Amazon. No trace of Blue Trembling Star though...

Oops, sorry, I forgot the "s" at the end of Stars.

They have loads of them, albums and singles. Any recommendation ?

Sorry again, you answered that question in your post...

"Still Life"??? Where did that one come from?? Wow... I thought I'd seen them all. Better check amazon to confirm this....

Originally posted by Geoff The Klump Is NPL's "Still Life" worth a buy ? Found it on Amazon. No trace of Blue Trembling Star though...

friends all around! i hate to say that, but´you make me feel so boring old... THE FIELD MICE... i still have a special place for the 7" after all those years and MISSING THE MOON.... what a song i start weeping all the time when i listen to it every person on this planet who likes THE FIELD MICE must be a nice and friendly person and should be my friend :kiss:

i know this is a NEW ORDER site and they are still my favourite band...... but...... there is nothing more melancolic and beautiful than THE FIELD MICE

Originally posted by Martin Gray The band are three Cardiffans : Alsion Statton: vocals, guitars, Stuart Moxham: guitars, bass, beat box, organ and his brother Philip Moxham: guitars, bass, beatbox, vocals. Their sole album, "Colossal Youth" was a Peel fave and they were the ultimate bedroom DIY cult band of the early 80's. Incredibly the LP - a minimalist analogue masterpiece - is still available. You could also check out their "TestCard EP" from 1980 - a six-track instrumental release. The band broke up soon after, and Stuart formed The Gist - an experimental collective which featured guest musicians and also , funnily enough, his former YMG colleagues: one of their best songs: "Love at First Sight" (an absolute peach!) was covered by my old band Lunatic Fringe about 10 years ago (the much-missed 4AD band Lush also covered it in 1994). Phil went into enforced hibernation whilst Alison teamed up with a fellow Cardiffan Spike and Londoner Simon Booth to form the acclaimed jazzy outfit Weekend: who lasted two LPs and a handful of singles before splitting in 1984. Alison then teamed up with another Welshman, Ian Devine to form the duo Devine & Statton who released their debut LP "The Prince of Wales" in 1989 which - and this is where it gets really interesting - featured a gorgeous acoustic version of the mighty NO song "Bizarre Love Triangle" (definitely worth checking out if you can get hold of it). So Young Marble Giants ARE linked with New Order after all!!!> Originally posted by Green > From what I remember, they were a trio from Wales, with two brothers and a female singer. They had one album and at least one single on Rough Trade. The music is sparse (guitar, bass and organ with vox) and the songs are brief. The album still sounds pretty good 20+ years after its release, and I liked them more than I ever did the Spinanes. Can't remember which artists have rated their album Colossal Youth highly, but I have seen it on quite a few all-time fave lists.

I'm surprised you weren't also aware that Hooky played bass on one of the tracks on Devine and Statton's excellent second album, 'Cardiffians'. If memory serves, the song was 'Enough is Enough'

Originally posted by mikesonic friends all around!i hate to say that, but´you make me feel so boring old...THE FIELD MICE... i still have a special place for the 7" after all those years and MISSING THE MOON....what a songi start weeping all the time when i listen to itevery person on this planet who likes THE FIELD MICE must be a nice and friendly person and should be my friend :kiss:i know this is a NEW ORDER site and they are still my favourite band...... but......there is nothing more melancolic and beautiful than THE FIELD MICE

I can see what you mean.

There's so much effortless beauty in their best songs.

Definitely the best NO-inspired band.

Well, Mikesonic, you're my virtual mate...