Smart art-glam suggestions?

Did anyone mention the Sadistic Mika Band yet?

Savage Rose vs. Sadistic Mika Band vs. Curved Air vs. Nectar vs. Be-Bop Deluxe vs. Hackamore Brick

Early Split Enz is kinda glam-prog, just try and forget that they morphed into Crowded House (not that I really mind them, it's not exactly art-glam though).

Italian friend of mine has said he'll be making copies of their stuff for me. I always knew them strictly through Dave Vanian's abortive tour of duty with them after the Damned's first collapse.

everyone needs some rockets albums too. they rule. if you like electroboogiespacediscorock from france that is. and they were glam cuz they dressed like silver spacemen and they were arty cuz they were french. the first album is classic.

I have a Split Enz record that I like, got it on a nostalgic fit, they had 2 videos that were all over MTV in the early days, one was One Step Ahead or whatever. The song I like off the album I have is "History, Never Repeats"

Slightly off-topic, I just limewired Stereolab's version of Eno's St. Elmo's fire, don't know where or when that's from, but it's pretty cool...

Even more off-topic, anyone else think Stereolab's Speedy Car is a bit of a Soft Machine cop? Maybe it's just the horns...

Dan, check out the following Bauhaus tracks: "Dark Entries", "Lagartija Nick" and "Telegram Sam" (yes, a T.Rex cover). They were quite capable of full out rocking, from time to time.

I wouldn't go nearly that far. One of the idiosyncracies of the Doctors of Madness story was a TV special that ran on them in the States. It was an orphaned affair, presented as a kind of documentary, and it preceded any domestic album release. It was diverting but didn't light any buzz on the band.

The first domestic release I saw and bought was a double album. It had moments but wasn't particularly better than any middle-tier arty Brit hard rock act of the time.

Something to look out for in the bargain bins was the David Werner solo. It was very glammy.

And Cockney Rebel's "The Psychomodo" really fit the art glam bill, too.

Also see Audience's "House on the Hill."

Can't believe you're not feeling Debris'. Put it on again after listening to Roxy's debut.

Second "Psychomodo".

Oh, then check out the early Enz of Mental Notes and Second Thoughts when Phil Judd was the main writer. There's a strong prog and glam influence in the earlier works you would appreciate. The music is very arty, but most of the songs are fairly short and rock quite a bit. Neil Finn learned how to write from his exposure to Judd in the early days, but never did it as well. "History Never Repeats" partly steals from Judd's "Bergen Aan Zee"--an unreleased demo that the Enz would sometimes perform live in the late 70s.

Alistair Riddel's Space Waltz might be worth checking out as well. Riddel was New Zealand's answer to Bowie, T. Rex, etc. The sole Space Waltz album features keyboardist Eddie Rayner and orginal drummer Emlyn Crowther from the Split Enz. I've only heard "Out in the Street," which is quite good. I am dying to hear the rest.

dan you should check out sparks.

Dan, have you heard Marizane? They're the best Ziggy-era Bowie rip off I've ever heard. They have their own mythology and everything, and their record is gorgeous. Tony Visconti produced a few of the songs. They're from the Valley, but they sure don't sound it.

There are two great glam-sounding tracks on John Kongos' album "Kongos" that you might like: He's Gonna Step on You Again and (ugh, I can't remember the name, but it's first song/first side). The rest of the record sounds very different, though.

Covered by some chancers two decades later...I forget their name.

Also, check out Pink's "My Vietnam" - AMAZING!!!

well, in theory that seems like a good idea, but in execution, not really what I'm going for at all.

Someone mentioned Sailor 17 years ago; I've only heard their second album, Trouble, and it's an unusual artefact. It sounds like Roxy Music if Ferry had committed fully to storytelling lyrics and the 40s pastiche that he just flirted with (his most Sailor-like song is maybe "Tokyo Joe" from In Your Mind).
Trouble is pretty slight, but it's admirable how closely it fills its narrow niche: nostalgic glam romanticism meets Hope-and-Crosby exoticism. It uses a lot of synth for 1975, but somehow sounds retro instead of futuristic. I also note their UK hit single "A Glass of Champagne" sounds like XTC doing for the mid-70s what Dukes of Stratosphear did for the late 60s.

Have really been enjoying this Fáshiön music reissue (Birmingham, 1979)--was hipped to it by Tracy Wilson via her Turntable Report newsletter (RIYL Roxy, XTC, Costello & The Attractions)
https://lukeskyscraperjames.bandcamp.com/album/pr-duct-perfect

Been meaning to check that out. Have some of the old vinyl. Also seen some people talking about how this is the good stuff and forget the later “Fashion” stuff, but that stuff is not without its charms or fans.

Hearing this for the first time do to friend posting it on Facebook. Hawkwind stripped down a bit for the new wave/punk years and fitting this description.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOCe7GGW3bQ

That was the first Hawkwind album I heard, back in the 80s. It's a big rebound from the previous album Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music, which is completely limp.

“city of lagoon” rules tho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svSV_G65CF4

Seeing now that that hawk wind song was one of the first responses.

I need to do a deep-dive on this thread.

the next hawkwind album (PXR5 from 1980) kicks off with this great john-foxx-fronting-the-stooges banger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLRzKBShYjw
Hawkwind - Death Trap

...which might not be what you're looking for, but it is fucking great

PXR5 is a good album!

Be Bop Deluxe have been mentioned but Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Sound-On-Sound might fit here? I love that album.

Great thread. Dave Brock's solo lp 'Earthed to the Ground' from 1984:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EvGc61PUlo

I wish this track went on for a whole side:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT2ZkUS4gio

and scott metioned the hawklords album at the start of the thread but this song in particular is well worth checking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuSE9vFlyMQ
Hawklords - 25 Years

that whole album is worth checking out

I was at a gig last Friday, never heard the headline band before and I said to my friend, I liked the last song when it went all Hawkwind at the end. he just looked at me blankly. not sure if that was because he didn't know who Hawkwind were or if they actually didn't sound like Hawkwind at the end at all

oh! very relevant to this thread, Deaf School are playing in Brighton on Friday

sorry actually next Friday

dont really know much about deaf school other than the fact that clive langer was in them

no idea who's in them now, but their first 2 albums are both good and in this area

I love Langer, esp his ep and love Deaf School, kind of musical theater Roxy Music with a cast of characters. Was talking somewhere about this whole genre on one of the DIY poll threads. The Yachts. Sailor. Metro. Some good bands and songs but kinda fell through the cracks and wiped away by punk and new wave, though some members reinvented themselves there of course.

very tangentially related self-promo...was on The Lot radio a few weeks back with nothing but late 70s/early 80s 7"s and while it's mostly post-punk/punk type stuff there's some arty power pop and stuff that crosses over with this thread in there as well. Worth a listen in any case. https://soundcloud.com/thelotradio/superimpositions-special-guest-dan-selzer-the-lot-radio-10-24-2022

Boy does "25 Years" sound like an early Ultravox! ripoff. But then John Foxx was deeply influenced by Hawkwind so chicken-egg-etc.