Jesus Jones C/D?

Hey, DL, have you heard the albums Drop and In Gorbachev We Trust? Because The Shamen really didn't start as 'a dance act that broke into the alternative' - they started as a really psychedelic indie band, with vague ties to the Scottish end of C86 - and slowly became more and more dance oriented.

After hearing things like You, Me and Everything and Jesus Loves Amerika for the first time in 30 years - and then comparing those to e.g. Who, Where, Why - I was shocked, like, even down to "their bassist even has dreadlocks with shaved sides?!?!?" Seriously, listen to You, Me and Everything - Mike Edwards was even doing the exact same vocal fry (that Colin Angus later dropped, once he started being less influenced by the vocals on indie records, and more influenced by the vocals on house records).

No. I just put on “Real Real Real” because it’s on my phone for some reason, and no.

Aw, I didn't actually get that far. I listened to International Bright Young thing and Info Freako and Who, Where, Why and I was like "aw, these guys were better than I remembered?" but I suspect if I listened to Right Here Right Now I'd probably throw my phone across the room haha.

The first two records are solid, imho, the only thing I find a little lacking is Mike's adherence to really similar vocal melodies and ticks.

OK, truth be told, I made it 55 seconds in before I wanted to punch the Bez-dancing dude and I had to stop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBklIul0Rog

Mike Edwards, give Colin back his hoodie from the You, Me and Everything video, now, it's cold up in Aberdeen, you know.

I just watched Right Here Right Now and my god, who goes to make their huge, career-changing video wearing their hair in a terrycloth scrunchie. Who.

Real Real Real sounds like a cross between PWEI and the Inspiral Carpets? Perfect for the freshers week circuit, it's like music for dancefloors made sticky with vomit and spilled snakebite. They even dress like the lads from the Snowboard Soc so you know they're the cool kids

Ha, funny revive -- I don't quite know how it happened but a few years back Iain Baker, the band's keyboardist, sent me a Facebook request; I accepted, and he's been a real pleasure to get to know via his many comments and posts. Talks about being a total post-punk fiend in the early 80s, which given all the dance experimentation makes sense. Has no airs, shares stories in an 'as it comes up' fashion and definitely looks back on what's been a steady enough career since with easygoing familiarity and friendliness.

also, it's iain that's the 'bez dancing dude' in the video.
and as ned says, he is genuinely a good'un.

Aw, I’m sorry for slagging off his dancing if he is a genuinely nice bloke!

I’m sure he’s lovely. But he is not a good dancer. Sorry

Hey, DL, have you heard the albums Drop and In Gorbachev We Trust? Because The Shamen really didn't start as 'a dance act that broke into the alternative' - they started as a really psychedelic indie band, with vague ties to the Scottish end of C86 - and slowly became more and more dance oriented.

ah, no I had no idea about this. I guess this was also true for a lot of acts who were known for dance or alt-dance in the nineties: Primal Scream, Underworld etc

Branwell, just checked out Jesus Loves Amerika and you're so right about the vocal style. Funny how both bands had a slightly metal/industrial aspect to them which might have gone on to influence bands like Senser, Apollo 440 and Pitchshifter

I just put Liquidiser on for the first time in nearly 30 years, and the first song is called "Move Mountains" and I actually yelped 'oh no you didn't' out loud?

But didn't Liquidizer come out before Pro>gen?

Ha, Liquidiser came out in Oct 1989 and the first version of Pro>Gen came out in March 1990, so... I suppose I have to allow it. ::narrows eyes::

The vocal style and delivery is really noticeable, I'm glad you agree, DL. We were talking about the Meat Beat Manifesto influence (wherein comes the Industrial edge, I think) on the Shamen thread earlier.

I went and listened to Info Freako and it's not better than I remember, it's quite horrible but also have to say for 1989 not un-prescient in its depiction of 'information' addiction.

"info freako" was always a painful tinnitus inducing 3 mins, but i took it as part of the songs individual appeal.
actually, the whole 'liquidizer' album has an insane level of top end on it.
i always suspected it was down to the bands lack of experience/knowledge/drugs, or, it was an artistic choice.
no idea if the remastered editions revises this aspect.

I remember at the time Mike Edwards was mentioning Big Black as an influence (I'm guessing the title Liquidiser was a hat-tip to Atomiser?) so maybe some of the squealing sonic assault was due to a few too many listens to Kerosene etc?

so many folks spelling the debut as 'Liquidiser'
was it different in the US, as my UK copy is definitely 'Liquidizer' ?
and yeah, good call, as Big Black were another top end heavy noise band ... never made the connection before, but makes sense actually.

This is apparently the keyboard player Iain Baker who Ned mentions above wearing a Big Black t-shirt:

https://www.picuki.com/media/771861530817785988

Spellcheck innit. Not sure my phone will even allow me to type Liquidiser - nope, it changed it for me!

haha ..fair point.