Bev and Steve are back with another album and another band name. I really don’t understand why they felt it was necessary to have a slightly different name every album. Oh well anyway I think I know what they were thinking for this album. It has several experimental tracks and I think that’s what they were aiming for further demonstrated by the fact they didn’t release any tracks as a singles. While I don’t like it as much as their other work it’s still good and I enjoyed it.
Tracklist 1 – Let There Be Neon – 3:44 2 – Mechanical Ballet – 4:47 3 – Berlin Ballerina – 5:56 4 – Observation – 3:51 5 – Techno Refugee – 4:27 6 – Lunatic Republic – 4:13 7 – When Is Pleasure Pain? – 4:03 8 – Boy – 4:10 9 – Lily Marlene – 1:21 10 – Military Business (Muscle Culture II) – 4:22
Credits Bass – Les Cargo Drums, Percussion – Dolphin Taylor, Gus Hale Horns – John Du Prez Keyboards – David Hewson Vocals – Bev Sage, Steve Fairnie
Companies, etc. Made By – Sounds Marketing System, Inc. Published By – Street Tunes Published By – Street Tunes Ltd. Published By – Westminster Music Published By – Westminster Music Ltd. Published By – Peter Maurice Co. Published By – EMI Music
Whenever you sit down to listen to a Phil & John album you are never really too sure what you are gonna get. Some albums are pop, some are folk, some are humour, and some are worship. To be clear I do like them I just never know what to expect every time I get a new album. Anyway this is a live humour based album and is probably their best work. This is really where these 2 gentleman shined. I of course never got a chance to see them live as I live in Canada but I really wish I could have. If your in a poor mood toss this album on and you’ll find yourself in a much better mood soon.
Tracklist 1 – Oblivious – 2:55 2 – The Boxer – 4:16 3 – Australia Story – 7:14 4 – Homeward Bound – 3:44 5 – Child Of My Time – 5:17 6 – Stay Young – 3:28 7 – Teeth Story – 5:42 8 – The Day The North Left Town – 3:17 9 – Tommy The Tortoise – 5:48 10 – Echoes To Return – 2:40 11 – What Kind Of Love? – 4:13
Credits Design – James Kessell Guitar – John Hartley, Phil Baggaley Mixed By – Neil Costello Photography – Branka Jukić Recorded By – Neil Costello Vocals – John Hartley, Phil Baggaley
In the early 90’s Out Of Darkness was enjoying a resurgence of people listening to their album from 1970. Somehow Plankton records got together with the band and released a 4 track recording of the band live in 1972. It was recorded live at the Celebration Club in Gillingham, England. The quality is actually really good as long as you remember this is a live recording in 1972. This album was a godsend to fans of the band as it gave them 6 more tracks to enjoy.
Tracklist 1 – Walk On The Water – 4:56 2 – Love To Love – 8:12 3 – Worldpool – 10:40 4 – Cocaine – 5:28 5 – Valley (I’m Gonna Follow) – 5:32 6 – Child Of The Universe – 13:18
Credits Artwork – Keith Oliver Band [Out Of Darkness], Bass – Bruce Duncan (tracks: 2, 3, 6) Band [Out Of Darkness], Bass, Percussion, Piano – Carl Grant Band [Out Of Darkness], Drums, Percussion – Tim Anderson Band [Out Of Darkness], Guitar, Vocals, Written-By [All Songs Written By] – Wray Powell Design – Keith Dixon (2), Tim Anderson Engineer – Peter Cornelious Photography By [Cover] – Chris Nicol Post Production [Post Recording Production] – Nigel Palmer
In 1989 Steve Taylor put together Chagall Guevara with the goal of conquering the secular record charts. After a flurry of bass players they finally put out this their first album in 1991. It didn’t do great but I do remember the single “Violent Blue” getting some airplay in my market in Canada. Strangely the entry for the band in Wikipedia states “All of the band members had histories within the Christian music industry, but the band was an effort to depart from the CCM industry. Despite this, the band still performed at the exclusively Christian music festival Cornerstone, and had their music (albeit against their wishes) distributed through Christian bookstores.” This is absolutely and completely untrue. The band had signed a distribution deal with Sparrow records as well as MCA Records. Obviously they knew Sparrow would distribute it in Christian books stores as that’s the only place they distributed to. Even if Steve has encouraged this rumour it is a complete lie. This was the only album from the band and MCA obviously didn’t think the hassle of Steve Taylor was worth it. Personally I moderately like the album but I don’t think it’s very good luck to name your band after a murderous, Marxist, dictator wannabe, just saying.
Tracklist 1 – Murder In The Big House – 3:48 2 – Escher’s World – 4:14 3 – Play God – 3:43 4 – Monkey Grinder – 6:59 5 – Can’t You Feel The Chains? – 3:09 6 – Violent Blue – 4:01 7 – Love Is A Dead Language – 4:10 8 – Take Me Back To Love Canal – 3:18 9 – The Wrong George – 1:58 10 – Candy Guru – 4:07 11 – I Need Somebody – 3:33 12 – The Rub Of Love – 4:13 13 – If It All Comes True – 3:35
Credits A&R – Paul Kremen, Teresa Ensenat Art Direction, Design – Tim Stedman Bass – Wade Jaynes Drums – Mike Mead Engineer [Additional Engineering By] – Matt Wallace Engineer [Assisted By] – Mike Corbett, Roy Gamble, Shawn McLean, Ulrich Wild Engineer [Engineered By] – David Bryson Guitar, Vocals – Dave Perkins, L. Arthur Nichols Management [Lookout Management] – Elliot Roberts, Frank Gironda Mastered By – Bob Ludwig Mixed By – David Bryson, Matt Wallace Photography By – Michael Lavine Producer [Produced By] – Chagall Guevara, Matt Wallace Songwriter [All Songs Written By] – Dave Perkins, Lynn Nichols, Steve Taylor Vocals – Steve Taylor Words By, Music By – Dave Perkins, Lynn Nichols, Steve Taylor
