Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Venetians - Chinese I's


Now here is an awesome gem of a band. Released in 1983, 'Chines I's' was their first release.
The Venetians owe their roots to Rik Swinn. A talented, English songwriter and singer who arrived in Australia in 1982 to find fortune and fame. He probably didn't guess it would come at first in the form of this vaguely anti-Asian synthpop/ new wave showstopper.
David Skeet covered the guitar work whilst Matthew Hughes provided melodic keyboard notes. Peter Watson took up bass duties and Tim Powles handled drums. Together they were The Venetians and they were ready to conquer the world...
Unfortunately they only managed to achieve a few B-list hits and an Australian top 10 with 'So Much For Love'. They could have been so much more if they had had some good backing from a producer. It's criminal... unbelievable that these guys were shafted.


It is undeniable that this is a very intelligent release despite the album cover looking like some leaflet for a brothel. Both 'Chinese I's' and its B-side 'Sound On Sound' were released with music videos and charted at #63 and #85 respectively on  the Australian charts despite the fact that both deserved to do better.
Here is the music video for 'Chinese I's'  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-Rkzbwe2e4)
Well it's atypical of an Aussie music video. They all had a similar feel but the song itself is very intellectual and reminds me slightly of The Fixx. It definitely has a hard synthpop foundation with Hughes giving us some very catchy melodies whilst Swinn delivers urgent vocals from a phone booth. Meanwhile, the others prepare for dramatic head turns and closing curtains and running men in raincoats. Yes, yes all very 80's.
What I particularly love about the video is how Swinn seems to have actully tried to make himself look Asian or at least a little like the lead singer of Alphaville. In fact I enjoy the video the more I watch it. Check his dance at about 3:05. PURE GOLD! And what's more, when Swinn starts it doesn't stop and all the others start dancing.
Anyway back to the song, 'Chinese I's' is a pure underrated classic. A little diamond in the sand that fell hrough the cracks. It could well have been a hit in the UK methinks, and even the US with its dire warning of communist Chinese spies watching everyone. McCarthy could have usd this in his anti-red campaign to great effect.
The video for 'Sound On Sound' follows, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNKXl-0oulU)
Haha. First time I watched it the whole way through and what a great piece of work. Way better than a lo of the multi-million dollar Hollywood projects being churned out today. Swinn provs he has enthusiasm here. Again, The Fixx come to mind as Cy Curnin also had a real devotion t enthusiastic facial expressions and cryptic hand signals. This video has everything. Chain link fences. Blind folded singers. The most unenthusiastic tap dancer ever. It's all here. Plus there's a part where Swinn gets tangled in what looks like huge ammounts of that film that came in cassete tapes. That stuff used to come out on me all the time! This was like my worst nightmare! And what the hell is the thing at 0:54???



No doubt about it, 'Sound On Sound' matches up to the A-side well with nice guitar work throughout that soehow manages to seem ahead of its time. I don't think this song even has a definitive meaning. Swinn complains about stuff he doesn't like in society then goes into repeating "sound on sound" for no particular reason. Now, I think the idea of that is quite annoying. Ever litened to two radio stations at the same time? I rest my case.
Well I've run out of steam now. I'll come back the The Venetians at some point because these guys put out a lot more awesomeness but that's all I got.

Here's a link to something else...
'Chinese I's (Extended Mix)
And the lyrics

'Chinese I's'

Across the border come the international spies
Selling secrets
Giving alibis
The turned up raincoats and telephone calls
Secret meetings in government halls
How many lives
Are now in danger?
How many children will be left in the end?
Your mother tells you
Don't talk to strangers
So who are enemies and
Who are friends?

Here come the minute men
So lock away your lives
Here come the minute men
The ones with Chinese eyes

There is no conscience, It's all in the game
It's not like movies
It's money not fame
Information
Is what they need
If you don't give out they'll make you bleed
A sighing wind is blowing east to west
I hear the government are making arrests
I hear the clicks on the telephone line
Hello big brother, are you in my mind?

Here come the minute men
So lock away your lives
Here come the minute men
The ones with Chinese eyes
Secrets
(Chinese eyes)
They're wanna mock you
(The Chinese eyes)

Foreign agents
Transmit their messages
Like they wanted to do
The cloak and dagger
Unleashes anger
Bringing tears to my eyes
A science-fiction
Waits under cover
High in a cloud in the sky
They'll take your picture
They wanna mock you
They've got the best that money can buy

Here come the minute men
So lock away your lives
Here come the minute men
The ones with Chinese eyes
Here come the minute men
So lock away your lives
Here come the minute men
The ones who've got the Chinese eyes
They wanna mock you
(The Chinese eyes)
(Oh, oh, oh)
There are no secrets
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
There are no secrets
(Oh, oh, oh)
(From Chinese eyes)
(Oh, oh, oh)
They wanna mock you
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Chinese eyes)
(Oh, oh, oh)
They wanna mock you
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
They take your picture
(Oh, oh, oh)
'Sound On Sound'

(Hello)
(Hello)

What does it take to be inspired?
Watching T.V. just dulls my brain
Out of a job and into the fire
There's only one thing, can keep me sane

(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Dance along to the boogie beat
(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Sound on sound

I don't like the things I read in the papers
Plenty of loss and not much gain
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
There's nowhere to run and ease the pain
Hey

(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Dance along to the boogie beat
(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Sound on sound

All over the world, there's too much attention
Political games are so absurd
The song is a mask for communication
A voice is crying to be heard

(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Dance along to the boogie beat
(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Sound on sound
(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Dance along to the boogie beat
(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Sound on sound

Crying to be heard

(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Dance along to the boogie beat
(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Sound on sound
(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Dance along to the boogie beat
(Sound on sound)
Clapping hands and tapping feet
(Sound on sound)
Sound on sound
(Sound on sound)


Thursday, December 9, 2010

Anger Into Passion - Common Bond


Several bands don't have a listing on Discogs.com. One such band is Christian rock/new wave outfit, Common Bond. Through my aimless browsing of Youtube I stumbled upon a song called 'Tarry' and was really taken by it. I mean, I didn't know what the guy was saying half the time but he had this kind of nice shrillness and power to his voice which really worked. Upon some research I dug up Common Bond.
Formed in 1987 somewhere in the US, Common Bond was one of the few Christian rock bands with heavy new wave influences during the era.
They released only two records, and their second, 'Anger Into Passion' is a pretty decent effort. Now, my experience in the Christian rock scene is limited to some stuff by 'Jars Of Clay' and I honestly don't have a problem with Christian themed songs. Some are really good.
Common Bond was made up of Steve Durham on guitar, Chuck Cummings on drums and Kenny Samuels on bass and lead vocals. I shit you not when I say that Kenny bears a striking resemblance to a certain Simpsons character.


Three songs stand out for me here. The first and favorite is 'Tarry'. Such a good, catchy song. The guitar makes its mark with a catchy series of slaps between verse lines. It's simple and underlying during the chorus but works and the drums fit nicely. Kenny's vocals are very up to par. The thing about Christian rock bands is they actually care about what they're singing like terrorists care about homemade explosive devices. You can tell that he feels a lot of passion about what he's singing here. I must also hold my hands up and say that it took six listens before I realized I had no idea what the word 'tarry' means. It actually means to delay, if you're interested so I'm guessing this song has a lot to do with Kenny's dismay at the faults he sees in himself and how he wants to correct them maybe with the help of a girl but also that God knows all and everything they do will be known to him.
The next track, 'See The World' has more of the same, including a clapping sound evident in 'Tarry'. It also features a punchy bassline and Kenny this time telling us about how he wants to convince others about how strong his faith is and he hates when others try to bring him down, especially with the way they view the world.
The last 'Walls Of Doubt' is a slower, shorter affair with some vivid imagery and an obvious message that is Kenny encourages a person to embrace God and break down the walls of doubt that hold them back.
These are just some cool tracks that you can obtain just to say you do own some Christian rock and have another genre on your Ipod.
As for Common Bond and Kenny Samuels, well I'd hate to even imagine how difficult that haircut was to maintain.

Here is a link to the songs on youtube
'Tarry'
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuA4dng534Q)
'See The World'
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2p4GpRPW6I)
'Walls Of Doubt'
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UVTUH7puG8)
and the lyrics are below
"Tarry"

Oh, when the night it calls my name
And day feels like a game
And passion, just a word that I know
That I use from day to day


And I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer
And I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer


And when my words, they seem to be marked
By profit and gain
While looking through the dimmer glass
I try to wipe away the haze


But I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer
I will tarry
We will carry everything to God in prayer


Hold on
Tighter
Never let me go


And when I hate myself one more time
You love me again
While looking through a dimmer glass
You wipe away the haze


And I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer
And I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer, yeah, yeah
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh, woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh, woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah


"See The World"

Always asking people
Do you know the one?
But they just smirk and stare at me
As my heart falls down
To the sullen floor
And my faith begins to falter


Oh, oh
Go


My parents said
(This is the real world, boy)
You’ve got to use your common sense
As my heart falls down
To its deepest depths
And my tears begin to fall


And I'm crying
I see the world through your eyes
I’m crying
I see the world
And I'm crying
I see the world through your eyes
I’m crying
Whoa, whoa
Yeah, yeah


Some people take me for
Some self-righteous fool
Now you know I’m not like that
Some people take me for
Some T.V. preacher’s tool
Now you know I’m not like that
I’m not like that


And I’m crying
I see the world through your eyes
I’m crying
I see the world
And I’m crying
I see the world through your eyes
I’m crying
I see the world


The tears that I cry
They’re not mine, no, they’re yours
The tears that I cry
They’re not mine, no, they’re yours, Lord, they’re yours, Lord, they’re yours, Lord, they’re yours,
Lord
They’re yours, whoa
Tears are falling down
These tears are falling down
These tears are falling down
These tears are falling down
Tears are falling down
Tears are falling down


"Walls Of Doubt"

Hey, when I look in you eyes I know what you’re thinking
It’s just like the sixties to me
You paint it all black


It’s alright
Run if you want to
But I see you coming through
Another wall of doubt


You hear the voice in your heart
You get that longing
It goes far beyond all the words
The vain arguments


It’s okay
Long for your lover
You’ll find he’s standing out
Beyond your walls of doubt


Love
Love puts to rest
All of the questions
Love
Find it and see
The doubts will go fading away


All of the hours of the day
There’s something strange growing
The seed of laughter and light
The way down inside


It’s alright
You can let go now
Love is a master’s plough
Crash down the walls of doubt
Love is the master’s hand
Crash down the walls of doubt
Love is a master’s plough
Beyond the walls of doubt
Love is the master’s hand
Crash down the walls of doubt
Love is the master's plough
Crash down the walls of doubt
Love is the master's plough
Crash down the walls of doubt

Monday, December 6, 2010

Nightstalking - Broken Silence


A neat find from the Vinyl Obscurity blog and one of my favorites. Here's the link to the entry where I found it.

(http://vinylobscurity.blogspot.com/2010/08/broken-silence-nightstalking-7-1984.html)

Broken Silence, according to this source were formed somewhere in Canada, featuring Edward Kay on lead vocals and Jim Lysowycz on guitars, synthesizer, etc. though both shared duties.
Nightstalking was released in 1984 and was apparently very underground although these guys probably had a small following in the Canadian dark wave scene. Just look at them!
What happened? God knows. There was probably in-family murder involved but I wouldn't be surprised if these two can be seen lurking in an alley somewhere in Ontario.
'Nightstalking' is a cool, gloomy dark wave tune that flows along like a zombie anthem with simplistic, dark synthesizer notes and Kay's brooding vocals. It definitely has a dark theme and a music video would probably just be Kay singing cut in with clips from 'Night Of The Living Dead'.
The B-side, 'Through The Glass' is a real treat too and could be better than the A-side with it's lighter, more mainstream new wave tone, faster synth and cool lyrics. With this one, I'm getting a vibe of people's submission to higher powers, religion, government, etc. At least 72% of 80's songs have this topic, I swear.

 

Well it's cool. Shame these guys didn't do more. I heard there was another single but I have yet to find a trace of it. Anyone who has any information, come forward now! I want to hear more!
Here are links to good quality postings of these two tracks
'Nightstalking'
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QZHZFeb_p8)'Through The Glass'
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61c6KfV714c)
And the lyrics.

"Nightstalking"

Nightstalking
(Nightstalking)
Nightstalking
Nightstalking
Through the shadows
Through the dark
Thoughts aren't concentrated
Nightstalking
Burning past the footsteps
Jerry-rig a home
Voices in the distance
On the midnight run

(Feeling nothing, feeling everything)
(Night unfolding, flowing endlessly)

(Driven by desire)
Fire in the night
Trying to save the stronger
Nightstalking
Indistinct visions
Past the headlight where
Step into twilights
Fade a disappear

(Feeling nothing, feeling everything)
(Night unfolding, flowing endlessly)

(Nightstalking)

Into the darkness
I can't tell you where
Past all explanation
Nightstalking
Closing in on something
Vivid and remote
Something implosion
Reaching overload

(Feeling nothing, feeling everything)
(Night unfolding, flowing endlessly)

Nightstalking
(Nightstalking)
Nightstalking
(Nightstalking)
Nightstalking
Nightstalking
Nightstalking
Nightstalking


"Through The Glass"

(Think)
(Move)

I can't stop it
Look in through the glass
I can't touch it
Look in through the glass
No love relation
Just beyond your grasp
I can't catch it
You've got to move so fast
The power
The intensity
So affecting
You can feel the heat
The rhythm
Of the big machine
Domination
Under the wheel

Sensations
So outside, outside
Estrangements
On the other side

The signal
Just coming out of synch
The big lie
And the double think
Shades of meaning
Hard to understand
They can self-spin
Another sleight of hand

Sensations
So outside, outside
Estrangements
On the other side

(Other side)

Sensations
So outside, outside
Estrangements
On the other side

Can't stop it
Look in through the glass
Can't touch it
Look in through glass
No love relation
Just beyond your grasp
Can't catch it
You've got to move so fast
Submission
To a far sighting
Subversion
Of your humility
Hidden bondage
Extended energy
Falling movement
Like homeography

Sensations
So outside, outside
Estrangements
On the other side
Sensations
So outside, outside
Estrangements
On the other side