This week’s Mystery Date was submitted by a Townsperson in good standing.
Let’s review the ground rules here. The Mystery Date song is not necessarily something I believe to be good. So feel free to rip it or praise it. Rather the song is something of interest due to the artist, influences, time period… Your job is to decipher as much as you can about the artist without research. Who do you think it is? Or, Who do you think it sounds like? When do you think it was recorded? Etc…
If you know who it is, don’t spoil it for the rest. Anyone who knows it can play the “mockcarr option.” (And I’ve got a hunch at least one of you know this one.) This option is for those of you who just can’t hold your tongue and must let everyone know just how in-the-know you are by calling it. So if you know who it is and want everyone else to know that you know, email Mr. Moderator at mrmoderator [at] rocktownhall [dot] com. If correct we will post how brilliant you are in the Comments section.
The real test of strength though is to guess as close as possible without knowing. Ready, steady, go!
[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Mystery-Date-111011.mp3|titles=Mystery Date 111011]
Pretty annoying, early 80s, British, prob’ly from Manchester, cross between Joy Division and early Duran Duran (not in a good way). Not coming up with a band name.
Blend Devo on a bad cough syrup jag and lobotomized Killing Joke. Add in background vocals sounding like they were performed by Monty Python village idiots. Cook with 1985 production values, but add a bit of 1968-retro phasing for spice before serving.
Not very appetizing, is it? I have no idea who this is.
Sounds kind of like XTC to me.
I don’t think that’s a British accent on the vocals. New York art-damaged post-punk?
I think I should know who this it, but can’t place it. I couldn’t work it out, but wondered if it was a Brit with a fake NY accent, there were bits which sounded more Reg Presley than Lou Reed. Like H Munster I thought XTC, but a bit jagged for Andy Partridge from what XTC I’m familiar with. Could have been Gang of Four if it wasn’t for all the phasing on the guitars.
No clue. I dig those flanged — gotta pince nez you on that, H-Stan — guitars.
Twice in one week, that’s me told!
Flanging is a type of phasing, so H-Stan is technically correct.
I love it. I have no idea who it is, but it sounds US to me. I’m gonna listen to it again just because I think it’s cool.
It sounds American to me, probably some self-released single circa 79-81. I hear a definite Devo influence, specifically the way the short melodic phrase gets repeated with minor variations like the “Are We Not Men” section at the end of Jocko Homo. I also would guess that it is not a New York or LA group, but someone from the relative hinterlands. In fact it does sound quite a bit like one of Philadelphia’s post-punk groups, Bunnydrums, who also had flanged guitars and a singer that sounded like Mark Mothersbaugh, but this guy does it about an octave lower.
Ok, I admit that it’s my selection, just in time for Saturday Night Shut In. Misterioso is the closest to guessing so far.
Not a lot of output from this band but traveled in well known circles.
Here is a song by one of their compatriots:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldfzypHivI4
OK, first my impressions before reading any other comments.
1. After the first two vocal lines what popped into my head was early Devo — the strident nerdy almost-yelling vocals as in Devo’s “Praying Hands” / “Too Much Paranoias” / “Gut Feeling”. I am not detecting a British accent behind it.
2. The song then transitioned into a guitar/clap/drum thing that reminded me of early Cure. (Hmmm, flanger, right? Is that where the poll question comes from?) Actually, that aspect of early Cure sound has something in common with early Devo, which is the minimalist core that relies on straightforward drums with a prominent bass part. Never thought about that before.
So, a guess: around 1980, American, not the west coast.
Now, after reading. Ah, so my Devo thought was not alone. I agree about the reminders of Killing Joke and (early) XTC.
Factory band?
I know who it is. Fun fact: one of their albums was described by a critic as “a brilliant LP. It conjured up, after the second listen, big thoughts like, this is how the Doors would sound if they were around in ‘8x.” (actual date redacted for a hint of, um, mystery)
Factory band, yes.
And had opened for Killing Joke shows.
Yea, bostonhistorian! I’m curious as to how you knew.
And THAT is an interesting characterization.
Another fun fact: Tony Wilson called their name the worst band name he’d ever heard.
Nice!
Ah, I know now, I think I saw them supporting Echo and the Bunnymen once, but have absolutely no recollection of the music.
The song appears on a cd box set from the label which released the song. The band’s name was so stupid I had to do further research and the song has stuck in my head since that time.
Would that be the Rough Trade collection? That’s where I first heard them. They are also on a British compilation I have of Mancunian and Liverpudlian bands.
The Factory Box Set that Rhino put out a few years back.
Watch the first 3 minutes to get the answer to this week’s Mystery Date. And it’s a nice segue into tonight’s Saturday Night Shut In.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cHFXpMR5RU
Based on a true story. But not true hair.