Early Minds

1979-1983: What an amazing turn-of-the-decade in music, with each year rightfully deserving its own blog (especially 1981!). So instead of trying to do the impossible, I'm going to discuss one bands' output during these 5 years. Well, I'm actually only going to discuss 3 of their songs for now. 3 lost gems of post punk-electronic rock-synth pop-ambient dub. The band is Simple Minds. I'm talking about the band before their 'Breakfast Club' breakout smash hit. They supposedly hated the song 'Don't You (forget about me)', in fact, they didn't even write the tune. Anyways, like I said, its the music before this which I'm concerned about.



'This Fear of Gods', off of 1980s, 'Empires and Dance' lp is a monster of a post punk dance tune. Clocking in at 7 minutes, the rhythm sludges slowly yet steadily along, with bass and kick drudging underneath pulsing/burbling synths (some sequenced but mostly performed) and heavily effected guitar work. Above, careens a haunted sax (played by guitarist Charlie Burchill) that sounds like James Chance at Lee Perry's Black Ark studio. Reverb drenched vocals are chant-like, minimal and low in the mix, adding more atmosphere than straight forward lyricism. And look who's at the production controls. No less then John Leckie himself (production credits on The Stone Roses debut and Radiohead's 'The Bends', amongst many other up-start bands/albums). No wonder this song/album is so good. Lp can be found at any decent used record shop, but its fast becoming (if not already) a rare find if one doesn't dig consistently.


1981 saw the Minds release the dbl lp 'Sons and Fascination/ Sister Feelings Call'. Production credits go to none other then 'Cabbage Head' Steve Hillage, guitarist of prog outfit Gong and later, 777/ System-7. The influence is obvious as many songs on this album enjoy a krautrock workout of steady rhythms, funk driven bass, with synths and guitars blurring the lines in between. This is no more apparent then on the B-side for the 'Love Song' 12", an instrumental version of 'This Earth That You Walk Upon'. A subtly dark and ominous track that creeps out over the listener and has them asking, 'What the f@#k is this? Ambient disco?'. No, its definitely not disco, but the underlying swing will get you moving. I first heard this song in 1989 during a year long immersion of Kraftwerk, The Stone Roses, and early Simple Minds, which, in the end, added up being my Acid House. Find this record!


Now, onto the Minds foray into, dare I say, proto-downtempo or ambient-dub. 1983's epic 'A Brass Band in African Chimes' can be found on various single releases, but you want the one thats a b-side to the 'Up on the Catwalk' 12". This instrumental delight comprises of 3 movements or, variations on a theme, that clocks in at over 9 min. Based around drummer Mel Gaynor's thunderously reverbed breakbeat (no doubt sampled countless times), this song could easily find its way meandering throughout any Boards of Canada release, especially if pitched down -8 at 33 rpm. (No coincidence both bands hail from Scotland.) Steve Lillywhite (of early U2 fame) scores the production cred. on this one. Lovely song indeed!