What do you think of Almacantar artists reissued?

[budaniel]

After Almacantar Records reissued the 4th Flock of Seagulls album, Our Daughter's Wedding collection, Machinations 1st EP, and the 1st Pseudo Echo LP, I was interested in what other artists they had dug up from the 80s, and when I found the two albums by Expression I was blown away by what an amazing lost new wave band they were. I recently picked up other obscure artists on this label: FX, Passion Puppets, V. Capri(my favorite of the bunch) and Jump Incorporated. Has anyone else just taken the risk and ordered any of their artists? And if so, what do you think? The only ones I have left to sample are: Scribble, Unforgiven, and Geisha.

[coop41]

The Unforgiven LP (CD) is one of my all-time favorites. Highly recommended!

[glokstadt]

[quote][i]Originally posted by coop41[/i]
<br>The Unforgiven LP (CD) is one of my all-time favorites. Highly recommended!
[/quote]

The LA band with 5 or was it 6 gutarists??? [?]



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[coop41]

[quote][i]Originally posted by glokstadt[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by coop41[/i]
<br>The Unforgiven LP (CD) is one of my all-time favorites. Highly recommended!
[/quote]

The LA band with 5 or was it 6 gutarists??? [?]



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[/quote]

Yes, 6 members total and this is their only release. One of the members went on to be in Cracker.

[glokstadt]

[quote][i]Originally posted by coop41[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by glokstadt[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by coop41[/i]
<br>The Unforgiven LP (CD) is one of my all-time favorites. Highly recommended!
[/quote]

The LA band with 5 or was it 6 gutarists??? [?]



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[/quote]

Yes, 6 members total and this is their only release. One of the members went on to be in Cracker.
[/quote]

I know I have the vynil album... it's all white with a "western" look to it...

[budaniel]

coop41, if you had to compare Unforgiven to other 'new wave' bands, who would you say they are similar in style to? They LOOK like they are sort of in the style of The Alarm or something like that. Unfortunately, Almacantar doesn't have sound samples on their site.

[coop41]

[quote][i]Originally posted by budaniel[/i]
<br>coop41, if you had to compare Unforgiven to other 'new wave' bands, who would you say they are similar in style to? They LOOK like they are sort of in the style of The Alarm or something like that. Unfortunately, Almacantar doesn't have sound samples on their site.
[/quote]

Way more guitar oriented, everything you need to know and hear is here(!):
http://www.roverpack.com/unforgiven.htm

[jacko]

As most of these are Australian bands, I have purchased quite a few of these. Here in Australia it's difficult to buy cd's by 80's Aussie bands. I can highy recommend the 'scribble' and 'Geisha' albums. The first Scribble album contains the singles ' Sunday School' and 'Don't throw your love away'. The singer Joanna Piggot is married to 'Todd Hunter' of the NZ group Dragon, she also co-wote many of their big 80's hits. Geisha's first S/T album is great, it contains the charted singles ' Fools way', 'kabuki, and Rainy day'.The second album only had a couple of hits ' a girl like you' and 'Partime love affair'(they should have included the original single mix as a bonus track, but you can get the 12" version of this mix on the 12" album thet they are selling)
If you want to see the Geisha videos, check youtube:

Geisha:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygrz7Dh3cCY

[budaniel]

Thanks jacko. Geisha sounds hot. I'm going to order their stuff. How about Scribble? What style of music is it? Electronic? Industrial? Dance? Goth Rock? Thanks.

[MikeP]

[quote][i]Originally posted by budaniel[/i]
<br>Thanks jacko. Geisha sounds hot. I'm going to order their stuff. How about Scribble? What style of music is it? Electronic? Industrial? Dance? Goth Rock? Thanks.
[/quote]
Actually, I'll confess that I did the remastering on the Scribble [i]Pop Art[/i] reissue. Sadly, they didn't have access to the original master tapes but it came out well. There is an earlier compilation of singles and an EP that I also assisted with but it got held up for some reason. Anyway, [i]Pop Art[/i] is solid synthpop with some darker, artier overtones. Joanna Pigott is definitely a talented songwriter.

[jacko]

Hi budaniel, unfortunatly no one has posted any songs by 'Scribble' on youtube. But i did find the band that came before them called 'XL Capris'. So you can sort of get a listen of her singing voice. I wouldn't call 'Scribble' total synthpop, more alternative pop. They weren't big here in Australia, they had a following like other bands such as 'The Go Betweens' and 'The Triffids'

XL CAPRIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttfMVHd8S4A

[budaniel]

thanks all. Got Scribble and Geisha. Scribble was surprisingly tame, and the only song that really stood out for me was Sunday School. Geisha's first album was great, the remix EP was great, the second album was okay but suffered from late 80s 'we can't be a new wave band anymore because pop rock is what's big now' syndrome, and the third album--well, that went directly to my trash CD bin. Either they shouldn't have bothered reissuing it, or they should have just tacked it on to the remix EP to balance the good with the bad.

[jacko]

Hi budaniel, 'Scribble's' song 'Sunday School' was the reason that i bought the original vinyl release back in the 80's. The song wasn't a hit , but it should have been. You are spot on with your opinion on the 'Geisha' albums. The first album is great and the remix album is too. But like 'Phseudo Echo's' album 'Race', they tossed out their new wave origins and decided to compete with late 80's rock/pop. But it didn't quite work and both bands called it a day.

[budaniel]

I sure wish Almacantar would put together the rare, complete recordings of Machinations on a couple of CDs. I was so surprised when all they released on CD was the first very experimental electronic EP, which is not even vaguely representative of the very mainstream synthpop band they became as the 80s progressed. I wonder if there's a licensing issue. I would love to have their complete catalog on disc.

[DJ Phoenix]

What album is "A Flock Of Seagulls 4th album"? it's not "Listen", or "Story of a young heart" is it? If no, is it still available?

"Keepin the '80s alive!"