Tent

Tent were Dutch New wave group who released two mini albums in the mid eighties. The group was formed in the early 80’s and consisted of Anja Bienold (keyboards, vocals), Karel Van Dijck (bas), Kees Wassenaar (drums) and Tjebbo Van Dijk (keyboards).

They music was mostly synth-pop driven and all their songs that were featured on the two albums were sung in English. The first LP ‘Without Shelter’ was released in 1983 on Wereld Rekord and the masterpiece “Miles and Miles” was the only single from the album. The second album ‘Uncertain and Wild’ appeared two years later on a small record label in Netherlands. It featured the songs “The Boys” and “You Will Fall”. I assume the band split after the second release. Enjoy the songs!

Rheingold

Rheingold was a German New Wave group that consisted of Bodo Staiger (vocal, guitar), Lothar Manteuffel (text) und Brigitte Kunze (keyboard). They sang both in German and English and released three LP’s and several singles between 1980 and 1984.

Before they formed Rheingold, Bodo Steiger sang together in a band with Marius Müller-Westernhagen. Inspired through the Dusseldorf's music scene and fellow Germans Krafwerk, Steiger formed Rheingold who was named after the opera of Richard Wagner. Lothar Manteuffel wrote the songs and Brigitte Kunze did some vocals on their first self-titled LP that was released on Weltrekord.
Their most successful single “Dreiklansdimensionen” was released in 1980 as well as the singles “Fluss” and “Fan Fan Fantastisch”. “Fan Fan Fantastisch” apperaed on their second album ‚R’ which was released in 1982. This song was also on a soundtrack to the film 'The Fan' which cast also included Bodo Staiger in the main rolles.

Rheingold also released English versions of the songs in England and USA, not with much success as they hoped though. Neither did their last album show more success and so the band split and they never released music under this name. Lothar Manteuffel teamed up with former Kraftwerk musician Karl Bartos to form Electric Muzic and Bodo Staiger was working with ex Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flur and today he’s busy as a music producer.

Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura was an English group formed in the winter of 1982. It originally consisted of two members Peter Oldroyd and Nigel James. Peter had been in several bands prior to this and just returned from living in Belgium. Nigel met Peter in a nightclub after a gig and they decided the write some songs together.

Four compositions came out of this initial session of writing and two of them, “Destitution” and “Race in Athens” became the duo's first single on Small Wonder Records in the spring of 1983. Their only LP 'Horizonts of Suburbia' was recorded in 1983 but stayed unreleased until it was released on Anna Logue Records in 2005. This record featured ten catchy synth-pop songs mixing with minimal electronics.

In 1985 Camera Obscura extended into a 4-piece line up (Gary Scargill and Rob Gospel were added) and the Quartet formed Paradise Now in '86. Nigel left in '87 and was replaced by Steve Wright from Fiat Lux. In 1989 Peter and Gary formed the extremely successful Ded Good Music but sadly the Band ended there. However, Camera Obscura never actually split up, Peter and Nigel have just had a long break until now.....

Furniture

Furniture was a British group, that was active from 1979 to 1991. The group's members consisted of Jim Irvin on vocals and percussion, Sally Still on bass, Maya Gilder on keyboards, Tim Whelan on guitar, Hamilton Lee on drums and Larry N’Azone on saxophone.

Furniture was formed in the Ealing area of London, England. The group's founding members were Irvin, Whelan and Lee. After few line up changes in the early 80's, Still and Gilder joined in 1983 and Furniture released their first EP entitled 'When the Boom Was On', on the Premonition imprint of the Ealing based Survival record label. Switching to the main label, they released their next single, "Dancing the Hard Bargain", produced by a former member of Blue Zoo, Tim Parry; followed by "Love Your Shoes", produced by former member of The Teardrop Explodes, Troy Tate; and a self-produced EP "I Can't Crack". Some of this material was collected on an LP on Survival, The Lovemongers.
In 1986 the band switched to Stiff Records and released the single "Brilliant Mind", which peaked at number 21 in the UK Singles Chart. "Brilliant Mind" is the band’s most popular song. It has since been used on a series of 1980s compilation albums, and as regular incidental music in "World Shut Your Mouth" for the character with the cymbals. A re-recorded version of "Brilliant Mind" featured in the John Hughes film, Some Kind of Wonderful.

The band attempted to build on their success by releasing a second single, (a re-recorded version of) "Love Your Shoes". By this time Stiff Records was in financial crisis and could only afford to press a limited number of singles. Advance orders for their album 'The Wrong People' were fulfilled with a pressing of 30,000 copies, which sold out quickly, but Stiff Records went into liquidation and was sold to ZTT who pressed no further copies of the album.
In 1989 the band signed to Arista Records and released the album 'Food, Sex and Paranoia', which was produced by Mike Thorne. Sessions got underway for a third album, to be released on Survival (who also managed the band), but were curtailed when the label's recording studio was shut down. Furniture decided to take some time off after a series of gigs, one of which was a headlining slot on the second stage at the 1990 Reading Festival, and reconvene after the release of a compilation album, 'She Gets Out The Scrapbook' - released on vinyl and CD by Survival in 1991.

But the reunion never happened. Irvin made an album under the name 'Because' (1991), and has since been a music journalist for Melody Maker, Mojo, The Guardian and Time Out. Whelan and Lee went on to form Transglobal Underground in 1992.
An active fan forum, named "Wrongpeople" after the band's album, has existed since 2002 on Yahoo. Fans of Furniture discuss the band's music, and exchange information and updates on re-releases.

Minor Detail

Minor Detail was an Irish Synth-Pop duo consisting of the brothers John And Willie Hughes. They formed Minor Detail in the early 80's and released only one self titled album "Minor Detail". Soon after that, they split and John Hughes eventually became the manager of the Corrs . Their music was an expression of Longing, Romance and Peace. "Canvas of Life", "Take It Again" and "She's Back" were the only Minor Detail single releases. Their album was never released on CD.

More info:

http://www.irishrock.org/

Box Of Toys

Box of Toys, a British New Wave group, was formed in 1983, making a notable impact during their brief tenure. Under the Inevitable Records (UK) label, they released the singles "I'm Thinking Of You Now" and "Precious Is The Pearl." The band's lineup comprised Brian Atherton (Keyboards, Vocals), Andy Redhead (Drums), Roy Campbell (Bass), and Phil Martin (Alto and Soprano Saxophones, Oboe, Flute). Despite utilizing synthesizers and a drum machine, Box of Toys stood out from their contemporaries in the New Wave scene due to their unique musical approach.

The band's distinct sound was evident in their use of synthesizers and drum machines, setting them apart from their peers. In 1983, they also recorded a Peel session, but shortly after, the band disbanded. Following the split, the members ventured into different musical projects, with some forming bands such as 3D and The Light.

Seppuku

Seppuku was a Swedish New Wave band which was formed by friends Rasmus, Ronny and Fredric in 1984. The trio started to experiment with music, which was the result of their common interest in spy flicks, electronic music, Asian culture and space-age futurism.

“Under Your Control”/”A New Illusion” was released in 1984 which brought some line up changes and a tour in Swedish metropolises as Varnamo, Norrkoping, Ljungby and Oskarshamn, through Germany and the BeNeLux countries and ends up in Le Havre, France. Back home again, the latter city is sung about in one of the new songs; “Assignment France”, which is part of another successful recording session. The other two tracks on this session are; “Man Utan Moral” and the still unreleased; “Hon Gav Mig Allt”.

After these few releases the band disappeared into the blue. Three of the members are still in the music business while the other two became professional football players. Two of their songs appeared on the compilation Reminiscent which was released in 2004.

Max and Malcolm

Max and Malcolm is one of the most obscure records I ever found on the internet. It was recorded by two former members of the group Metabolist. They recorded this LP back in 1982 on Dangerous Rhythms. There is not much info available about this record apart that the A side was named Max and the B side was Malcolm's. Both sides featured a great mix of Post punk, minimal synth and avantgarde.

Little Nemo

Little Nemo was a French music group who released several albums in the late 80’s and early 90’s. There sound was clearly influenced by early 80’s sound of the Cure and Joy Division as well as by the French groups Taxi Girl and Marquis De Sade.

The founding members of the group were Oliver Champeau and Vincent Gallo. They named the group after a comic strip dating back to early 20th century and telling adventures of a little boy during his sleep.
Little Nemo released their first tape as a very confidential edition, while 1987 saw the release of their ten-title tape ‘Past and Future’ which was meant to be conceptual. As the title already says Past and Future confronted, A side telling about passing time, B side looking into the future. They release a mini LP ‘Private Life’ after becoming a trio in 1988. The theme of the passing time is taken again.

‘Sounds In The Attic’ is their third album, released in 1989. It features more diversity and energy as we were used to hear on the previous ones. The opening title, "New Flood" and its devastating bass in the Sisters of Mercy's style is an indication of this change of tone.

After few more albums and style changes the beautiful adventure ends with the bankruptcy of the label Single Ko. Vincent's solo album will not be released and Little Nemo splits after 10 years of existence.

Winston Tong

Winston Tong is a San Francisco-based performance artist and singer, celebrated both for his solo work and his collaborations with the cult group Tuxedomoon.

In late 1977 Tong met an early incarnation of Tuxedomoon, then comprising Steven Brown, Blaine Reininger and Victoria Lowe, after Lowe invited Tong to perform at a self-organized salon, Chez Dada. Afterwards Tong agreed to perform with the band as and when time allowed, a flexible arrangement which would remain in place until he finally ceased working with the band in 1985. At about the same time Tong met Bruce Geduldig, who would take on responsibility for visuals and staging with both Tong and Tuxedomoon.

Tong's first record appeared in the spring of 1979 and is a Tuxedomoon release in all but name. Featuring TM members Brown, Reininger, Peter Principle and Paul Zahl, "The Stranger" paid homage to the existential classic by Albert Camus, while the flipside "Love/No Hope" offered spiky angst-rock at one with the first two Tuxedomoon EPs, "No Tears" and "Scream With a View".

A second Tong solo release appeared in early 1983 through Les Disques du Crepuscule. In its original form 'Like the Others' was a handsome cassette and book package, featuring several oblique monologues with sympathetic backing by Tuxedomoon. The title track appeared as a single in France, while an expanded CD edition later added an improvised live track, Last Words at the Scaffold, on which Tong is backed by members of Tuxedomoon and Cabaret Voltaire.

At the beginning of 1983, Blaine Reininger quit Tuxedomoon for a solo career, and although he would return in 1987, this setback left the band inactive for much of the next two years, so Tong released another solo album. This next album was produced by Alan Rankine (ex Associates) and Dave Formula (ex Magazine), 'Theoretical China' featured a stellar cast of guest musicians including Jah Wobble, Simon Topping (A Certain Ratio) and Steven Morris (New Order), although despite the exceptional pedigree of the supporting players the track doesn't quite gel as a funk-dance cut. 'Theoretical China' appeared on Crepuscule in November 1984, backed by The Hunger on 12" format, yet the single was credited to Tong alone. For whatever reason, Mono found herself frozen out of the project, and recording of the album continued with Persian born singer Sussan Deyhim on backing vocals and Alan Rankine handling all production, arrangements, instruments and sequencing. It's worth noting that a number of early Tong/Mono songs were dropped for the album, including To You, Incubo, Zimbabwe and Dream Assassins, although the latter did get as far as a formal recording.

The Winston Tong 'pop' album eventually appeared as 'Theoretically Chinese' in October 1985. It's an album of peerless electronic dance pop, the sound expansive and expensive, and a million miles from the angst, night and fog for which Tuxedomoon were renowned. Lush ballad "Reports From the Heart" was the deserved second single, while "Big Brother" and a cover of "Broken English" by Marianne Faithfull proved on the money as sophisticated disco. The album sold well enough in Europe, although Crepuscule must have been galled that there were no live dates in support, and that Tong had already donated his best solo composition, "In A Manner of Speaking", to Tuxedomoon.

Today, Winston lives in San Francisco and is working on new projects. He appeared with Tuxedomoon for their 25th year reunion concerts in the city in March 2005.

http://www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk/wtbio.html

Black

Black was a British group which was formed in Liverpool, England in the early 80’s.The main figure of this unit was the singer/ songwriter Colin Vearncombe. In 1987 they would score on of the biggest hits of 80’s music, the “Wonderful Life”.

The first incarnation of Black, consisting of Vearncombe and a cast of anonymous session players, debuted with the single "Human Features" on the local Rox label. The record quickly sold out, and soon Vearncombe was approached by the Eternal label, operated by fellow Liverpudlians Pete Wylie and Wah! With the addition of ex-Last Chant keyboardist Dave Dickie and bassist Jimmy Sangster, Black became a true band, and soon issued their sophomore effort "More Than the Sun".

The trio eventually came to the attention of WEA, which funded Black's third single "Hey Presto". The record stiffed, however, and when an orchestral rendition of "More Than the Sun" met a similar fate, Black were dropped from their contract. Some 18 months of writing and searching for a new record deal followed before Vearncombe was contacted by the tiny Ugly Man label, which issued the minor hit "Wonderful Life." Soon A&M came calling, and in 1987 Black scored a UK Top Ten hit with "Sweetest Smile" the follow-up, a reworked "Wonderful Life," was also successful.
The group's debut LP, also titled 'Wonderful Life', appeared in late 1987, and was well-received throughout Europe. Three years after their biggest hit, the group finally resurfaced in 1991 with an eponymously-titled LP featuring cameos from Robert Palmer and Sam Brown. Black soon left A&M, and after teaming with producer Mike Hedges issued ‘Are We Having Fun Yet?’ on their own mail order label Nero Schwartz in 1993.
After a prolonged hiatus, Vearncombe returned in 1999 to release a string of critically acclaimed recordings under his own name. In 2005 though he returned to the band format and name to release a new recording entitled ‘Between Two Churches’
Update:
The lead singer Colin Vearncombe sadly passed away after being in coma after a car accident. He was 53 years old.

Foreign Press

After the initial explosion of punk, and the cut and thrash of that genre, bands began to find there own direction and, occasionally, a name change would help to disassociate them from their original intentions, Emergency were one of those bands, and early in 1979 changed their name to Foreign Press, (999's single Emergency gave the final push, although as a band name, 'Emergency' lived on, in the shape of a Belfast based punk outfit) the name the band eventually settled on was Foreign Press, and with this name change came a first EP 'Downpour' on Streets Ahead, (SA1) recorded at Rochdale's Cargo Studios and Co produced by Joy Division's Rob Gretton.

Streets Ahead began life as a small record shop in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, (42 Lloyd Street) during the early 70's, owned and ran by Bob and Jane Jefferson, their interest in music was deep, and not just content with selling vinyl, they wanted to be involved in the whole process, initially by promoting gigs for the Youth club night at the nearby Bowdon Vale Social Club, as well as Foreign Press, bands such as Joy Division, The Fall, The Freshies, V2, The Passage, The Fast Cars all helped make the Youth club nights pass into legend. Bob also wanted to get involved with recording, and the unsigned Foreign Press took up his offer to record (the Chiswick label had been making their intents known about signing the band, but their constant stalling prompted the band to sign to Streets Ahead for a single deal)

It was around this time that a couple of the band members invested in a large ALTEC PA, not only for the use of the band, but also to hire out to anyone willing to part with the cash, and as many bands rehearsed at TJD's, the word soon spread, Joy Division took up the offer on more than one occasion, (The above Bowdon Vale gig being a prime example) this kept everyone busy, when not gigging themselves, we were out live mixing for other bands
Foreign Press, as Emergency before them, played the various infamous Manchester Venues of the period, so much so, it was remarked that "Tony Wilson has had Emergency/Foreign Press play the Factory so many times, I thought they were the House band".

Vitamin Z

Vitamin Z founders Geoff Barradale and Nick Lockwood, both just 25 years old, were born and raised in the industrial wastelands of Northern England’s Sheffield, a city whose pop heritage included such notables as Dave Berry and Joe Cocker, as well as, Human League and Cabaret Voltaire.

The group originally took shape around a loose-knit collection of local musicians who came together in a common rehearsal space.Vitamin Z’s vocalist Geoff Barradale was inspired to be a singer after attending a Paul Young concert. Ironically, like Paul Young, Vitamin Z became recognized in the U.S. for one lovelorn ballad in the ’80s and really nothing else. The song was “Burning Flame” and it represented Vitamin Z’s creative peak, encapsulating the mid-’80s pop scene in England when British artists such as Young, the Style Council, and Spandau Ballet took stabs at blue-eyed soul.

Barradale and Lockwood, recognizing early their mutual affinity for melodic evocative modern music, began developing material together, eventually forming a group that performed for increasingly enthusiastic crowds in and around their home town. They next traveled south to London to record their Geffen debut, choosing the famed Abbey Road Studios to cut the tracks that would eventually comprise 'Rites Of Passage'. Provocative, compelling, innovative - Vitamin Z, on 'Rites Of Passage', their debut album for Geffen Records, have fashioned a fresh and fully realized sound far ahead of its time. It’s an accomplishment all the more impressive given the fact that Vitamin Z is a brand new musical entity. While others were more intent on making their image fit the mainstream, Vitamin Z were working on their songs, smelting down their soul influences, manicuring their melodies, making modern sound with roots firmly embedded in the music they respected.

Their “Burning Flame” single was a club favourite in Britain and appeared in dance charts all over America while in 1985, as accompaniment to their “Circus Ring” single, they filmed a video in Istanbul, the first time Western cameras were allowed into Turkey since Alan Parker’s prison movie, Midnight Express, had so outraged and enflamed international relations.

Vitamin Z have been ominously quiet since 1985 but it transpires they were spending time doing what they've always done - seeking to perfect their notion of what music should be. The result of their labours is "Burn For You", a soaring affirmation of undying love, a meteorite among electric soul ballads. Strongly humanitarian, it carries the same message that runs through all Vitamin Z’s work that an experience honestly shared is a joy and a hope; a belief that shines through Sharp Stone Rain, their second LP, due for release in the Autumn.

'Sharp Stone Rain', Vitamin Z’s second album (both on Geffen Records), justifies the band’s unswerving persistence of vision. From it’s first single, “Can’t Live Without You”, to a reprise of its initial American success, “Burning Flame”, to the intense "Burn For You", Vitamin Z proves to be a master of the electric soul ballad, the rock ‘n’ roll torch song. Barradale’s honey-poured-over gravel voice and Lockwood’s compelling music create an unmistakably distinctive sound, one matched by Barradale’s deceptively simple yet intriguing lyrics. Vitamin Z also revisited “Burning Flame” on their next album, Sharp Stone Rain, its title a reference to the bombing of a Northern Ireland church wherein 11 people were killed. But the LP was not successful and the group split up. Barradale started the Wild Orchids and then began recording with Seafruit in 1998.

You may have heard of one of the hottest bands in the U.K. these days called the Arctic Monkeys. Well it was Geoff Barradale who saw the band and signed on as their manager. They had a hit in the U.K. with the song “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor”, and released their first full length CD titled Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.

Alison Statton

Alison Statton was a member of the English Post Punk group Young Marble Giants. Best known for her feather light charming voice she was involved in several music projects in the early and late 80’s including Weekend and Young Marble Giants.

Source: Wikimedia commons

Cardiff-born singer Alison Statton's first group, Young Marble Giants, lit and carried a bright torch for the lo-fi indie scene that would flourish in the '90s It was one of the quirkiest and most idiosyncratic groups to emerge from the UK independent scene. YMG were New Wave more in strategy than in sound, subverting conventional pop/rock methods by stripping both song construction and instrumentation down to its essence. A reverberant funky bass, a shrill organ, short choppy bursts of guitar, a softly ticking drum machine - this was all the trio needed. Their haunting, spacious sound was made both more intimate and foreboding by Alison's dispassionate, almost neutral vocals. During the YMG period, they released only one single "Final Day" in 1980.

Her subsequent group, the coolly jazz-inflected Weekend, anticipated the suave cocktail pop that Everything but the Girl, Sade and others would popularize. Their sole album, 'La Variete', appeared in 1982, and was followed by the EP 'Live At Ronnie Scots', recorded in March 1983 by which time the project had run its course. Simon Booth went on to form Working Week, while Alison and Spike quit London and returned to South Wales, where they continued to write as a duo. After the end of Weekend, Statton she took an extended break from music, went back to university, but re-emerged near the end of the '80s in a duo with Manchester guitarist/songwriter Ian Devine (ex-Ludus). The pair made two albums of spare, Celtic-flecked folk-pop, covering tunes by New Order ("Bizarre Love Triangle" on The Prince of Wales) and Crystal Gayle ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" on Cardiffians) in the process. Throughout the '90s, she released a batch of recordings with Weekend's Spike as Alison Statton & Spike.

Today professional and family commitments mean that neither Alison nor Spike can commit to music full time. Alison trained as a chiropractor, and now has her own practice in Wales, while Spike once again lives in London. Thankfully, however, the duo continue to work on that elusive third album.

http://www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk//

Leisure Process

Leisure Process was a short lived New Wave duo comprised of sax player Gary Barnacle and singer Ross Middleton. Gary Barnacle was a saxophonist and brass instrument arranger primarily noted for session work, during the 1980's, with a large number of popular music acts including Kim Wilde, Visage, Dalek I Love You and Level 42. Ross Middleton was a member of the UK outfit Positive Noise before he teamed up with Barnacle.

Together they formed Leisure Process in 1981. Leisure Process was produced by Marin Rushent and it released several singles in 1982 and 1983 but never managed to record an album. Even though they provided similar sound to some of the popular groups at that time, they remained as an 80’s obscurity. Their sound was a synthetic with Middleton’s manic vocals and Barnacle’s excellent sax solos. At some points it reminded of Human League especially when you compare “Love Action” with “Love Cascade”.

After working with a line up of great artists Barnacle released a solo album Paradise in 2002.Here are some acts for whom Barnacle has contributed session work.

M-"Pop Muzik" (1979)
Positive Noise- Heart Of Darkness (1981)
Kim Wilde- Kim Wilde- "2 6 5 8 0" (1981)
Level 42-Level 42- "Heathrow" (1981)
The Clash- Combat Rock- "Sean Flynn" (1982)
Visage-"Night Train" (1982)
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- "Party Party" (1982)
Kim Wilde- Select- "Action City" (1982)
Visage – The Anvil (1982)
Kim Wilde- Catch As Catch Can- "Love Blonde" (1983)
Dalek I Love You- Dalek I Love You- "Lust", "12 Hours of Blues" (1983)
Soft Cell- This Last Night In Sodom (1984)
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions- Lost Weekend- "Lost Weekend" (1985)
The Damned- Phantasmagoria (1985)
The Dream Academy- The Dream Academy- "The Edge of Forever" (1985)
Level 42- World Machine (1985)
David Bowie- "Absolute Beginners" (1986)
Pet Shop Boys- Disco- "Suburbia" (1986)
Erasure- Wonderland- "Pistol" (1986)
Swing Out Sister- It’s Better To Travel (1987)
The Communards- Red- "For A Friend" (1987)
Level 42- Running in The Family- "Lessons in Love" (1987)
Rick Astley- Hold Me In Your Arms (1988)
Karel Fialka- Human Animal (1988)
Paul Hardcastle- No Winners- "Walk on the Light" (1988)
Hothouse Flowers- People (1988)
The Jeremy Days- The Jermey Days (1988)
Yazz – Wanted- "Fine Time" (1988)
The Beautiful South- Welcome To The Beautiful South (1989)
Bjork- Debut (1993)

The Beloved

The Beloved was a British music group which was formed in the mid 80’s. Before becoming the Beloved they went under the name The Journey Through which symbolically represented the musical journey which will follow throughout the years by transforming their sound from Post Punk psychedelia to electro pop.

In 1983, Jon Marsh placed an advert in the music press which read as follows:

"I am Jon Marsh, founder member of the Beloved. Should you too wish to do something gorgeous, meet me in exactly three year's time at exactly 11am in Diana's Diner, or site thereof, Covent Garden, London, WC2."

At the meeting in 1986, Cambridge (Jesus, mathematics) graduate Steve Waddington was present and the two formed the core, with Tim Havard and Guy Gousden completing the lineup. In 1986, the Beloved issued their first single, "A Hundred Words" a series of releases (including the EP 'Happy Now', the double A-sided single "Surprise Me"/"Forever Dancing" and the 1987 compilations

 'Where It Is' followed, but none garnered any significant critical or commercial success. Consequently, Gousden and Havard exited in 1987.

By 1993, Waddington left the group and was replaced by Jon Marsh's wife Helena, who was working as a purchaser for the Parisian fashion house Comme des Garçons, for the album Conscience. The band faced some controversy for the video of the single "Sweet Harmony" which consisted of a naked Marsh among a group of women, also naked (although it was shot and edited so as not to show anything which might cause it to be censored).After another three-year absence, they released X, a foray back into club culture.

Beloved's singles continue to be remixed and the band has not been formally wound up, but Jon Marsh has for some ten years been concentrating on his flourishing career as a club dj, as well as the raising of his young family. However, a new collaboration with Steve Waddington is reportedly in the works, and the Beloved has plans for a new album release some time in 2007.

The line up changes:
1984 -1987:
Jon Marsh - Steve Waddington - Tim Harvard - Guy Gausden

1987 - 1990:
Jon Marsh - Steve Waddington

1992 - ... :
Jon Marsh - Helena Marsh
The source:
http://www.thebeloved.com/

Intaferon

Intaferon were an English Pop/rock duo consisting of Simon Fellowes and Simon Gillham. They were signed to Chrysalis Records. The duo are best known for “Get Out of London”. They released two more singles ("Steamhammer Sam" and "Baby Pain"), but never released an album. Their song, "Get Out of London" was featured in the 2001 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movie Winning London. Singles were often featured on the channel four show 'Max Headroom'

Robin Crutchfield / Dark Day

Dark Day was the minimal electronics brainchild of Robin Crutchfield following his separation with no wave band DNA. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Crutchfield was fascinated with both performance art and the most esoteric edge of pop music.

After making his escape to New York City in the mid-seventies, he presented several noteworthy performance pieces at the New York Avantgarde Festival, Stefan Eins' 3 Mercer Street Store and Artists' Space. Inspired by Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band and Lydia Lunch's Teenage Jesus and The Jerks, he made the transition into the new music of downtown Manhattan and formed the "no wave" band DNA with Arto Lindsay and Ikue Mori in 1977. This lineup recorded a single and 4 tracks with Brian Eno for the seminal No New York album.

In 1979 Crutchfield left DNA to pursue a series of musical projects under the name Dark Day. The first Dark Day single, "Hands In The Dark/Invisible Man" on the Lust/Unlust label, featured Robin's singing and modified electric piano backed by Nina Canal (of the Gynecologists and more recently, Ut) and Nancy Arlen (of Mars).

By the time of Dark Day's first album, 'Exterminating Angel' (Lust/Unlust, 1980), the group consisted of Robin, Phil Kline, Barry Friar and a revolving lineup of artists which included Steven Brown and Peter Principle of Tuxedomoon, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, Nina Canal and David Rosenbloom. During this period Dark Day performed at the Mudd Club, CGBG's and Max's Kansas City. After a tour of Europe, Robin re-formed Dark Day in 1981 as a synthesizer duo with Bill Sack and released the album 'Window' (Plexus, 1982). Over the next few years Robin resumed his work as a performance artist at such venues as Club 57 and Joseph Papp's Public Theatre. In 1985 he recreated Dark Day as an acoustic chamber ensemble performing atmospheric music in a medieval vein and released his 'Darkest Before Dawn' disc in 1989.

For most of the 1990's, Robin concentrated on his work in graphic design and performance art while editing the music newsletter "Quirky". In 1999 Robin utilized the new technology available to musicians and returned to the ambient and techno genres that he helped pioneer, on his disc Strange Clockwork.
In August of 2000, Dark Day released its 5th album of original music Loon 'the mental health project' featuring 7 short instrumental works to exorcise the demons of the mind. In the Spring of 2002, the next Dark Day album was issued under the alias darkdayrobin, entitled The Happy Little Oysters. The material is in the same vein as the previous two outings -gear- like layers of melody and rhythm with a comically sinister edge. Robin also resumed painting and writing, two activities he had not tackled since the early 80's. He self-published a number of faerie tales, and they are available for inspection elsewhere on this site.

In 2006, after having purchased a number of harps and psalteries, and having happened upon the spiritually profound "magic scale", Robin retreated from the cyclic electronic keyboard influences of the 20th century, to embrace acoustic material more in keeping with the ancient past, and released two solo albums, Songs For Faerie Folk, and Toadstool Soup. These feature glissando and drone improvisations on harp, tanpura, lyre, box drum and pixiefone based on some of the thematic elements suggested by the faerie lore of his self-penned tales.

“I seem to spend all of my time in the past as the present slips away into the future” ~R.L.Crutchfield
Dark Day reissues are available here.

Do Re Mi

Do Re Mi was an Australian rock/pop band formed in Sydney in 1981 by Deborah Conway and included herself, Helen Carter and Stephen Philip. It was sexually balanced - two women and two men. It's also something that can be underestimated in its significance. From Do Re Mi's point of view it just was what it was, no specific agenda at hand, but where it mattered was in the impact that it had on the music Do Re Mi played and the songs they wrote. The women in Do Re Mi weren't trying to be 'men'. The four members of Do Re Mi were equal partners.

The first EP was well received by radio stations. Do Re Mi reacted against that, and threw caution to the wind the next time around. Their second independent-label EP, 'The Waiting Room', contained "Man Overboard", an anti-love song from a woman's point of view that dared to have the words "penis envy" and "pubic hair" in the lyrics. Featured on the EP were the Laughing Clowns' brass section, Louise Elloitt and Peter Doyle. They recorded two albums: 'Domestic Harmony' (1985) and 'The Happiest Place in Town' (1988) and a batch of singles. Their best performed hit, "Man Overboard", became the 8th highest positioned Australian song for 1985 End of Year Chart. (Oz Net Music Chart). They disbanded not long after their second album was released. Conway had lived with Paul Hester (Deckchairs Overboard, Split Enz, Crowded House) in the early 1980s.

Polyrock

Polyrock emerged in the late 1970s as pioneers of post-disco and new-sensibility dance music in New York. The band comprised vocalist Catherine Oblasney, guitarist Billy Robertson and Tommy Robertson, drummer Joseph Yanece, and keyboard player Lennu Aaron. 

During their brief existence, they released two records on RCA in 1980 and 1981, Polyrock and Changing Hearts and an EP entitled ‘Above The Fruited Plain’. Polyrock’s self-titled album was released in 1980 and produced by Philip Glass. It was influenced by Television and Brian Eno and the 70s art rock scene. Their only two single releases from their debut album were "Romantic Me" and ‘Working on my Love’.

Their second album Changing Hearts follows the same basic pattern but loosens up the sound, occasionally breaking away from austere dance music for a taste of straightforward pop, including a reworking of the Beatles' "Rain." 

Their third release was an EP entitled ‘Above The Fruited Plain’. The five songs on this EP had more character and melody than any other previous Polyrock release and featured one of Polyrocks best songs "Call of the Wild". Their final release No Love Lost was a compilation of Polyrock’s songs which was released on cassette only and which included a collection of  Polyrock’s live performances, plus unreleased demos dating up to 1984. The band disbanded in 1983.

In 1990, Billy Robertson and Catherine Oblasney formed the group 9 Ways to Sunday and released a self-titled album. Robertson died in September 2018.

Their music was never released on CD until 2007, when it was reissued on Wounded Bird Records.