The Bathers C/D

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Or the Blue Nile on downers. Chris Thompson seems destined to remain in the cul de sac marked cult despite making some of the most gorgeous downbeat music of the past 15 years. But then, releasing string drenched symphonies to heartbreak on German indie labels isn't the best path for a career in the mainstream. I say classic, what's the ILx take?

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 17 March 2004 09:51 (twenty-two years ago)

classic for the last album's 'huntly in love' alone! some weird cross of bowie and staples directed by rivette and resnais.

― cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 17 March 2004 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

they hold quite a lot of sentimental value for me. when I was first falling in love our future was headed toward glasgow - she was staying in nottingham at the time and I was still in stevenston. listening to these records along w. the belles' early stuff (4 eps, sinister, tigermilk) gave us way to see our future. like tuning into momentary glimpses of love on some imaginary radio dial.

― cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 17 March 2004 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

bathers is an anagram of barthes.

― cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 17 March 2004 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I only have Kelingrove Baby, and really love that album. Could we maybe turn this into a S/D thread as well, cause I'd love to see what others recommend.

― Jonathan (Jonathan), Wednesday, 17 March 2004 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

Finally listening to 'Sunpowder' (with contributions from Liz Frazer), wonderful hearbreaking stuff. Official website hasn't been updated for two years and they haven't released anything new since 1999, so I think that's it from them. I imagine Chris Thompson propping up a bar down the Byres Road lamenting lost love over a good whiskey, but I guess the reality will be rather less romantic.

― Billy Dods, Sunday, 3 June 2007 19:12 (eighteen years ago)

dud, if i remember rightly, although i think i'm a lone voice here. one of those bands that, on paper, ticked all the right boxes, but somehow made me want to rip off my ears when i actually heard them. ISTR reviewing their last album (1999 would be about right) and slating it. would need to check, though. it left little impression :(

― grimly fiendish, Sunday, 3 June 2007 23:24 (eighteen years ago)

three years pass...

really can't get over how great the friends again stuff is . basically a series of flawless pop songs, not really a dud anywhere in the lot. at times it is channeling david bowie singing for orange juice, other times gerry rafferty doing lost circa steve mcqueen era-prefab sprout songs.

― pluperfect (del), Sunday, 28 November 2010 18:27 (fifteen years ago)

eight years pass...

9 years later (wow). FYI, _Lagoon Blues_, their 3rd album, is being remastered/reissued per a Sept 2nd Bathers post on FB. Digital first, then album and cd.

Also, pre-Bathers (and pre-Love & Money) band Friends Again's _Trapped and Unwrapped_ is getting the two cd treatment from Cherry Red, out Nov 29th.

― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Monday, 7 October 2019 19:59 (six years ago)

one month passes...

Carrying the torch a little further, Firestation Records is putting out an early / unreleased Friends Again album, In the Beginning on Nov 29th.

Also, all three Marina releases (Lagoon Blues, Sunpowder, Kelvingrove Baby) will be reissued. The Marina design aesthetic was a favorite back in the day. The KB cover in particular suggests an urbane class and mood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbNNXV5C0Qs

― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Tuesday, 12 November 2019 18:44 (six years ago)

four years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur3m0-fcsMM

Sirenesque, 2023's new album, is lush and gorgeous, unsurprisingly. A large warm quilt of 12 tracks plus seven instrumentals. His voice has aged so well.

Their first, Unusual Places to Die, is also reissued, via Last Night From Glasgow. Glad to pick that up and complete the collection.

― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Wednesday, 29 November 2023 01:38 (two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.