The Lines........whatya know????

Their leader, singer Richard (Rico) Conning would be very successfull during the 80/90s doing production and remixes for the likes of Depeche Mode, Front 242 and Renegade Soundwave, as well as working with William Orbit through the 80s right up to the Madonna stuff, where he was apparently involved in some of the programming on her version of American Pie!

They're very forgotten, which is unfortunate, though I've met a few people who will fanatically sing their praises, such as the aformentioned Steve Gregory, Hyped2Death's Chuck Warner, and Phil from the June Brides.

Their discography is:

White Night/Barbican 7" - a pop gem backed by a unique and repetitive horn-laden song

On the Air/Not Through Windows/Dance for a Drop of Blood 7" ep - 3 skeletal angular post-punk gems, esp On the Air which is one of the most tense and taut recordings of the period, there's something about it's structure that totally weirds me out, like you keep waiting for a chorus that never comes...amazing

Cool Snap 6 song ep - even more skeletal, more rhythmic/arhythmic, angular and tense yet also twee and poppy, just totally brilliant, the final song is a dubbed out horn and guitar instrumental punk-funk masterpiece

Nerve Pylon/Over the Brow 7" - The great lost New Wave song of all time! Nerve Pylon is a perfect song. 60s organ drum machine beat, topped by real drums, which is always a winning combination (see Crispy Ambulance-the Presence) and soaring vocals, backed by a more experimental song. Classic.

Transit/Pt II 7" - Another good song backed by a more dubbed out experiment.

Ultramarine LP - I think this came out just after Cool Snap? One song recycles a melody from Cool Snap in a really cool way. At this point the songs are getting longer and are not as isntantly appealing, more subtle but no less interesting in the long run.

Therapy LP - This is further out, a few instrumentals. By this point I think they'd switched their entire process of writing music. I think instead of writing pop songs, they'd do drugs and work out cool dub-funk-post-punk rhythms and work on top of that. This is the record that Trouser Press really hates! The more poppy upbeat songs are really great.

House of Cracks/Old Town 12" - two exceptionally long exceptionally well-produced songs, House of Cracks is a bit Gang of Four-esque, Old Town is just a beautiful dub-punk instrumental.

As far as reissues are concerned, I've been in touch with them but have mostly kept quiet about it because nothing yet has been made official, and I hope my write-up of them here doesn't make Soul Jazz or LTM go off and offer them tons more money then Acute can! Maybe other labels don't see what I see in them, but that's their problem! Regardless, I'd love to put out some Lines reissues and am slowly seeing what I can do.

p.p.s. http://myspace.com/acuterecords

In the meantime, check out the Ike Yard CD!

and Bimble, sorry you didn't like what you heard, I wonder which few songs you heard? Their sound changed quite a bit over a few years. Personally, I've never met anyone who liked them when they first heard them, but that hasn't stopped many people I know to become pretty obsessed! If you want a taster, 2 songs from around the time of their second single, when they were still a more skeletal angsty guitar band before they got to dubby will appear on the upcoming London editions of Chuck Warner/Hyped2Death's Messthethics series, one of which is unreleased.

But I will say Bimble, I bet in the end you become a fan!

also, NEW messthetics? i need to pay more attention.

The new messthetics series is totally legit. He's going by region and London got two volumes, one of which features 2 Lines tracks, including an unreleased song.

House of Cracks is definitely on the Go4 tip...suprised anyone even knows it! The b-side Old Town is real gem of a post-punk dub track.

Anyway, things are moving ahead with this stuff right now, as we speak.

Could've sworn I contributed to this thread before, perhaps it was another.

I suppose the latter dubbier stuff is more in step with current fashion in this world, but I think the earlier, spiky stuff is way, way better. I gave away my copies of the later stuff, but I treasure "Cool Snap".

Actually, I gave away my copy of "Nerve Pylon" too, but that was as a wedding gift to a good friend, so it's a bit different.

Mostly I wanted to say that I'm looking forward to the CDs.

The first side was completely uninspiring, so I quickly forgot about the album. Picked it up tonight and threw on the second side, and its pretty wicked.

The funny thing is, like I keep saying, they used to talk about this when they were still a new band, I have an old interview where they talk about how people won't like Therapy untill they've listened to it enough! I know that's often a cop-out, but for the Lines LPs, it was definitely true for me.

Airlift in particular is aces. Great vocals.

I have to be honest, I've never totally gotten into the Comsat Angels, though I totally see the comparison. Maybe other post-Joy Division bands like Modern Eon, The Names, the Sound. Comsat Angels are growing on me, but I think the Lines material is much better. Maybe whatever it is that makes them different says something about my taste?

May 27th on Acute, according to the pitchfork

here's a taste

Promos have gone out, response is starting to come back. Working on the second CD now as well, title TBD, should come out in September or so.

I also set them up one of those myspace pages the kids are always talking about.

There will be a radio show special about Acute Records this afternoon including tracks from the forthcoming Lines releases, including never-before-heard material from the unreleased third album and other rarities. More info here.

I just wanted to congratulate Dan on the Lines releases. I mean considering how long he's been working on this stuff, I think a cake and some champagne are due.

Thanks. Unfortunately in my state right now, cake and champagne are probably not a good idea. Fighting some horrible stomach bug type thing.

Anyway, there's been some good buzz...I'll have a website page up on the Acute website shortly.

Roxor indeed. Now about promo copies. (Though I'm sure Andy K will do a bang-up job as per usual.)

Playing this as I type (right now: 'Dance For A Drop Of Blood'), really gets its claws into you but very hard to express why (which, er, I'm supposed to be doing)

http://acuterecords.com/blog/imgs/MemorySpan.jpg

CD is out now.

More information, bonus tracks, photos and purchase here.

Blog ranting here.

Thanks for your patience. Next one should be out in the fall.

got a couple of tracks from emusic yesterday - false alarm and cool snap - really great. will be getting the rest for sure

http://acuterecords.com/releaseparty.jpg

extensive interview:

http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/interviews/the-lines-an-interview-with-rico-conning/

Hi dere I have Lines review:

http://www.ocweekly.com/music/music/cd-review-the-lines-memory-span-acute/28958/

Thank you Ned, as usual, your check is in the mail.

<3 <3 <3

Love, exciting and new.

the press this CD is getting is bonkers. Sunday Times must-get reissue.

Many belated congrats on this reissue, Dan. I finally got a copy yesterday, and it's really, really good. To be honest I hadn't much idea what to expect as I probably last heard a Lines track on John Peel in about 1981, and never owned a record of theirs. I did see them live at Futurama 3, but I can't remember much about it. They were always sort of 'around' then they weren't....

false alarm by far one of the best songs i've heard this year

The second Lines CD came out yesterday.

http://acuterecords.com/blog/imgs/FloodBank.jpg

Flood Bank compiles the two LPs. I've been really happy with the response to Memory Span and am likewise excited about this one. In some ways, it's more of the same, and in other ways, it's a completely different creature, so I think people will find it interesting.

If you like False Alarm, check out Airlift, one of the key songs from Flood Bank, which actually recycles a bit of the chorus's melody.

You can download Airlift and read more about Flood Bank at the Acute Records blog.

I also haven't spoken much about it yet but we'll likely do a third CD. After the LPs, the band continued to record through the mid-80s but nothing was ever completely finished or released. The music is really amazing. More electronic production and dance music influences but well integrated into very Lines-particular stylings, so you get these 80s electro grooves with distorted trombone and the same songwriting. If anything, I'd compare it to New Order circa 1982 or Cabaret Voltaire circa Crepuscule tracks. While it's easy to dismiss the idea of another post-punk act goes electro, Rico Conning did spend the 80s working with Depeche Mode among others, so they know what they're doing. And this isn't to say it's a "dance" record. It's quite experimental. The few people who have heard it so far have all been utterly floored, so that's something else to look forward too!

Anyway, glad you guys are liking Memory Span...check out Flood Bank!

I will. He said, being the reviewer he is. ;-)

Andy K wrote a great review of Flood Bank already for allmusic, and a nice overview for the band, but there's still no review up for Memory Span, though it got 4 stars.

nerve pylon by far one of the best songs i've heard this year

awesome. As obscure as that single was, it was a desert island disc for quite a few people.

also, should give some credit to Michael Train, who's been posting around these parts lately, as he was a big help on all of this. When I only had a few of the singles, he made me a CD-r of most of the singles and Cool Snap that is basically the beta version of Memory Span.

there's still no review up for Memory Span

Weird. (Since I'd reviewed it already for the OC Weekly I wasn't going to double dip.)

yep, kudos to Acute for finally getting these out on cd. just ordered my copy of Memory Span (just in time for Flood Bank's release!). i used to always buy copies of their records for people when i'd see them in the used bins in the 80s--too sad to see them in the racks! and yes--Nerve Pylon is probably my favorite, 'go-to' 7" from that era--no small feat.

The Lines are performing this sunday in London. Jowe Head as well.

Acute blog post here

and check out the Acute facebook fan page while yr at it.

not too bad prices on my two favorite singles by The Lines...

http://cgi.ebay.com/LINES-AIR-RED-RECORD-RS-001-NEW-WAVE-POST-PUNK-RARE-/120560873854?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Records&hash=item1c11fcf17e#ht_522wt_1167

http://cgi.ebay.com/LINES-NERVE-PYLON-RED-LINEAR-RL-007-NEW-WAVE-POST-PUNK-/310215631580?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Records&hash=item483a4ae2dc#ht_500wt_1182

guy also has some Desperate Bicycles, Object Music stuff and other good stuff.

I love the Lines!

Ordered up the two titles a few years ago and never made the connection here with Dan/Acute until reading this thread.

Cheers.

Oh yeah, big Lines fan/booster here! Working on the third/final release right now. Vinyl/download of post-LP stuff, I see I was talking about it 7 years ago a few posts up there, really my fault for taking this long. It's really great, a bit more lo-fi, but totally The Lines, a mix between post-punk/sonic experimentation with songwriting and melodies to remember, with the added bonus of electronic production that prefigures Rico Conning's remixing/production during the 80s.

Also should point out Rico's great blog:

https://ricosreel.wordpress.com/

Go back to the beginning, it's a mostly chronological history of his career post-Lines. Check out the Etienne Daho video, where Rico and Daho definitely recycle a melody from "The Landing".

Awesome, Dan! Definitely looking forward.

Glad I revived this topic.

also check out this pretty low-key facebook page created by the band for more info:

https://www.facebook.com/thelineslondon/?fref=ts

Premiered the first "single" from the new (old) Lines album "hull down"

http://acuterecords.com/blog/?page_id=1074

Pre-ordered.

Track by track lowdown:

https://ricosreel.wordpress.com/2016/05/09/the-lines-hull-down-1982-3/

more streaming samples launching shortly and release this friday! Pre-ordered records should already be shipping.

Best of luck with this, Dan. I'm all about buying lossless downloads when possible, and will be among the first there on the 12th to do so. Thanks for making it available that way. Sorry to see the label shutting down, you released some great and valuable records through the years.

Shutting down? Ah well. You did a great service to the artists you released. I just listened to The Method Actors comp last week, wicked fun.

This Lines lp is fantastic; especially side two. Top-notch packaging, too. Kudos Dan, and THANK YOU!!

Yeah, received my LP today. Didn't get a chance to play it before work, but it's in the queue.

Thanks for the kind words!

There's some more stuff lined up, a radio appearance from Rico...maybe a live show...

http://dublab.com/events/17737/live-broadcast-ale-elevation-through-sound/

Wow, first listen just now and I have to say I didn't expect something so ethereal and dreamy just going off of 'Single Engine Duster.' First impression is that it's really great.

Thanks. It's definitely something that can't be summed up with one sample track. It's kind of a Lines greatest hits for me, dancey moments, krautrocky moments, moody post-punky moments etc. And Archway especially, picking up from the great "ballads" on the LPs but with the more electronic atmosphere.

YES—Archway is beautiful. Some proto-Ghost Box vibes, too.

album "premiere" at FACT mag:

http://www.factmag.com/2016/05/11/the-lines-hull-down-stream/

Man, this thing just gets better every time I play it. It takes me exactly the time from when I pull out of my driveway to when I pull into the parking lot at work to listen to this album once, so I've played it at least once a day this past week. 'Haberdasher' and 'Zoko AM3' quickly becoming some of my favorite songs by the band.

Listening to The Lines "Flood Bank" today, it's wonderfully herky-jerky and full of interesting sounds. Dan, you should be proud you put this music back into the world.

Thank, I am!

I know I've mentioned Rico's Reel here:

https://ricosreel.wordpress.com

now he's added Rico's Library, which includes a link to his bandcamp page where he's released his first solo material!

https://ricoslibrary.wordpress.com/

as well as a promotional page for audio services:

https://ricoconning.wordpress.com/

All this after working with Arnold Turboust on his fantastic new album and performing with him in France last month.

Keeping busy.!

This album deserves more love.

Which one? (I mean obv I think they all do)

Oh! I was talking about Hull Down. Just heard it for the first time.

And I agree — they all do.

Cool.

Yeah Hull Down is awesome.

hi i'm just fulfilling my contractual obligation to post on this topic anytime it gets revived. hull down is indeed a quality listening experience and it makes me sit around wondering what other great obscure 80s band have an album's worth of unheard material just lying around.

also hi dan and fellow lines fans—

dan posted some rare lines stuff here a while back, which i downloaded and saved asap. i love the middle section of "radiobass" so much that i made an edit of just that part and i've uploaded it to youtube—
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2rXJj9rj4A

please lmk if not okay. it's an amazing piece of music, jam it.

Fine with me. Would have to check with Rico and Jo Forty, Radiobass is a solo Jo Forty track, which is why it didn't make the cut of the LP.