Life Without Buildings: Classic or Dud?

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There's this bit in the Julian Cope autobiog (aww, bless) where this kid of walks into Probe Records in Liverpool in 1977 and asks for the new Rush LP. I paraphrase:

"do you have it?" "yes" "can i have it then?" "no, fuck off"

I could *swear* this was actually me, and I'd contribute to the thread about what we had painted on our rucksacks at school, if I still wasn't so embarrassed about it. Ramble... what Life Without Buildings make me think of is the bands I probably should have been listening to in 1977. "Eric's" was only a stone's throw away from Probe Records, and there was I examining the runes on Roger Dean album covers in my bedroom. Schoolchildren probably shouldn't be treated too harshly for adolescent crimes, but this was beyond the pale.

Do others like Life Without Buildings or is it just me trying to make up for previous aural sins? I keep thinking X-Ray Spex, Bow Wow Wow? They seem to have that compelling drrrrrrive about them that The Fall have, and Can seemed to have before them, but I never understand why I like them either.

On the psychiatrist couch...

― Honey, Monday, 9 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Hi Honey: Don't know Life Without Buildings from Men Without Hats, but the "adolescent crimes" line is anyway what speaks to me. Granddaddies of punk Mark Perry and Danny Baker, looking back in the intro to the reissued Sniffin Glue collection last year, have a good old chuckle at the fact that they, as Rabid Punk Tastemakers, had of course in fact owned and liked eg ELP records — and SO HAD THE CLASH et al, despite what they insisted. But that all the little year-zero pol pots (ie me) started with history as a blank slate. No Elvis Beatles or Stones in 77,

Which of course isn't true either: I had secret fond memories of Yes and Zep, but no outlet or use for this until I learnt the art of the is-he-isn't-he- windup. By then however, I only ever played or liked Barbara Dixon records...

― mark s, Tuesday, 10 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I was going to post something to NYPLM about LWB, but I guess ILM will do instead ;-) I'm a bit disappointed by the LP, but only because I've heard at least four of the best tracks on the singles. However in general I think this is pretty fab stuff. There's an interesting unravelling that takes place on the last track. The band hit a slow and extremely VU-Loaded groove, while Ms. Tomkins continues to do her own cut-up vocals over the top. Which without the thumping pace of the other tunes still make some sort of sense. First post-sampling / hip hop vocal style on an indie record? Probably not, since all LWB's influences got there first. But still quite something to be able, in effect to scratch your own vocals as you sing. Duh-duh- duh-duh-duh-days without television etc. So if anyone reading hasn't checked out the singles, I would say the CD is pretty essential. Or if you're feeling skint just go and track down the 7" of The Leanover / New Town, which is all you *really* need.

― alex thomson, Tuesday, 10 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

X-Ray Spex + Bow Wow Wow + The Fall + Can ?!? Holy shit, I need to hear that band !

― Patrick, Tuesday, 10 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Me and St Mike of this parish caught LWB supporting Piano Magic in London last year, and I found them pretty intriguing - maybe more for the novelty of their references than anything else... It's a little suprising how long it's taken indie types to revisit that scratchy Rough Trade C81 kind of thing (especially considering the influence of C86 over the years). I'm still not sure about the vocals though: there's something a little stage school, about the kookiness, a little bit - dare I say it? - Daisy Chainsaw...

― Stevie T, Tuesday, 10 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Self Promotion: I said quite a bit about LWB here.

― Sterling Clover, Tuesday, 10 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

eleven months pass...

man, this thread didn't get very far. I like this band because the vocal style is so distinctive. I could see how it would annoy someone if they weren't able to embrace her style of singing (if it is singing, actually) but I dig it. Kind of free associations floating around and new phrases and meanings are constantly popping up out of the remnants of the last thought as it meanders...

― Ron, Sunday, 24 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The association that kept popping up for me: Claire Grogan. And it's more than a Scottish thing.

― Curt, Sunday, 24 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

But she's not Scottish! Only the guitarist is! So haheh!

― Andy K, Sunday, 24 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Thank you, Mr. K(now-It-All)

― Curt, Sunday, 24 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The Clare Grogan/Altered Images thing is pretty inescapable for me as well, especially when you listen to "Pinky Blue" and "Young Offenders" in close succession. There's the voice, the simplicity in the arrangements, the avoidance of flash -- and the ability to sound so energetic and pop!!! without that flash. I think LWB claimed to have never heard Altered Images prior to all the comparisons, and I do think the band has plenty enough going for themselves outside of all the influences (and Sue Tompkins does tend to sound more pissed off -- more bite haha -- than Grogan in general; if LWB covered "Don't Talk to Me About Love," I'm positive it would sound nothing like the original).

― Andy K, Sunday, 24 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

... er, I didn't word that comparison at the end very well. I meant to say that the difference between LWB and Altered Images would be more openly apparent in an LWB version of "Don't Talk to Me" because it would show the difference between the voices of Grogan and Tompkins. Musically, LWB obviously don't sound anything like the Altered Images of "Don't Talk to Me" because they have yet to make such an overt dance/disco number, which is what that song is (is and the IRS).

― Andy K, Sunday, 24 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

LWB are classic, classic, classic. They were one of the most energetic and compelling live bands I've ever seen. On first impression they seem like a bit of a one trick pony but right now I can't imagine tiring of Sue's voice. I love Altered Images too. "Any Other City" is the "Pinky Blue" of the new millennium! Hooray!

― electric sound of jim, Sunday, 24 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

It's a nice enough album. Found it used, liked it.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 24 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

two years pass...

CLASSIC!!! SUE RULES!

YOR BEHAVE-YAHZ SHA-KEN!
FER YOU SWEET THIIINNNG!!!!
FER YOU HE WOHN NO-TESS-SAH!

― It's hard to kill a horse with a flute (AaronHz), Sunday, 28 November 2004 20:46 (twenty years ago) link

love it

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 28 November 2004 20:48 (twenty years ago) link

Anna birra FWEESTYLE!!!

them and Prolapse should reform. The kids of today would lap 'em up. Possibly.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 28 November 2004 20:51 (twenty years ago) link

This was the first new band I was really excited about in a long time, but they broke up shortly after I got the record.

― It's hard to kill a horse with a flute (AaronHz), Sunday, 28 November 2004 20:53 (twenty years ago) link

I absolutely love that record

― M1chael Ph1lip Ph1lip Ph1lip Ph1lip Ph1lip Ann0yman (Ferg), Sunday, 28 November 2004 20:54 (twenty years ago) link

LWB's cover of 'Pop life' is probably better than anything on the album.

― Affectian (Affectian), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:22 (twenty years ago) link

vocally it can be challenging, for obvious reasons, and i think it is a love or hate, hit or miss things with most listeners. There is no middle ground.

What stands out for me though, is the melody in the music. love it.

― heath mulholland (Mullo), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:27 (twenty years ago) link

LWB's cover of 'Pop life' is probably better than anything on the album.

I agree! Inspired version if not terribly different in its arrangement.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:48 (twenty years ago) link

"Love Trinity" is also great great great

― Sonny, Ah!!1 (Sonny A.), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:51 (twenty years ago) link

I don't even know where to begin with this band. I mean, they defy words. They defy their time. It defies belief that they broke up. The Prince cover is indeed incredible. I don't know why in the hell they don't either get back together or at least do something solo and let fans f***ng know about it. I tried writing an email to them this past summer and no response. Website gives no indication of anything at all.
How can a band this brilliant just disappear into the ether? I remain convinced that I could go to the nearest record shop right now and listen to every single thing that came out since that album and I still wouldn't find anything that deserved to be in the same room with it.

― Bimble (bimble), Monday, 29 November 2004 02:41 (twenty years ago) link

steady on!
as much as i like the album, i did feel a little let down as it contained so many tracks from the preceding singles, and in rerecorded-but-pointlessly-so versions as well. i can't believe they split up though, its such a waste.

― DJ Salinger (joni), Monday, 29 November 2004 03:28 (twenty years ago) link

I keep meaning to say something about Life Without Buildings, but I can't ever quite figure just what it is exactly that makes them so damn special. There's some serious magic going on there. Big part of the appeal for me is summoning up the long lost ghost of Slovenly. Can't believe I only discovered them after they'd slipped away...

― NickB (NickB), Monday, 29 November 2004 15:41 (twenty years ago) link

two months pass...

fopp, £1

― cozen (Cozen), Friday, 18 February 2005 14:54 (nineteen years ago) link

digi or jewel?

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 18 February 2005 14:57 (nineteen years ago) link

no case!

― cozen (Cozen), Friday, 18 February 2005 14:58 (nineteen years ago) link

it was thrown out?

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 18 February 2005 15:25 (nineteen years ago) link

The horror!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 18 February 2005 15:29 (nineteen years ago) link

http://www.brownsteins.net/Ulpan/Images/Gertrude%20Stein.JPG

― Sonny, Ah!!1 (Sonny A.), Friday, 18 February 2005 15:42 (nineteen years ago) link

four months pass...

was this one of the first ILM threads??

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Friday, 24 June 2005 08:55 (nineteen years ago) link

they were kind of ahead of the curve, huh?

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Friday, 24 June 2005 08:58 (nineteen years ago) link

three months pass...

you think?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Saturday, 8 October 2005 05:01 (nineteen years ago) link

three months pass...

The other day, I was on the bus into work. Behind me, a woman was on the phone to her mum, all excited saying that she'd just been told she'd been chosen for something. "I've got it! Yeah! I kept having to ask the man if he'd got it right and he was saying yes, your name's there, you're in". It was lovely to hear someone so thrilled at an achievement, and it made me wonder about the last times I had such a feeling.

So, I was interested what it was she'd got. At first I thought maybe she was an actress but two minutes of eavesdropping later, I heard her mention the ICA and Becks so I realised she was an artist and that it was the Becks Futures prize she must be up for.

She said she had to keep it quiet for a week, till the official announcement and the press thing down in London ("Yeah, they're paying for the travel, mum").

As I got off, I took a quick look behind me to register her face.

Today, the nominees are announced, there's a big photo of her in the Herald and I discover it was Sue Tompkins from Life Without Buildings.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 January 2006 14:00 (eighteen years ago) link

On this page, I notice a work she did in 1996 that might be of interest to you, Alba.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Thursday, 12 January 2006 14:17 (eighteen years ago) link

Ooh, I sense a project.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 January 2006 14:19 (eighteen years ago) link

haha, nice

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 12 January 2006 14:20 (eighteen years ago) link

aw thats great. her sister hayley who did the sleeves was on the shortlist a couple of years ago as well.

― zappi (joni), Thursday, 12 January 2006 15:11 (eighteen years ago) link

in M&S central station with sue & hayley tompkins

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 12 January 2006 15:16 (eighteen years ago) link

the work on that modern institute page is shockingly poor.

― jed_ (jed), Thursday, 12 January 2006 15:21 (eighteen years ago) link

(i think this about most new visual art)

― jed_ (jed), Thursday, 12 January 2006 15:24 (eighteen years ago) link

Well, I'm glad her art's going well and all, but every time this thread is revived I'm praying that it's news of new music (like that'd ever happen).

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 12 January 2006 15:44 (eighteen years ago) link

She broke up the band to do the artsy fartsy stuff. she didn't wanna go on tour. i was told that the rest of the band kept playing together, starting some new project, but never really heard anything else about it.

My good ol' buddy/ex-roommate/bandmate put out their record in the usa.

― jerkwaterjohnson, Friday, 13 January 2006 01:01 (eighteen years ago) link

eleven months pass...

Live album out soon for those that need a fix:
http://www.myspace.com/lifewithoutbuildingsuk

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 11 January 2007 00:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, the sandbox said that already:
http://ilx.thehold.net/thread.php?msgid=66543

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 11 January 2007 00:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, but we needed someone to bring it up over here. Thanks!

― Good Warlock of the West (Bimble...), Thursday, 11 January 2007 06:23 (seventeen years ago) link

http://myspace-725.vo.llnwd.net/01457/52/78/1457028725_l.jpg http://www.gtaust.com/filter/06/images/annan_01.jpg

― opera mongrel (kit brash), Thursday, 11 January 2007 07:18 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.ee.usyd.edu.au/carlab/SOH/pic/concertHall.jpg

http://www.spazzys.com/images/photos/joseba/joseba2.jpg

― sinema mongrel (kit brash), Thursday, 11 January 2007 11:46 (seventeen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

Live version of "Love Trinity" streaming: http://www.myspace.com/gargleblastrecords

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 10:55 (seventeen years ago) link

So doing lyrical exegesis on Life Without Buildings could get pretty weird pretty fast, but is anyone else hearing "Love Trinity" as being pretty much about this band's breakup? All that "don't leave the visual world / I'm not willing to leave" versus Sue quitting to work on visual art ... "I live out of town by now" ... "love trinity" as art, band, and boy ... etc.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 13:38 (seventeen years ago) link

seven months pass...

I just lucked into a used copy of the full-length while searching out the live album. Her voice is absolutely breaking my heart--pleading, begging, never fulfilled. I don't know if there was anywhere to take the formula but damn, there should have been more songs than this.

― call all destroyer, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 17:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Sue Tompkins has a bunch of performance art pieces on YouTube. I'm half-hoping that an ambitious bootlegger will take these recordings, sneak a band behind 'em, and entice people with the promise of RARE, UNRELEASED LIFE WITHOUT BUILDINGS MATERIAL.

― hawth, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 20:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Gosh, odd to look at this thread and see me, 6 years ago, being lukewarm about LWB. I saw them three times, I think - supporting Piano Magic as per original post, in some odd venue off Charing Cross Road, headling above a friend's band, and then at the Spitz -- and by the third time they'd become my favourite British band of the 21st century. I don't think anyone's superseded them yet.

― Stevie T, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 21:16 (seventeen years ago) link

fuck sake.

― jed_, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 21:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Why so grumpy, Colin?

― Stevie T, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 21:31 (seventeen years ago) link

not at you stevie, i just watched those performance art pieces on YouTube.

― jed_, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 21:49 (seventeen years ago) link

definitely classic. i discovered them just in time to be excited for the live album coming out.
i feel like if they started up in todays "indie scene" (blogs, myspace, etc) they could have had much more success. im disappointed that theres no live videos on youtube, anyone know where to find something like that?

― shanissey, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 22:22 (seventeen years ago) link

jed_ v much otm

― RJG, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 23:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Love the album.

― W4LTER, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 23:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh yeah, that YouTube stuff is completely pathetic and embarrassingly bad. Who the hell would want to sit there and watch/listen to her do that? I could kindof understand if she was just speaking but the dancing around and random singing do her no favors. Is she not bright enough to figure out that she needs SOME form of musical accompaniment if she's going to do that? I dunno, maybe I'm just ignorant, but I thought she left the band to do other forms of art entirely. What a fall from grace for her.

― Bimble, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 05:02 (seventeen years ago) link

i missed LWB's piano magic supporting set in london all those years ago by one song...that is, I saw their last song and that was it. too bad! anyway still a classic album, probably best they didn't do anything after it

― akm, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 05:12 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm scared to watch the youtube thing, b/c I really like that record lots. shanissey otm upthread, I guess. The band certainly escaped my antennae at the time; I only learned of their existence a year or so ago, and the person who turned me on to it I think only knew of it b/c he worked at a college radio station.

They seem like the kind of band that is simply too good not to receive their due at some point, though...

― dell, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 05:19 (seventeen years ago) link

THEIR ALBUM IS KINDA EMO.

― artdamages, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 16:46 (seventeen years ago) link

I know!! That's the best part!

― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 19:25 (seventeen years ago) link

five months pass...

THEIR ALBUM IS KINDA EMO.

-- artdamages, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 17:46

No. It is quite upbeat and optimistic.

― Bodrick III, Saturday, 1 March 2008 04:11 (sixteen years ago) link

"New Town" is transcendent, but nothing else has inspired me.

― mayhaps, Saturday, 1 March 2008 06:17 (sixteen years ago) link

mbv mbv mbv mbv mbv more mbv - BALLSY

― shanissey, Saturday, 1 March 2008 18:08 (sixteen years ago) link

oh I know I love that line especially! And the way she throws in the Beatles reference too.

― Bimble, Saturday, 1 March 2008 22:58 (sixteen years ago) link

The live version of "The Leanover" scorches my scalp. Yikes.

http://www.lifewithoutbuildings.com/LwbLive.jpg

― Bimble, Sunday, 9 March 2008 16:54 (sixteen years ago) link

is there any explanation in the sleevenotes for that logo on the cover?

― energy flash gordon, Monday, 10 March 2008 05:18 (sixteen years ago) link

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