Eyeless In Gaza...

Cherry Red:

Eyeless In Gaza Sixth Sense - The Singles Collection CDMRED 209

Eyeless In Gaza are a classic slice of Cherry Red history and this singles collection is a perfect release for the re fans - new and old. The 27 track CD features every A and B side released on Cherry Red and includes the Indie Chart hit singles "Veil Like Calm", "New Risen" And "Sun Bursts In". Martyn Bates and Peter Becker married a rare lyricism with technology in a unique way, enabling their work to still sound fresh and up to date. The booklet features a complete discography plus sleeve notes by the band.

Kodak Ghosts Run Amok / China Blue Vision / The Feelings Mutual / Invisibility / Plague Of Years / Three Kittens / Others / Jane, Dancing / Everpresent / Avenue With Trees / Veil Like Calm / Taking Steps (Original Version) / New Risen / Bright Play Of Eyes / Scent On Evening Air / Drumming The Beating Heart / Sun Bursts In / Lilt Of Music / Inky Blue Sky / Tell / Welcome Now / Sweet Life Longer / New Love Here / Back From The Rains / Evening Music / Far Lands Blue / Catch Me

But back to EIG - I'd not thought of it as 'new pop', and they were a year too late anyway weren't they? I can remember an NME from 1983 slagging them off for trying to jump on the Tears For Fears bandwagon which doesn't really make sense, they sounded nothing like each other.

It's reassuring to see that there are others out there who know of EIG and like and respect the music. Urgh, did I just say that? Shoot me please!

Sad that there's not more talk on these dudes - I have been really digging Rust Red September and Photographs as Memories, and I'm very curious to track down their double album from '07. Anyone heard it?

where does one start with these guys?

depends what sounds you're after really. 'drumming the beating heart' is my favourite one of the earlier albums when they were more of a discordant post-punk thing, although they had started moving into somewhat prettier songs by this stage. 'rust red september' was the peak of their shinier indie-pop phase and is a highpoint for many fans, but i'm not really all that into the sound of it tbh.

where they really get great in my opinion is when they start making the folk influence more explicit. 'all under the leaves, the leaves of life' is a fucking masterpiece albeit a sadly neglected one, and it mixes dark folk songs with heavier sounds. not entirely representative of the rest of the album, but check out the song 'struck like jacob marley' which is kind of like a spectral version of 'yoo doo right':
http://open.spotify.com/track/1YiQs0OuVf4AZ0Q0tkn6gY

of the later albums, 'everyone feels like a stranger' from 2011 is really strong record as was 'answer song and dance'. not head the last couple i'm afraid :(

thanks for the pointers, I'll def check those out

nb: what i said is kind of the total opposite of what most people would tell you i think

this is my single favourite martyn bates song, completely mesmerising to me:

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

flute in that makes me think of ghost's quieter moments, it's like seeing a sudden ripple on the surface of a pond - only then do you notice the stillness of the moment

NickB OTM about all under the leaves, the leaves of life - a super later CD album with stronger folk influence incorporated plus heavy sonics, great on headphones!

one thing I forgot to mention upthread is what a breath of fresh air Martyn Bates' guitar playing was in the early 80's: chords I've never heard anyone else play, highly rhythmic, spartan not showy and on the instrumentals conjuring both the elements and dark psychological states. took me surprisingly long to hear the Robert Wyatt influence in his voice - like Wyatt with the intensities of Peter Hammill.

I bought the early albums chronologically from '82 onwards and was very excited by Drumming The Beating Heart with tunes like "One By One", "Picture The Day" and "Pencil Sketch". then I feel they got even better on Rust Red September with my faves: "Pearl And Pale", "Taking Steps" and "Bright Play Of Eyes".

funnily enough I was turned on to them by an L.A.-based fanzine: Beyond The Pale.

Alan McGee is a fan too - he once singled out Drumming… as a personal fave. he also said Eyeless were soulful, that is: soulful in a Joy Division way.

One of those strange unique bands that emerged at that particular place and time and plowed its own furrows all the more over the moons, I now realize.

rediscovering eyeless a few years back sent me scurrying back down various other rabbit holes to see what other long-lived indie bands i'd been overlooking all this time: band of holy joy, and also the trees... can't remember who else, but none of them were quite a good imo (open to other suggestions btw)

was a pleasant surprise seeing the dead c mentioning their early records as a key influence in the wire magazine piece from a year or so ago, though i have to say that i often find bates' voice on some of that stuff a little too grating

this thread made me listen to 'answer song and dance' again - great album, and well worth checking if you've been sleeping on their later stuff