Name this 80s electronica/experimental/post-punk band and song
October 24, 2016 10:55 PM Subscribe
Some time between 1983 and 1985 (maybe as late as 1986) an electronica/experimental/post-punk band (probably British) released a slow-paced song that mentioned "yellow, blue and green" in its lyrics. The sound was more moody than aggressive. It was at least partially spoken more than sung by the male vocalist. I can't remember another damn thing about it, but it's been driving me mad for years.
I heard it on Ryerson's CKLN in Toronto and I'm pretty sure it didn't get regular airplay on CFNY. This song probably came out around the same time as Fad Gadget's Collapsing New People, but I don't think it was Tovey. Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire come to mind, but I can't find a match. It was almost certainly not by Depeche Mode and it definitely wasn't Einstürzende Neubauten.
I heard it on Ryerson's CKLN in Toronto and I'm pretty sure it didn't get regular airplay on CFNY. This song probably came out around the same time as Fad Gadget's Collapsing New People, but I don't think it was Tovey. Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire come to mind, but I can't find a match. It was almost certainly not by Depeche Mode and it definitely wasn't Einstürzende Neubauten.
I have a bunch of it, I don't listen to them much, but check Thomas Leer (buncha videos at the bottom of his Discogs page.
posted by rhizome at 12:34 AM on October 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 12:34 AM on October 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Love the links so far, even though they haven't dug up what I'm looking for. (Thomas Leer! I feel old now.)
At the risk of narrowing future responses, I'd have to say that the song I'm looking for has more of a plodding beat -- it's not a club song, not very poppish, not very rockist. Something like Leonard Cohen deciding to get a black manicure.
posted by maudlin at 7:36 AM on October 25, 2016
At the risk of narrowing future responses, I'd have to say that the song I'm looking for has more of a plodding beat -- it's not a club song, not very poppish, not very rockist. Something like Leonard Cohen deciding to get a black manicure.
posted by maudlin at 7:36 AM on October 25, 2016
Response by poster: And I made a mistake in my original question: I definitely heard the song in the 1983-1985 period (I made a series of woodcuts partially inspired by the song for university during that period, and I definitely remember sketching feverishly to what I heard on the radio), but it may have been recorded a few years earlier. It could not have been recorded later than the mid-80s.
posted by maudlin at 7:48 AM on October 25, 2016
posted by maudlin at 7:48 AM on October 25, 2016
The original version of New Order's "Temptation" comes to mind. But considering you've ruled out Throbbing Gristle and Cab Vol, they probably got weeded out at an earlier stage. Still, fits the timeframe and description. The 1982 version that is, not the 1987 one.
posted by lefty lucky cat at 7:49 AM on October 25, 2016
posted by lefty lucky cat at 7:49 AM on October 25, 2016
I'm guessing that the band is Current 93
posted by Morpeth at 2:06 PM on October 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Morpeth at 2:06 PM on October 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
A friend who's very knowledgeable in 80s new wave suggested Doot-Doot by Freur. Although, that song is missing the "yellow, blue, and green" lyrics.
posted by sproggie at 11:29 AM on October 26, 2016
posted by sproggie at 11:29 AM on October 26, 2016
Response by poster: I may be asking the impossible, but I really appreciate all the suggestions, especially as I'm getting leads on some other interesting stuff.
It's not either song by New Order or Freuer, and while Current 93 sounds very plausible in some ways, I've started digging through their stuff and it's much darker than the song I remember. I've popped into this amazing lyrics site, though, and may just keep digging for a while. (I am also intrigued by the Genesis P-Orridge connection -- how did I miss this?)
One last summary of the song features: released in late 70s/early 80s; probably British; male vocalist who spoke at least part of the lyrics, especially the "yellow, green, blue" section; more moody than aggressive; no pronounced club or rock beat.
Comparisons: think younger, weirder Leonard Cohen, or Belle and Sebastian if they were less twee, more pretentious, and gave up on melodic hooks. Hell, it could be Throbbing Gristle in one of their mellower moods.
posted by maudlin at 3:04 PM on October 26, 2016
It's not either song by New Order or Freuer, and while Current 93 sounds very plausible in some ways, I've started digging through their stuff and it's much darker than the song I remember. I've popped into this amazing lyrics site, though, and may just keep digging for a while. (I am also intrigued by the Genesis P-Orridge connection -- how did I miss this?)
One last summary of the song features: released in late 70s/early 80s; probably British; male vocalist who spoke at least part of the lyrics, especially the "yellow, green, blue" section; more moody than aggressive; no pronounced club or rock beat.
Comparisons: think younger, weirder Leonard Cohen, or Belle and Sebastian if they were less twee, more pretentious, and gave up on melodic hooks. Hell, it could be Throbbing Gristle in one of their mellower moods.
posted by maudlin at 3:04 PM on October 26, 2016
Check out Section 25 and Crispy Ambulance. Most tracks have beats, but some not so much. And yeah, Throbbing Gristle is probably worth a scan as well. Depending on the texture and density you remember, maybe also Hafler Trio, the various Foetus incarnations, Swans, etc.
posted by rhizome at 3:44 PM on October 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 3:44 PM on October 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also Human League up to Reproduction. There really were a ton of indie post-punk synth releases in those days.
posted by rhizome at 3:49 PM on October 26, 2016
posted by rhizome at 3:49 PM on October 26, 2016
Response by poster: More good stuff, more digging, and still no hit.
Anyone following this thread, please feel free to keep leaving suggestions. Fingers crossed that this eventually gets resolved.
posted by maudlin at 10:08 AM on October 29, 2016
Anyone following this thread, please feel free to keep leaving suggestions. Fingers crossed that this eventually gets resolved.
posted by maudlin at 10:08 AM on October 29, 2016
Not to turn this into a back and forth, but if you hear anything that sounds close to what you remember, mentioning it is a good way to help narrow things down.
posted by rhizome at 10:29 AM on October 29, 2016
posted by rhizome at 10:29 AM on October 29, 2016
Response by poster: Sorry, not J Church, and I can't identify any specific song listed here or that I've dug up that sounds close to what I remember and have attempted to describe. I'm sorry to be sharing the frustration, but who knows, maybe someone will come along before this thread closes and astonish us all with a hit.
posted by maudlin at 7:33 PM on November 17, 2016
posted by maudlin at 7:33 PM on November 17, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by the webmistress at 11:31 PM on October 24, 2016