Indie Hour Of Need 🕐

So, time goes by just too quickly for my liking. We did a trip to Chester all the way back in 2021, wow! Google Photos just threw it up as a memory and I had no idea quite how long ago it was! I guess I am posting this as it was around about the same time of year and also a very enjoyable short break from the humdrum of life. I seem to remember we had an absolute hellish journey getting up there and were delayed at Crewe for hours, which was probably better than some poor souls who had been stuck at Euston trying to get home overnight due to bad weather. Although we got to our destination later than planned, we did at least get compensation from the train operator which ended up making the train journey a 'freebie' (always nice ;-). We eventually got there, found the hotel and popped over the road for a decent curry at The Gate Of India and then later Mrs Akin and I hit a lovely little candlelit pub called The Cornerhouse for a couple of relaxing drinks and to unwind.

Chester itself is a beautiful City and we spent a lot of time wandering around taking it all in, enjoying walks along the City Walls, admiring the beauty of the Eastgate Clock as shown above and visiting some cool museums such as the 'Sick To Death' Museum which was a good visit.

We also managed to take some trips out to further places such as Wrexham and also the lovely Shrewsbury and enjoyed some time in the town and along the river, although quite chilly nonetheless some beautiful views and very pleasant in the sun, anyway matching the clock in the photo and relating to time I move on to the music section with a criminally overlooked band from back in the day on an independent label...

The Sound

From the 1980 album 'Jeopardy'. It was released on the Korova Records label. The Sound being label mates with the likes of Echo & The Bunnymen. I think pretty much every track on the album is pretty awesome. 

Track List

• I Can't Escape Myself
• Heartland
• Hour Of Need
• Words Fail Me
• Missiles
• Heyday
• Jeopardy
• Night versus Day
• Resistance
• Unwritten Law
• Desire

You can catch a couple of the other songs on the links above. They came out I guess at similar time to other well known bands of that era i.e. Joy Division and Echo & The Bunnymen, you can certainly get the bass line vibes and deep brooding sounds of both. Although as a band they were kind of criminally under-looked they have still inspired many other acts including U2, R.E.M. and in more recent days bands such as Interpol. I can even get that same feel when I hear The Editors. Have a catch of the article on The Sound and many other underrated '80's bands on the website gigwise.com.

Calling On Youth

Prior to The Sound Adrian Borland had been part of a Punk Band called The Outsiders in 1977 producing albums 'Calling On Youth' and 'Close Up'.

The album was released in 1977 on the 'Raw Edge' Record label. They produced on Single/E.P. called 'One To Infinity' and a follow up album in 1978 called 'Close Up'. By late 1978/79 they had dissolved. The band was:

• Adrian Borland - Guitar/Vocals
• Adrian Janes - Drums
• Bob Lawrence - Bass

Second Layer

Following the breakup of The Outsiders Adrian along with Graham Bailey formed the band Second Layer..

Into The Sound

• Adrian Borland (Vocals, Guitar)
• Graham Bailey (Bass)
• Mike Dudley (Drums)
• Benita Marshall (Keyboards)

They made their debut on the 'Tortch' label before eventually signing to Korova Records. They split in 1988 following a tour of Spain the previous year in which Borland suffered a breakdown. He carried on on a solo career for a number of years but sadly, Adrian took his own life in 1999 after mental health issues he had been diagnosed with for some time eventually took their toll, see the Mind website for more background on his condition.