Scissor Fits, Post Punk, Indie Record Labels — Photo by Naomi O'Hare on Unsplash

May 14, 2022

Post Punk, Taut? Tense? Angular?

And Other British Rail Sandwiches

From the E.P. 'Taut? Tense? Angular? - And other British Rail Sandwiches' released in 1978 on the Dubious Record Label by the band Scissor Fits.

I guess you would have to be of 'a certain age' to begin to describe the grimness of British Rail Sandwiches, it was standard joke material for comedians of the day, have a look at the link for How Privatisation Killed Off The British Rail Sandwich Joke. However, catering aside to some degree I do miss good old British Rail, train fares tended to stay around or just under inflation level, everything was owned by one entity meaning rolling stock and rails etc, unlike today where everything is franchised out to different companies all 'not working together' to provide a national rail service...sigh!🙄 Catch this old article 'Have train fares gone up or down since British Rail?' on the BBC Website for the pros and cons of privatising it all. Maybe I get a bit irate about it all because my Dad was a railwayman for BR back in the day idk?

Prices for commuters have sky rocketed over the years making getting to work cost a lot of money per year without mortgage, bills etc on top. Back in the old days many companies (especially when I started work) had loan schemes (for everyone however far or near London) which made things slightly more bearable, they also payed 'London Weighting' (extra money to cover the cost, I am sure some still do). In the present 'cost of living climate' in the U.K. with companies and government encouraging people to get back to work after the pandemic it is an extra expense most could do without especially as some of us can and have worked successfully remotely, let's face it if you aren't in a 'customer facing' role and you have access to be able to video call for meetings etc you probably don't need to be in an office. Anyway as usual I am on the 'soap box' and I am climbing off now...

Track List

The E.P. contained other gems such as:

I Don't Want to Work for British Airways
A Small One
I Wish I Hadn't Shaved My Pubic Hair Off
D.H. Lawrence Wasn't A Mexican
Waiting For Your Love In The Shower

I guess not being a million miles away from Heathrow and I suspect British Airways being one of the major employers in that area the boys were singing from the heart and what they knew about their area and clearly had no intention of working for them?

Band & Formation

According to detail I can see about them the E.P. was recorded at Fair Deal Studios in Middlesex and it was cut before they even played live. Mike Alway who played occasional guitar for the band dedicated the E.P. to The Soft Boys whom he would later manage. Scissor Fits went on to open for The Soft Boys (on this site at the link), around about the time of the release of their album 'Underwater Moonlight'. Scissor Fits also released a live E.P. on the Independent Tortch Records in 1979.

They were formed in Hounslow, Greater London as a quirky post punk outfit, the band were:

Nik East (vocals)
Vic Watson (guitar)
Simon Ives (bass)
Bud Drago (drums)
Mick/Mike Alway (Lyrics)

Mick Alway was founder of Él Records and also worked for Indie Label 'Cherry Red Records' and also helped start up 'Blanco Y Negro Records' with 'Rough Trade' founder Geoff Travis.

Soon After Dark

As a band they were only really active from 1978-79 releasing the above E.P. and one other 7" E.P. in 1979 called 'Soon After Dark' on the 'Tortch Records' label.