March 1, 2023

Snake Dance 🐍

I feel more content not posting stuff quite as frequently and the schedule of two posts per month for me at least seems to be a tad more comfortable, I think I'd like to continue in this vein for a while (unless I have anything so urgent it just can't wait, but I have a feeling that might just be unlikely😁).

So, already this year the months are just flying by and we are hurtling our way towards Spring at a rapid rate of knots and sliding into March...

Slip-and-slide-fail GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY — Gif Source:Giphy.com

Which brings us lighter nights and hopefully milder weather, I thought I would air this track by the aptly named March Violets called Snake Dance🐍...

Rebirth & Natural History

It was released on 7" single in 1983 on their own Rebirth Label and also on the 1984 Compilation L.P. 'Natural History' which hit #3 in the UK Indie Chart that year.

To be honest a really good track from the genre hitting the 'alt indie nightclubs' of the day well with their sound. I am pretty sure I 'flailed about' on the dance floor at The Pink Toothbrush Alt Nightclub (a.k.a Crocs) like a demented bat on acid to this little number back at the time.

The band were initially label mates with The Sisters Of Mercy, in that fellow Leeds University Student Andrew Eldritch produced their debut E.P. 'Religious As Hell' on the Merciful Release label in 1982. Have a listen to that whole drum machine effect in full flow at the link above, I have to say the effect of it at the beginning of the track reminding me just a little bit of 'Blue Monday' by New Order.

Another fine track by them that I also remember well from my misspent youth was 'Walk Into The Sun' released in 1984, again another great record with a guitar sound akin the early U2, vocals sounding quite like Mr Eldritch from The Sisters Of Mercy.

And This Was In Leeds...

The March Violets were formed in 1981 at Leeds University and the original band line up was:

Tom Ashton (Guitar)
Laurence Elliott - (Bass)
Simon Denbigh - (Vocals)
Rosie Garland - (Vocals)
Dr Rhythm - (Drum Machine)

Secondary, 4 of 8 — The March Violets: Picture Source Discogs.com

They recruited a second female vocalist Cleo Murray who also sang on this track. The band shared the same idea as the Sisters of Mercy and many other bands at the time and used drum machines, the 'Sisters' giving their one the name 'Doktor Avalanche'. Evidently there were four bands from the Leeds area famous for using drum machines, as mentioned the two bands above as well as Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and The Three Johns, you can catch their track A.W.O.L. at this site on the link.

Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves

The Sisters Of Mercy were also big at the time, this track 'Temple Of Love' was a stand alone single release also making it onto the alt nightclub dance floors, have a listen to the slightly jazzed up 1992 extended version at the youtube link. Although the band had been around since 1980 their early sound was a bit more minimalist, early tracks such as 'The Damage Done' and 'Body Electric' are examples of the slightly more 'bare bones' vibe. They were then to release the singles 'Alice' and 'Anaconda' in '82 and '83 respectively, which were perhaps less 'sparse' sounding and by the time of the release of 'The Reptile House E.P.' in 1983 their sound seem to have 'padded' out even more.

Primary — Temple Of Love: Record Cover Source Discogs,com

Don't get me wrong I like their really early stuff though as it has that edgy and slightly more post punk experimental feel to it. Obviously they hit the highs in 1987 with the album 'Floodland', with a large chunk of production input from the legendary Jim Steinman, although the album was much more 'commercial' than their earlier stuff it still spawned some excellent tracks e.g. the wonderfully bass driven 'Lucretia My Reflection', Dominion and 'This Corrosion'.

For more about The March Violets why not visit their web site at the link.