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BRISTOL ARCHIVE

Smith & Mighty

Connected Sequences

    Lost and unreleased works. Although other acts would be the ones to see huge worldwide success with the Bristol Sound the combination of reggae infused basslines, elements of hip hop, female and male vocals and a laid-back tempo were pioneered on Ashley Road, St. Paul's at the Three Stripe studio by Rob Smith and Ray Mighty.

    Various Artists

    The Bristol & Bath Pop Explosion - The 80s

      There has always been a broad picture of the scope of music that has come out of the Bristol and Bath areas. It may surprise observers that some of that heady creativity included the more commercial end of straight up pop music.Did it lead anywhere, or have any merit? Were they, the acts, any good? Did they get any exposure and recognition? In the end the 18 tracks on the CD and 11 on the vinyl editions of the compilation do the 'talking'. It's a treasure trove of glorious commercial, but savvy and sexy pop music. Get into the groove of this wonderful west of England sonic pleasure feast!

      Various Artists

      The Bristol Goth Explosion - The 80s

        Bristol Archive present an album of the cream of Bristol's 1980s 'Goth' scene. With sleeve notes from Pete Webb; a member of one of Bristol's earliest Goth bands; Necromancy, quotes from Jon Klein of Specimen and in beautiful trans red vinyl. This is another hugely valuable document of the music and scene in Bristol and the Southwest.

        The Bristol Goth Explosion was a key part of the growth of the whole scene in the UK in many ways. Two bands on this compilation were formed in 1981: Specimen and Necromancy. Specimen made the move to London in 1982 and started the Batcave club now synonymous with the Goth story. The other; Necromancy stayed in Bristol and played and partied at the Bastille Club, a similar club to the Batcave, but a hidden and less known transgressive den for the emerging Gothic Punk scene. The Bastille was infamous; you saw Quentin Crisp partying there, Friar Tuck locked in a dancer's cage, Stan the Man a guy in yellow speedos on roller skates gliding around the dance floor and a 70-year-old regular flashing her knickers whilst doing the Can-Can! Members of The Cure, Bauhaus and Echo and the Bunnymen passed through the club and Bristol's beautifully preened punks waltzed to the Blue Danube by Strauss one minute and Bauhaus the next.

        The Bastille run by David Darling was a meeting point, party scene and the one part of the musical glue that tied these bands together. This album features Specimen, Claytown Troupe, Fear of Darkness, Necromancy, Temple, Exit Stance and The Long March many of whom frequented the Bastille. It is an album that represents the darker side of Punk and Post Punk and then the scene that became known as Goth, but it represents the variety of musical influences and styles that were involved in those scenes.

        The album is dedicated to the key people, clubs and venues that contributed to its flourishing; the Bastille and its founder David Darling, music journalist Dave Massey (NME, Sounds) who supported and wrote about this scene in the mainstream and local music press at the time, the members of these bands and the people who went to the gigs and the clubs and who travelled the country looking and dressing in an incredible way. Another project instigated by Mike Darby and the wonderful Bristol Archive Records.

        TRACK LISTING

        Side A
        1. Specimen - Stand Up Stand Out
        2. Fear Of Darkness - Lay Me Down
        3. Temple - Book Of Dreams
        4. Temple - Spine
        5. Exit Stance - Conspiracy Of Silence

        Side B
        1. Claytown Troupe - Prayer
        2. The Long March - Weakness
        3. Necromancy - Waltzing
        4. Necromancy - Save Your Praise
        5. Exit Stance - Esthetics

        Various Artists

        The Bristol Post-Punk Explosion Vol 2 (1979-1986)

          Bristol is a city that has managed to not only surprise the wider world with its output but has managed to do the same to the citizens of the place. The 1980's was a decade that personified that aspect to music making out west and the second volume of the Bristol Post-Punk Explosion has managed to capture the vibe to perfection. Feat tracks from Electric Guitars, Essential Bop, Art Objects, Moskow and more.

          Various Artists

          The Bristol Punk Explosion Vol. 2 (1977-1981)

            We are delighted to bring you the follow up to the successful 'The Bristol Punk Explosion (1977-1979) album released in November 2023 - a twelve-track compilation entitled 'The Bristol Punk Explosion Vol 2 (1977-1981).'The sleeve notes are written by Tim Williams author of the 1977 Loaded Fanzine. Tim talks about the transition from Soul to Punk, the demise of Prog Rock and the fashion culture that sat seamlessly alongside the music. There are three previously unreleased tracks never before available on vinyl.

            The Cortinas were the first. They played the Roxy Club, released two singles on Mark Perry and Miles Copeland's Step Forward label, graced the front cover of Sniffin' Glue and recorded a Peel Session. Taking their cue, bands like Social Security (the first band on Heartbeat Records), The Pigs (whose 'Youthanasia' single was released by Miles Copeland's New Bristol Records), The Media, 48 Hours and Private Dicks gave Bristol one of the strongest provincial early punk scenes.

            The area of Barton Hill gave us The X-Certs, who by 1978 could already pull audiences of five hundred into Trinity Hall. Though we did not realise it at the time, they effectively bridged the gap between the late 70s Bristol scene and what our American cousins like to term the UK82 bands.

            In time bands from the suburbs of Bristol started to appear on the scene, Misdemeanor (who were managed by the late Dennis Sheehan U2's tour manager for thirty plus years), Apartment from Downend (whose photo adorns the front cover) and Noiz Boiz from Weston Super Mare, the seaside town just down the road.

            This compilation is designed to give all fans of Punk a snapshot of what Bristol Punk was all about during that period. We close side Two of the album with The X-Certs Clash infused /reggae single 'Together' and follow it with one of Bristol finest Roots reggae bands Talisman and their single 'Wicked Dem'. The punky/reggae party had truly started as we move into the 80's Bristol Stylee! Bristol Boys Make More Noise! 

            TRACK LISTING

            Side A
            1. The Cortinas - Fascist Dictator
            2. The Media - Wanna Be A Number
            3. The Pigs - Psychopath
            4. Private Dicks - She Said Go
            5. Misdemeanor - Radio Radio
            6. The X-Certs - Queen And Country

            Side 2
            1. Apartment - The Car
            2. 48 Hours - Train To Brighton
            3. Noiz Boiz - Noiz Boiz
            4. Social Security - Stella's Got A Fella
            5. The X-Certs - Together
            6. Talisman - Wicked Dem

            Various Artists

            The Bristol Mod Explosion 1979-1987

              This album covers the period 1979 to 1987 and features 14 tracks.

              When punk rock started to fizzle out and Squat Punks started to appear on the streets, many of the UK's disaffected youths had already moved sideways into Modernism and fell in love with bands like The Jam, Secret Affair, The Purple Hearts, The Lambrettas and The Chords but lets also remember our love for The Beat, Madness and The Specials.

              The West Country embraced the scene and produced its own authentic Mod bands like The Reaction, Mayfair and The Newbeats. Alo features The Rimshots, The Review and more


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