It takes something special to change someone's life and plot a course for it. It was a new age for an 18 year old Alan Griffiths when he experienced the Television and Blondie gig at Bristol's then Colston Hall in 1978. He even gave his first 'serious' band an American style name - Apartment. It would link into the motives behind this and his second group, also based in Bristol. This was to be The Escape. That escape through his music was away from suburban mundanity and that of his day job.
Bristol Archive Records have decided to celebrate his musical life, seven years on from his death in 2017. This is in the form of a 'Sound Clash' between the two bands which shows an artistic journey starting in the era of punk, through new Wave and into the early 80's post-punk period.
In keeping with the punk/New Wave ethos that drove the three-piece Apartment, their featured tracks on the Clash have some rawness and edge. All of the songs show off a lyrical directness and vivacity which is backed up by the playing. 'New Age' blasts out of the blocks in a flurry of angled attack that viscerally thrills. 'Living Like This' has that similar energy, in this case from the adrenalin of a scorching live show. This is a glorious snapshot in time of a band on very much top form.
Alan's absorption of the Nuggets anthologies of late 60's and early 70's American psychedelia and general out there weirdness found their way into a song like 'Distractions'. This fused with a shot by both sides shake of New York explorations of the likes of Television, as the ringing guitar lines zing their way into your ears. Poison is a narcotic dream but without the drug taking - the band was never into that. But there is a lysergic launch that hits when the mid-section soars away taking the listener with it.
'Broken Glass' is a true epic and one of the centre-pieces of an Apartment gig. Alan recorded more than one version of this song, but this take replete with slashing Verlaine and Lloyd flavoured guitar, the Billy Ficca feel drumming and the full range of teenage angst in Alan's voice tells the full melodrama brilliantly. The whole vibe is of CBGB's in New York, a club that Alan had never been to and would only get to visit many years later. But he had been there 'in his head'. 'Broken Glass' was Apartment's very own Marquee Moon.
If a musical genre's or group's period of prominence could be a matter of months or a couple of years, then the chance to make an impact could be less than '24 Hours'. This London recorded attempt by The Escape at laying down their Comsat Angels/Killing Joke driven groove works a treat. Bassist Stuart Morgan and drummer Emil, who had followed Alan from Apartment into this new trio, lock everything down, as they do on the follow-up, 'Truth Drug'.
'Eden' and 'Relapse Collapse' were more London session productions and also songs toured extensively. The band used this recording as the backing for making a video of 'Eden', appropriately filmed at Ashton Court mansion, to the west of Bristol, for the BBC 'yoof' programme The Oxford Show in 1982/3. The later Bath superstars Tears for Fears were on the same edition and would become Phonogram label mates as well as a future working option for Alan. Stuart would later go on to work with U2.
'Relapse' and another meat grinder of a tune 'Flowers in the Dark' were typically set in the darker corners that The Escape loved to explore. The muscular 'Difference Between' is the one home recorded Escape offering, highlighting how much Alan's prowess at nailing a demo had moved on. Difference was one of the quartet of songs that comprised the collection that secured an eventual recording deal with Phonogram.
That pre major label period has however been captured perfectly in the sizzling sextet of goodies on this side. The band's sizeable recorded legacy of demos and sessions is one that stands tall and stands proud, as does that of Apartment.
TRACK LISTING
1. Apartment - New Age
2. Apartment - Distractions
3. Apartment - Poison
4. Apartment - Living Like This (Live)
5. Apartment - Broken Glass
6. The Escape - 24 Hours
7. The Escape - Truth Drug
8. The Escape - Flowers In The Dark
9. The Escape - The Difference Between
10. The Escape - Eden
11. The Escape - Relapse Collapse
