11
Dec

In 2021 there was a retrospective album by The Telephone Boxes on Detour Records (DRLP088) that I missed. I feel bad about it. My record buying habits have decreased considerably since becoming a dad.

It is hard to keep up. But I think this record is one I would definitely want to have. I should keep my eyes peeled. Maybe I’ll be lucky sometimes.

The first time I heard about this band was thanks to an interview I did with Pete Brickley of the wonderful band The Wallflowers. Before being in The Wallflowers he had been in The Telephone Boxes. This is what he told me:

I left The Telephone Boxes, shortly after our support slot on the first Smiths tour to start a solo career but was persuaded by Warner Chapell to take a band name (from page 1 issue 1 of Spiderman).

Telephone Boxes were utterly amazing (the Smiths invited us on their first tour and paid our expenses and a modest wage)we sounded like a cross between The Fall & an ice cream van. We recorded four demos for various record companies,every Smiths gig, and lots of home tapes. Maybe we can release some of it one day.

The Telephone Boxes was formed in 1982 by Pete Brickley (vocals, guitar), Charlie Allen (bass, backing vocals), Adam Wood (guitar, backing vocals) and Patrick Hunt (drums, and he would continue working with Pete on The Wallflowers). The band would be active until 1985. Also worth noting that on the song “Theme from Interpol” the drummer was Mark “Sparky” Davies.

Previously Patrick had been in Aztec Camera. Pete Brickley was on The Mystery Girls and The Xtensions. Adam Wood had also been in The Mystery Girls as well as in Frankenstein’s Baby, The Company and The Famous Men.

The record that Detour released in 2021 included a plethora of songs. It was an LP and CD combo. The songs on the LP are repeated on the CD, but the compact disc includes 12 more songs. These are: “Lazy Time”, “Language of the Land”, “Little White Lies”, “You’re the One”, “I Don’t Like to Repeat Myself (Live)”, “Thank You”, “Theme from Interpol”, “Please Yourself”, “Hallelujah I Was Born”, “One Day”, “Now That We’re Friends”, “A Twist of Fate”, “Love Was Here (Live)”, “STYLE”, “Affection”, “I Read a Book”, “Good Fortune”, “Boomerang Jack”, “Camouflage”, “A Great Big River”, “Down and Out”, “Everybody’s Fool”, “Broken Up”, “Living in Trees”, “Deadbeat (Live)” and “Relatively Speaking”. The songs were written sometimes by Pete and others by Adam.

This record was very limited sadly. 150 copies in black vinyl and 100 on red. The album includes their demos as well as live tracks from their Smiths tour.

On my blog I find another mention about the Telephone Boxes. It is on the post about the band Ala Pana Fuzo. There I wrote: “There’s an interesting bio on last.fm written by Ian Miller himself. Among the many interesting facts written, he mentions that they often played on the same bill with Peter Brickley, from the Telephone Boxes and the more known Wallflowers as he was also from Slough. They were also very close to signing to a major label but it didn’t happen.”

A post on The Guardian tells us a little bit more about Peter and The Telephone Boxes: “The Wallflowers were the creation of Peter Brickley (who always styled himself Peter d Brickley). He’d come to the attention of Marr via his previous band, the Telephone Boxes, who had supported the Smiths. It’s possible he didn’t have the Stakhanovite work ethic required to make a success of a music career: his RIckenbacker guitar was backed with a large sticker with the word “acid” written in block capitals; he played more often with Slough’s jokey country band the Company than he did with his own group.”

I start to wonder why did I miss this. I haven’t heard all the songs on the record. Just a few and they are fantastic. I’m pissed. Only now, 2 years after the fact I am seeing my mistake. And happily all the songs are on Soundcloud. Sure, not the same as playing the real thing, but this is nice too!

What else is there to say about them? Well yes, they played at many places including, at the Nelson Mandela Hall  and London King’s College (both with Hurrah! and Felt), at the Leicester De Montfort Hall, the Warwick University Arts Centre and Reading University (with The Smiths), at Dingwalls (with The Smiths and The Daintees), at the Lyceum in the Strand (with The Smiths, Billy Bragg and The Redskins), at Libertys (with Death Pop), at the ICA (with The Room and The Red Guitars), at the Windsor Arts Centre (with The Smashing and Death Pop), Mothers Wardrobe in Slough, Studio One and at The Rock Garden among others.

Lastly on Youtube there are two videos, titled “The Last Twist Part #1” and “The Last Twist Part #2“. Check them out!

I lost touch with Pete Brickley since I interviewed him ages ago. So yeah, would love to reconnect, maybe find out more about this wonderful band. Also hoping for a reissue someday! Anyone remember them?

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Listen
The Telephone Boxes – Language of the Land

07
Dec

Just a heads up that the last day to order records from Cloudberry will be on Sunday. After that I won’t be able to mail any orders until mid January.

I’ll continue blogging during this time though, I will have the computer with me.

Also keep an eye for an early release early next year by the label, our first 10″! By a beloved Swedish band! Very exciting!

I’m going back in time. Down memory lane as they say. Remember NYC Popfest 2007. That was my first Popfest. Seems like a long time. But I have vivid memories. I can still recall the Bunnygrunt gig in Coney Island. Or chatting with Duglas before the BMX Bandits played. Good times.

There are gigs I dont remember. I am sure I saw Affair D’Coeur but I can’t recall the gig. I remember their name very well though, and now and then it crosses my mind. I should have written about them before. I know I want to remember. Was it a full-fledged band? For some reason I think it was a duo. It is hazy.

They were from NYC. I think that’s right. And I remember they played at The Delancey. That night when I first saw The Baskervilles who at the time were among my favourite bands. I was impressed. The Secret History played that night too. I didn’t know Mike Grace yet. I was impressed by his band and giddy to see ex-My Favourite people on stage.

One detail I remember clearly about Affair D’Coeur was the photo/avatar they had on Myspace. A cartoon pigeon. That doesn’t show up anymore. There is still a Myspace but of course that doesn’t work.

There should be some songs in there. At least their names. “Don’t Tell Me”, “Heart on Demand” and “Oh No December” appear to me. Can you find anymore? They don’t play for sure. Click on music and you get a broken page.

A brief bio I find says they were from Brooklyn. That they recorded their tracks either on or using a Tascam 414 MK II. That they were a bedroom pop band. A lo-fi indiepop band.

Discogs only lists a compilation appearance. It is on CDR I have never heard about, “Loose Sips Sink Ships” released by Indieskys Records (ISY 001). Not sure what year it was. Four songs were included: “Long Drive AKA To My Friends”, “Do You Wanna Go With Me?”, “Heart on Demand” and “Port of Call”. I’m not familiar with the other bands on it.

Other than this I know the band played a gig on March 24 of 2007, before the Popfest. It was at 29 Wythe St. in Williamsburg along The Manhattan Love Suicides, Titus Andronicus, Fellows and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Just two months before the Popfest.

Perhaps the best find is that there was a video made for the song “What I Need“. Other videos on this account has songs by a band called MiamiBeachNY… maybe one of the members was involved in this band.

I can’t find names. I can’t find other songs. But clearly they made an impression on me. I remember them and have been wondering what happened to this band. It’s been about 15 years since I heard them. It’s been fun to at least listen to one of their tracks again.

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Listen
Affair D’Coeur – What I Need

04
Dec

Today we travel to Brisbane, Australia. Home of The Go-Betweens. But also many other good bands. Here is one I didn’t know about, that I just discovered, Modern Poets.

In 1989 they were making their debut with the release of a 7″ on Big Noise Records (M.P-1230NIT) which probably was their own label. This record had two songs, “Understanding Mary” on the A side and “Redsun” on the B side. It was recorded at Vibrafeel Studios in their hometown and was co-produced by the band and Michael Borkowski.

In 1991 the band would release a cassette album titled “Politics, Poetry and…”. It was put out by Big Noise Records (MP 223740) and was again recorded at Vibrafeel Studios and mastered by Jim Baker at Willowtree Studios.

The album had the following songs, “She Says”, “Ethic of Love”, “Rock Strength”, “Crushed”, “Understanding Mary” and “Driving” on the A side and “Big Slide”, “Planet Go to Rest”, “Fall from Grace”, “Forest Fire”, “Everything is Fine”, “Epiphany” and “This Burning Town” on the flipside.

We learn too that the band was formed by Jonathon Sargeant on vocals, Ben Thomson on bass, Timothy Hills on strings and Philip Neil on drums. Timothy was the one who wrote the music.

Other than these two releases we know that their song “Red Sun” appeared on “Triple M FM 104 Homegrown” LP compilation released by Wheatley Records (TWOHG 004) in 1990.

Then I find a Facebook page for the band. Here I learn that the band started in 1983.

I find there a video of the band playing the song “Feel the Light“. On that same account by Timothy Hills, there are more videos of them, for example the band practicing at Oxley Hall in the Gap in 1985. Recording at Star Sound after Winning the Triple MM Homegrown in 1988. Or live on Channel Seven on a Saturday morning. And what about a fun short video after an interview?

There’s a video for “Everything is Fine” too.

Then I find that the band reunited for a gig on October 4th, 2014.

And lastly on Yotube I find the band’s song “Fear of the Fall” being played live at the Festival Hall in Brisbane in 1985. There is no live footage though. But can check the song.

Another little detail I find is that these days Tim, Jonathon and Phil  make music with a project called Dolby System.

Good stuff, right?

What do you all remember about the Modern Poets? Did they play live much? Did they release any other records?

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Listen
Modern Poets – Understanding Mary

27
Nov

Have you heard of a Bristol 80s band called Hope Springs?

I didn’t know about them. Quite surprised. They had a good sound, and quality songs.

9 of their songs were published as a digital album by Bristol Archive Records in 2020. These are available on different streaming platforms. I found Youtube the best to listen to them.

The songs are “Nat Kat”, “Perfect Day”, “Take”, “Higher than Love”, “Song & Dance”, “The Love Mine”, “Tears Disappear”, “Wild Weird Climes” and “Confetti”.

The songs seem to date from 1989 and we know that the band was formed by Andrew Garrett on vocals, Pat Lewington on guitar and backing vocals, David Crossland on bass, Cindy Baldwin on keyboards and backing vocals and Dave Jones on drums.

I search a little bit and find a Facebook page for them that was set up in 2017.

There I find that the band came from the ashes of another band called Under the Orange. How did that band sound like? Which members were on that band? It seems it was the same band with the aaddition of Pat Lewington.

There are two scans of reviews they got. Both are from a magazine called Rhythm, on the April 1989 edition they praise the band a lot and then on March 1990 edition there is a mention that Hope Springs was selected as the best demo band for that month.

We also know that the band played the usual venues in Bristol including The Fleece, The Bridge and The Tropic. In London they played at the Rock Garden and the Mean Fiddler.

In total the band recorded 3 demo sessions. Cindy left after the second one and the band split after the third.

Anyone know anything else about them?

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Listen
Hope Springs – Wild Weird Climes

20
Nov

Here is a great Bandcamp find. The self-released tape album by French band Tous Les Cactus!

This self-titled album came out 30 years ago, in 1994. And from what I understand the band may be preparing a vinyl version of it. For that I guess we’ll need to be checking now and then their Bandcamp.

The album, made of 8 studio songs and 4 live tracks at Le Plan, is an interesting record for sure. It was recorded in the UK actually, at Swamp Studio in July of 1993. At this studio in Great Ellingham, Norfolk, the band worked with Howard Turner s sound engineer and Michel Belan as producer.

The songs on the record are “HP”, “Sur ta Bouche”, “Allons Voir”, “Happy Hour”, “Jardin Fantastique”, “Flic Flac”, “La Lune”, “A La Dérive”, “Dans l’Air (Live, Le Plan, Ris Orangis, 1994):”, “Sur les Quais (Live le Plan 1994)”, “Démons et Merveilles (Live le Plan 1994) and “Derrière la porte (Live Le Plan 1994)”.

The band was formed by  Jean Daniel Domenech on vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica and accordion, Yann Bailay on electric guitar and keyboards, Jean-Philippe Bailay on bass and André ‘Dedé’ Domenech on drums. Was it then, two set of brothers? Would be good to know.

Also on this record Dominic Hopkins and Jack Matthew played strings.

Other than this tape album the band appeared on a couple of compilation tapes. In 1993 they had the song “Dans l’Air” on “Simple as Them”, a tape released by Ora Pro Nobis (OPN 9303) in France.

The next year, 1994, their song “Au Hasard” was on “Quality Sweet” released by Pâte A Modeler (001) in France and the song “Sur Ta Bouche” on “Des Gens Simples” tape released by Ora Pro Nobis (OPN 9402).

Back to the album. On their Bandcamp there are a few reviews including two at Les Inrockuptibles, one at Charivari! and another at Les Jolies Mélodies.

Very cool sounding band for sure. A very good discovery. I knew them by name as I had looked into the “Quality Sweet” compilation as I have featured a few bands that have appeared on it, but never heard Tous les Cactus until today.

I definitely want to hear more. And learn more about them! French friends, please share any details you might have! Where in France were they from? Did they play much live? Why no more records?!

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Listen
Tous les Cactus – La Lune

13
Nov

Some time ago I interviewed Mark Turrell from the band Evergreen Dazed. This was a duo formed by Mark and Elizabeth that was active in the early 90s in London. They released a few records during their time.

I had asked Mark about previous bands he had been in. He mentioned that he had been in many since 1984 but he didn’t share any names. This is what he told me:

I’ve been in bands since I started at university in 1984. The first one was with my housemates. None of us could play very well so we used to improvise in the basement and record it on a boom box. It’s terrible, but I still have the tapes. There was student band night in May 1986, so we learned 6 obscure indie covers and played them in front of 800 students. We weren’t very good, but that was my first gig! After university I was in a slew of bands with my friends back where I grew up in Leicester UK. I had an electric guitar and a Boss drum machine, another friend had drums, another had a bass and bought a 4 track  recorder, and  that’s where I  learned my songwriting and recording chops. That would be 1987-91. I played gigs and there are loads of 4 track recordings, one or two are on youtube/soundcloud but none of them will ever be officially released. One of my oldest friends from this time is Neil Carlill who went on to be in Delicatessen and have brief UK chart success in indie supergroup Lodger. We grew up in the same village and I was in the same school year as his brother for a while until  their parents sent them off to Catholic school. We were in bands together on and off for 5 years until we went our respective ways.

Well that is true, some of these recordings are in Soundcloud/Youtube. And as I am quite slow at going through these, it was only today that I heard of his project The Burton Diaries.

In this band he was with Neil Carlill who he mentions. Also on the band was Kevin Carlill. Were they brothers? In any case I’ve found one song they recorded, “Crying Eyes“, which is ace. On this song, recorded in 1989/1990 as an 8 track demo, we find Kevin doing vocals, Neil guitar and Mark bass.

From what I understand, in this period Mark lived in East Goscote in Leicestershire. Leicester is the closest city. Maybe that’s where this band was based?

I don’t have much more info on this project. Did they play live? Are there any other recordings? Maybe I should ask Mark…

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Listen
The Burton Diaries – Crying Eyes

09
Nov

The Foots! Time to head to Melbourne, Australia, to the late 90s, early 2000s.

The band started after the short-lived band Jake was no more. This band featured Jane McCraken and Eva Sommerfeld, as well as Andrea Vendy and Kirsty Stegwazi, hence the name Jake, an acronym from the band member’s first names.

The Foots would have Jane and Eva in their ranks, and a third member, Stanley Paulzen (ex-Tlot Tlot) on drums. Eva was on bass and vocals while Jane on guitar and vocals. Both of the girls would be the songwriters.

In 1998 they released their first album on tape titled “Pegs”. It was self-released and included 8 songs, “Dancing”, “Pardon Me”, “Andrew” and “Geraniums” on the A side and “Both the Same”, “Snowdropper”, “Sixty-Seven” and “Popular” on the B side. The songs were recorded on January of 98 by Dave Nelson at Nelsonics studios in Melbourne.

There is a second tape album called “Ponchos”. I haven’t found any information about it yet.

In 1998 the band contributes the song “Geraniums” and “Andrew” to “Clippings – A Candle Record Collection” (CAN2501), a CD compilation put out by Candle Records

The band would sign to the Lost & Lonesome label and release two albums afterwards. You can find both of the albums on the label’s Bandcamp.

The third album was self-titled. It came out in the year 1999 with catalog number L&L 001. It was the first release on the label.

It was recorded in October 1999 at Nelsonics in Melbourne. Dave Nelson was the engineer and he mixed the tracks. This time the drummer was changed, now we find Colleen Keeffe. Also their former band mate Kirtsy Stegwazi plays cello on the song “Another World”.

The songs on this record were “It’s About Time”, “Fickle”, “Saturday”, “December”, “Another World”, “Happened Again”, “All Smiles”, “The New You”, “Only Just”, “Liar”, “Angelo” and “Darling”.

The next year, 2000, the band would appear on a rare 7″. “New Years Eve @ The Punters” was released to celebrate the New Years Eve gig in Melbourne at this venue, The Punters. Three bands appear on it, Sleepy Township on the A side and The Foots and The Lucksmiths on the B side.

The Foots contribute the song “Totally” that was mixed by Andrew Withycombe from The Ampersands, Hydroplane, The Cat’s Miaow, The Hanshalf Trio, and more and recorded by Mark Monnone from The Lucksmiths in Colleen’s kitchen.

The fourth album, also released on CD as the previous one, was called “Again…“. This had the catalog number L&L004 and came out on April 2001. On this record we find 11 tracks, “Totally”, “Fairy Story”, “Genius”, “Unshakable”, “Hardly Breathing”, “Return the Favour”, “Where We Met”, “Good Thought”, “Geraniums”, “Seventeen” and “Murky Water”. Again it was recorded at Nelsonics with David Nelson.

This record features Janelle Johnston on guitar on “Unshakable” and “Return the Favour”, Kirsty Stegwazi on cello on “Unshakable” and “Geraniums” and Barb Waters on banjo on “Good Thought”.

This same year, 2001, we see the song “Pardon Me” on “Will There Be Time for Tea?” a CD compilation on the US label Morgan Leah Records (Morgan 348). Also, they are on “A Very Steady Christmas!”, a 7″ comp by Steady Cam Records (SCAM 9812) from Australia. They appear on the B side with the song “December” which was recorded by Graeme Cameron and mixed by Anthony Paine. The other bands on this 7″, limited to 300-copies, were Bidston Moss, Soap Star Joe and Twelve42.

We know the band toured south-east Australia as well as New Zealand.

The three members would later collaborate in the band Fibrotown. Eva would also appear in other bands like Slurper, Hurdy Gurdy and Fricken. Jane would be on The Kicksilvers.

What else do people remember from The Foots. I am curious about gigs. Which towns did they play? How did their particular sound work live?

Any details will be appreciated!

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Listen
The Foots – Fickle

06
Nov

There are a bunch of groups on Facebook I follow. One of my favourites is the Bull & Gate Memories. Why? Well, there’s always posts about bands I’ve never heard about or flyers from halcyon days. Memorabilia from a bygone era. Yes, it is not exclusively indiepop. In general it is not indiepop, there’s tons of pop-punk or goth for example. But that’s ok.

The Bull & Gate pub has changed a lot since the 80s. Nowadays it looks like a total different thing. Hard to imagine what it was. You can book a table and watch the Premier League. It looks pretty and photogenic. Back int he 80s it was one of the most important London venues for up and coming indie bands.

The Timebox was a club night that run throughout 1986 and 1987 in this pub. The Timebox was captained by Joe Beast and I would recommend checking out the photography book “Bull & Gate – The Timebox 1986/1987” published back in 2010 by Mick Mercer. On it you’ll find photos by bands like The Black Cillas, Jim Jiminee, The Primitives and more.

It is actually thanks to Mick Mercer, said to be the longest running Goth and Post-Punk writer in the world, that I find out about Call Dr Bunny.

He shared a flyer from November 1986 for The Timebox. There I noticed the name Call Dr Bunny among the bands playing Timebox Two. What was Timebox Two? All right, it was one of the two Timebox clubs. The Timebox was the main one at the Bull and Gate and then there was Timebox Two which happened at The Union Tavern on Camberwell New Road. Closest station was Oval. Nowadays there is a The Union Tavern but located somewhere else, all the way in Clerkenwell.

I think I’ve written a bit about the scene, but barely anything about the band. Well, let’s see what I can say.

The band supported The Birdhouse on November 19th at Timebox Two. The other bands on the lineup are The Mock Turtles and Clay People.

Other than that flyer I find a video on Youtube! Them playing live at the Timebox Two! Must be the same gig?!

There is just one piece of info on the description, Mike Ellard on drums and Tim Cherrett on bass. On the video though I see there are two guitar players and a female vocalist. So we are missing three names.

The band does announce the name of some songs. I hope I get them right. I believe they were called “This Last Night”, “Notting Hill Mind”, “I Should Care” and “Ordinary People”.

In keep digging, searching for the two names i have. I find out, on the same Youtube channel, that Mike continued making music as a drummer. He was in a band called Tiger Lilly and Jitterbug Bites.

Searching Tim Cherrett I find a retired office worker that is proud of his passion for running. Could it be the same Tim?

I can’t find any other music connections for these names. And nothing about Call Dr Bunny. Did they record any music? Any demos?

Would be fantastic to learn more. Who remembers them?

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Listen
Call Dr Bunny – Notting Hill Mind (live at Timebox Two)

02
Nov

Roland Last on guitar and vocals, Paul Wilson on keyboards and backing vocals, John Hutchinson on bass and Kris Helstom on drums. That was the lineup of the mid/late eighties Canadian band Red Sweater.

The band was active between the fall of 1987 and during 1988.

Paul Wilson, the keyboardist, uploaded 8 years ago 9 recordings by Red Sweater, that’s how I discovered them. You can find them on Soundcloud.

These songs are “Somehow”, “Sophistication”, “Into You”, “Something About You”, “Dreamline”, “I Wanted You”, “New Direction”, “First Impression” and “Panic War”.

What we know about them is that Paul and Roland met in high school and started a band. Eventually that band broke but several years later, Kris, another high school friend, got in touch and suggested forming a new band for a single performance.  This first performance saw Roland on vocals and guitar, Paul on keyboards, Kris on drums and another friend, Scott Campbell on keyboards.

Scott would leave the band to join Common Language and it was decided that another high school friend, John Hutchinson who was returning after being out of town for several years, was the bassist they needed.

Sadly I can’t seem to find where in Canada they were based. I believe Roland is now in Paris, Ontario. The closest biggest city is Hamilton. Toronto is also sort of close, but not too close. Maybe they were from Toronto?

There’s not much more info on the web about them. Would be great to find more info if anyone has any!

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Listen
Red Sweater – Into You

30
Oct

Here’s a bunch of recordings by an early 90s band that I had never heard before, Leaf!

The Soundcloud account has a ton of goodies from demos and rehearsal tapes. These were all uploaded 11 years ago.

The account owner doesn’t give away his name. He calls himself the Leafy Leafster. But he does share a biography for the band. A short one:

Leaf was a band I was in from about 1990 to 1995. There were two different incarnations and the only consistent members were me and John Orion (Jorion) Shaw, who passed away in 2007. The first incarnation was actually a reforming of a band called The Natural Order of Things, which was formed by Derek Vanderhorst (who went on to be a sound designer and has worked on literally dozens of major films) and managed by Les Garland (the founder of MTV). Les’ girlfriend Paris was our lead singer and we went through a number of different bass players and drummers. Paris was commuting back and forth between Los Angeles (where the band was) and Miami (where she lived with Les). Eventually that became as ridiculous as it sounds and we replaced Paris with John Shaw and renamed the band Leaf.

That is quite interesting. We have a name, John Orion Shaw. Sadly, as mentioned, he passed away. But I’ll have a look.

It is interesting though the connection with MTV. Right?

Anyhow, we do know a little bit more. We know what recordings each incarnation of Leaf left us.

The first one did demo recordings at Gasoline Alley Records (MCA) in 1992. These include: “Pail and Rag”, “Fragile Nothing”, “Window Scarlet Grey”, “The Beautiful”, “Making of it All”, “Single White Reptile”, “Undefined Belief”, “Death of the Everyman”, “Butterfly”, “Injesting Self”, “Idolize”, “The Warmth of Melancholy”, “Rejoice to be Believed” and “Fear and Trembling”.

For the second incarnation we get a little bit more info:

After we were dropped from Gasoline Alley Records (or, more accurately, they stopped returning our calls) our drummer and bass player left and we started looking for new members. John and I knew Rani and Gil Sharone from a summer camp we were working at. They were both about 17 at the time, but obviously very talented (they have since gone on to form Stolen Babies and work on a number of composing and studio projects). Derek decided to move on to other things, but John and I wanted to keep the band together, so we started playing with Rani and Gil and then recruited John Sherwood (who I played with in an earlier band) to play guitar.

The first four songs in this set were recorded with film composer Michel Colombier in his studio – he was working on an instructional DVD series about how to form a band and used us as the sample band (not sure if he ever finished it). The last three are fairly low quality rehersal tapes – I believe recorded on a boom box stuck in a corner of the rehearsal studio.

The recordings from this time include “Twice the Length of My Will”, “Butterfly”, “Flame”, “Seeding the Clouds” and the four songs from rehearsal tapes “I Dig the Light”, “Sideways Glance” and “Injesting Self”.

I google for Gil Sharone. And says he was the drummer of Marilyn Manson. I am not sure what to say about that. I don’t rate highly that music. But I suppose for a drummer that would be a good opportunity? I don’t know. In any case it seems he left his post as his drummer in 2019.

Rani Sharone, as mentioned was on Stolen Babies. I wasn’t aware of this band. It seems it is a heavy metal band from what I’m reading.

This happens a lot in the U.S., where musicians can switch easily between genres, right? It is interesting.

I couldn’t find much more about the band. I think it would be fantastic if anyone knows who the lead person in Leaf was. They had some very good tunes, Smiths-influenced, that would be great to know more details about them.

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Listen
Leaf – Window Scarlet Grey