The Sound/Adrian Borland

[Guillaume]

Today i had a good news on my Facebook page!:

there's a project of a french book about three bands: The Chameleons, The Opposition and The Sound!
The writer loves these bands and thinks they are underrated so his book will be a kind of tribute to their works.

[Guillaume]

From “Stichting Opposite Direction” on the Adrian Borland WALKING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION documentary page on Facebook:

Now that all the hard work has been done - sourcing the original tapes, digitising and processing them to get the best possible sound quality, designing the packaging and setting the release date, we are proud to announce the last OFFICIAL (double) album by The Sound to be released on the label of Sounds Haarlem Likes Vinyl
Featuring the final studio recordings of previously unreleased material and live performances of known and less well known songs, all expertly mastered for this event by Stefan Bornhorst of IN2THESOUND , the results will be dropped in November of this year.
On both vinyl and CD., the release features specially commissioned photography and sponsored artwork plus extensive and informative liner notes from drummer MIke Dudley
WATCH THIS SPACE!

Jean-Paul van Mierlo / Mike Dudley.


 

[Johnz]

From “Stichting Opposite Direction” on the Adrian Borland WALKING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION documentary page on Facebook:

Now that all the hard work has been done - sourcing the original tapes, digitising and processing them to get the best possible sound quality, designing the packaging and setting the release date, we are proud to announce the last OFFICIAL (double) album by The Sound to be released on the label of Sounds Haarlem Likes Vinyl
Featuring the final studio recordings of previously unreleased material and live performances of known and less well known songs, all expertly mastered for this event by Stefan Bornhorst of IN2THESOUND , the results will be dropped in November of this year.
On both vinyl and CD., the release features specially commissioned photography and sponsored artwork plus extensive and informative liner notes from drummer MIke Dudley
WATCH THIS SPACE!

Oh that sounds good. I have to look out for that. It's a shame that Adrian Borland didn't live to see the appreciation that The Sound are  finally getting.

Jean-Paul van Mierlo / Mike Dudley.


 

[Guillaume]

If only they could release blu ray/dvds of The Sound's concerts, and why not the famous IN THE HOTHOUSE...but i'm not sure that this concert was filmed/shot in 1985, unfortunately. 

It's a shame that Adrian Borland didn't live to see the appreciation that The Sound are  finally getting.

Yes it's terrible...

[Guillaume]

His solo stuff is more patchy but there are lots of great songs in there.

I really like that one, "Darkest heart":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJlEddgesLo&ab_channel=AdrianBorland-Topic

It makes me think of Jim Kerry/Simple Minds!

[Guillaume]

I remember an interview where he claimed that Bono had stolen all his ideas.

They're talking about it in the "Walking in the opposite direction" documentary. Very good documentary, by the way. I was very moved when we hear during the end credits the sensational live version of "Winning"...after this nuanced and moving portrait/picture of who Adrian was according to his family and friends, this last song really hits hard in the heart and soul!

[Guillaume]

The Sound – Will And Testament

CD and Vinyl record can now be ordered in presale by sending an email to SoundsHaarlem: soundshaarlem@gmail.com
The CD will be shipped the week of November 26, Black Friday.
Due to lack of raw materials, the vinyl record cannot be delivered until later this year or early next year.
Price: 2CD: Euro 24.99
Price: 2LP: Euro 34.99
The Opposite Direction Foundation and Sounds Haarlem Like Vinyl proudly present a 'new' album by the legendary British post-punk band The Sound. The double album Will And Testament contains live and demo recordings from the later period of the band that was active from London during most of the 1980s. The live recordings - including private recordings of a concert in Amsterdam's Paradiso in December 1987 and considered by the band members themselves to be one of their best and most intense performances – differ completely from the only official live album In The Hothouse (1985) and even contain two unknown songs. The demo recordings consist of four unreleased songs, released as bonus cd 'Starlight' and as side 4 'Starlight' on the vinyl album. Will And Testament was compiled by The Sound drummer Mike Dudley who also wrote the liner notes and supervised the superior mastering of the recordings that sometimes needed a quite some polishing. After The Sound's most famous album From The Lions Mouth (1981), the double LP and CD again received a painting by Briton Rivière on the cover.





Adrian Borland – 2 Meter Sessions 1987 – 1995
CD and Vinyl record can now be ordered in presale by sending an email to SoundsHaarlem: soundshaarlem@gmail.com
The CD will be shipped the week of November 26, Black Friday.
Due to lack of raw materials, the vinyl record cannot be delivered until later this year or early next year.
Price: CD: Euro 19.99
Price: 2LP: Euro 34.99
The recordings made by British artist and songwriter Adrian Borland for the Dutch radio and television program 2 Meter de Lucht In have an almost legendary status. With acoustic guitar, surrounded by small ensembles and under the admiring eye of radio and television maker and presenter Jan Douwe Kroeske, the magic was often not tangible during intimate performances of The Sounds songs such as Silent Air and Winning and the repertoire of his albums. after The Sound broke up in 1988.
The double album 2 Meter Sessions 1987 – 1995 brings together the complete recordings, which span about eight years between the last The Sound's album Thunder Up (1987) and Borland's album Cinematic (1996), for the first time on vinyl and CD, released by Stichting Opposite Direction in collaboration with Sounds Haarlem Likes Vinyl.

[Johnz]

Nice! All of that stuff is available on the internet but it will be nice to get good recordings of those songs. Things were definitely getting a bit more patchy towards the end but still lot of great songs.

[Guillaume]

The early Sound stuff is my favourite; From The Lions Mouth is a great album. I also love Shock of Daylight.

Last days i was listening again and again to "Silent air", what a song, the voice is incredible, so moving..also "Judgement" (the keyboard in that final part!) and "A new way of life" (the guitar solo at the end!!) on SHOCK OF DAYLIGHT are both brillant. On ALL FALL DOWN and HEADS AND HEARTS i also forgot to add that i really like "Love is not a ghost"  and "We could go far"...HEADS AND HEARTS is less raw, less edgy than THe Sound's early albums but still a very good 80's album i think.
I'm registered on "the Sound & Second layer" Facebook page created by Graham Bailey the bass player of The Sound and he said on this page that ALL FALL DOWN was his favourite album from the band.

Oh lots more to be discovered. I think the first three albums are all wonderful.

Try Tears from Strange Times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLwtnH2nhII

Perfume Garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KueYEPOBzfU

Intrigue in Tangiers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkGns3eCZw0

Both from What Does Anything Mean, Basically.

I'm a big "fan" now of the song "Soul in isolation"...like Adrian Borland's songs i think that it is painful and poignant to listen to, but it's still beautiful, and epic...like for Borland i had/have a kind of teary eyed emotional reaction when i listened/listen to this kind of songs! 

[Johnz]

Last days i was listening again and again to "Silent air", what a song, the voice is incredible, so moving..also "Judgement" (the keyboard in that final part!) and "A new way of life" (the guitar solo at the end!!) on SHOCK OF DAYLIGHT are both brillant. On ALL FALL DOWN and HEADS AND HEARTS i also forgot to add that i really like "Love is not a ghost"  and "We could go far"...HEADS AND HEARTS is less raw, less edgy than THe Sound's early albums but still a very good 80's album i think.
I'm registered on "the Sound & Second layer" Facebook page created by Graham Bailey the bass player of The Sound and he said on this page that ALL FALL DOWN was his favourite album from the band.

Silent Air is a great song. I love the acoustic version from the 2 Meter Sessions too. I also love We Could Go Far. One of their best base lines, I think. All Fall Down may be my favourite album, too. But there is something about Shock of Daylight that makes it stand out for me. Heads and Hearts is not as immediate but also has plenty of great songs on it. I always loved Temperature Drop which was never a fan favourite despite being a single at teh time.

I'm a big "fan" now of the song "Soul in isolation"...like Adrian Borland's songs i think that it is painful and poignant to listen to, but it's still beautiful, and epic...like for Borland i had/have a kind of teary eyed emotional reaction when i listened/listen to this kind of songs!

Soul in Isolation is great. I adore the Chameleons. Script of the Bridge is one of my all-time favourite albums and Second Skin is one of my all-time favourite songs. It usually tops most fans' list. Their songs are often not immediate so gibe it a few more listens.

Second Skin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldLk0rQORHY

Monkeyland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcEK6uTAezs

Home is Where the Heart is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-3v2rtWgCM

I will go and check out that Sound Facebook page.

[Guillaume]

But there is something about Shock of Daylight that makes it stand out for me. Heads and Hearts is not as immediate but also has plenty of great songs on it. I always loved Temperature Drop which was never a fan favourite despite being a single at teh time.

On "Shock of daylight" i never tire of "Longest days", wonderful song with its "sensual" great bass line, guitar, voice and melodies.  And i forgot "Temperature Drop", another very good song. Graham Bailey said on his Facebook page about "The Sound and 2nd Layer" that The Sound wasn't a "singles" band, they were more focused on releasing albums on the whole than focus on singles here and there. But like NMA, because of the bands great catchy melodies and fine lyrics, many of their songs could have been major hits in the charts!
The major company releasing "From the lion's mouth" and "All fall down" was also more focused on promoting/marketing Echo & The Bunnymen, at the time.
 

[Johnz]

Just got Adrian Borland's Lovefield: Neon and Stone. I didn't realize that it's a completely different album from Lovefield. I'm a bit confused by this but I really like it.

You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06_g0Wv_AkE&list=OLAK5uy_mqAWBe4_CFRqTL-LCd_ydfWGKHQBnPCJ4&index=7

[Guillaume]

Just got Adrian Borland's Lovefield: Neon and Stone. I didn't realize that it's a completely different album from Lovefield. I'm a bit confused by this but I really like it.

You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06_g0Wv_AkE&list=OLAK5uy_mqAWBe4_CFRqTL-LCd_ydfWGKHQBnPCJ4&index=7

Thanks for the link. "Summer road" is pretty good. Adrian's voice for me was a mix of Jim Kerr, Bono and Jim Morrisson!

Since my last post a few months ago, others songs of The Sound i really enjoyed to listen endlessly are "Judgement" and "A new way of life" but i think that my big favourites will always be "Winning", "Total recall", "You've got a way", "Silent air", "Longest days", "Under you" and "Where the love is". They were really a great underrated band. I like them much more than Echo & the Bunnymen for example but it's funny how the fantastic "Total recall" sounds a bit like their "Killing moon"!

[Guillaume]

The Sound ten best songs!:

https://medium.com/@nikolajandersen_42369/the-ten-best-songs-of-the-sound-5019f8874ce8

[marius]

Yep great songs. "Winning" would be my number 1