As you can probably tell, we’re a wee bit obsessed with the British post-punk movement of the ’80s. But it’s hard to blame us, especially when you consider that the U.K. was popping out a great new guitar band every two days during that period. This week’s object of desire is the Comsat Angels, a Sheffield outfit that released three stellar albums (Waiting For A Miracle, Sleep No More, and Fiction) between 1981 and 1983, and yet barely got a foothold in America. Thankfully, much of the band’s back catalog has finally been reissued, meaning that tightly wound numbers like “Eye Of The Lens” and “Independence Day” finally have a shot at finding a stateside audience:
The Comsat Angels – Eye Of The Lens [MP3, link expired]
The Comsat Angels – Independence Day [MP3, link expired]
“Independence Day” is TEH SHIT. Nice post.
Did those reissues actually get a formal release here, then? I thought it was just still through Renascent on import, unless someone’s worked out an iTunes deal or something. (Fantastic band in any event, etc. etc.)
I’ve kept those three albums on vinyl for 27 years or so (and the 12″ of “eye of the lens”) and have been waiting for a CD release. Also worth checking out for a perfect example of the C.S.A sound is the 7′ single “Do The Empty House” I saw the Angels opening for U2 at the University of East Anglia in late 81 or early 82. Without the killer Pete Wilson drum sound, they didn’t quite measure up to the recordings. At least no one will have to put up with the old “yea the records were OK , but they never captured the real live energy of the band” chestnut, the records are the best exampales of what the band could do.