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Originally signed to Cherry Red in 1981, Eyeless in Gaza moved very quickly through four albums of skewed free-pop explorations to become the intriguing, uncomfortable cousin of the brash new wave sound finding its way into the mainstream at the time.
Picture a place where scratchy guitars, synthesisers, primitive rhythms, found sounds, technical experimentation and neo-noise come together to provide a bed for the poetic, exploratory lyrics of Martyn Bates. Oblique, anxious, difficult in places and beautifully detached, their sound captured perfectly the beauty to be found if one cared to rummage through the rubble of a Britain in the midst of industrial collapse.
Produced with the approval and involvement of the band, and spread across 4CDs presented in a hard clamshell case, this set captures Eyeless In Gaza’s first four albums, along with a band compiled set of non-album essentials and oddities and a sleevenote by Martyn Bates.
♣ Four albums originally released in 1981-1982
♣ Singles and rarities collection
♣ LP replica wallets
♣ Band sleevenotes
♣ 69 tracks
A classic part of the early Cherry Red catalogue, Eyeless In Gaza continue to be influential today and are often namechecked as a key influence by artists from across the musical spectrum.
Tracklist
DISC ONE:
PHOTOGRAPHS AS MEMORIES
1 SEVEN YEARS
2 FIXATION
3 LOOKING DAGGERS
4 FROM A TO B
5 CLEAR CUT APPARENTLY
6 SPEECH RAPID FIRE
7 JOHN OF PATMOS
8 KNIVES REPLACE AIR
9 FACELESS
10 IN YOUR PAINTING
11 A KEEPSAKE
12 WHITEWASH
13 NO NOISE
DISC TWO:
CAUGHT IN FLUX /
THE EYES OF BEAUTIFUL LOSERS EP
1 SIXTH SENSE
2 POINT YOU
3 VOICE FROM THE TRACKS
4 SCALE AMISS
5 THE DECORATION
6 CONTINUAL
7 SOUL ON THIN ICE
8 ROSE PETAL KNOT
9 SKELETAL FRAMEWORK
10 SEE RED
11 HALF-LIGHT
12 EVERY WHICH WAY
13 THE EYES OF BEAUTIFUL LOSERS
14 STILL AIR
15 OUT FROM THE DAY-TO-DAY
16 TRUE COLOUR
17 KEYNOTE INERTIA
DISC THREE:
DRUMMING THE BEATING HEART
1 TRANSIENCE BLUES
2 ILL WIND BLOWS
3 ONE BY ONE
4 PICTURE THE DAY
5 DREAMING AT RAIN
6 TWO
7 VEIL LIKE CALM
8 THROW A SHADOW
9 PENCIL SKETCH
10 AT ARMS LENGTH
11 LIGHTS OF APRIL
12 BEFORE YOU GO
PALE HANDS I LOVED SO WELL
13 TALL AND WHITE NETTLES
14 WARM BREATH, SOFT AND SLOW
15 BLUE DISTANCE
16 SHEER CLIFFS
17 FALLING LEAF/FADING FLOWER
18 GOODBYE TO SUMMER
19 LIES OF LOVE
20 TO ELLEN
21 PALE SAINTS
22 LETTERS TO SHE
23 LIGHT SLIDING
24 BIG CLIPPER SHIP
DISC FOUR:
RECOLLECTIONS AND RARITIES (CURATED BY EYELESS IN GAZA)
1 SCENT ON EVENING AIR
2 DRUMMING THE BEATING HEART
3 YOU FRIGHTEN
4 THROUGH EASTFIELDS
5 THREE KITTENS
6 JANE, DANCING
7 INVISIBILITY
8 THE FEELING’S MUTUAL
9 EVERPRESENT
10 DUSKY RUTH
11 OTHERS
12 CHINA BLUE VISION
13 KODAK GHOSTS RUN AMOK
14 PLAGUE OF YEARS
15 TAKING STEPS
16 AVENUE WITH TREES