Hello,
Today's artists are a Los Angeles based post-punk trio active in the mid to late 1980s. The lineup consisted of Chris Manecke (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Kevin Dolan (drums) and John Blake (bass). They specialized in reverb heavy, synth driven post-punk songs..... ..............N'Joy
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Most people will recognize Abecedarians from their single 80’s hit called “Smiling Monarchs.” The original band formed in 1983 in Los Angeles and consisted of Chris Manecke (guitar, vocals, keyboards), John Blake (bass), and Kevin Dolan (drums). “Smiling Monarchs” was mixed by Bernard Sumner of New Order and released on Factory Records. The New Order influence is apparent in the prominent use of synthesizer, the magnitude of which is not heard in any of the band’s subsequent recordings. This debut track became instantly popular and is featured on many 80’s various artist collections.
Abecedarians have roots in both post-punk and atmospheric 4AD pop, much like the Joy Division/New Order axis. The group first appeared along with fellow Southern Californian bands Jane's Addiction and Kommunity Fk on the Scream compilation, signing to England's Factory label for the single "Smiling Monarchs" in 1985. Abecedarians moved to Caroline one year later for debut album Eureka, and Ab-CD Resin followed in 1988. Two compilations have since been released: The Other Side of the Fence (which collects unavailable early demo tracks on a 10" record) and Ab-CD Resin, which is the album to get considering it collects virtually all of Eureka and Ab-CD Resin, plus the Factory single.
The Abecedarians sound is characterized by lead-man Manecke's deep, rich and distinctive vocal delivery and idiosyncratic lyrics; along with guitarwork that swims in a gravy-like sea of reverb. the rhythm section is a sturdy, restrained anchor for the atmospherics their songs swim in, with the occassional synth part thrown into the mix for good measure. The band would alternate between more upbeat, poppy, synth-driven post-punk and slower, sludgier, and decidedly stranger dirgelike material. although they made a couple of great pop songs, it's the latter category of their material i find the most intriguing.
Their first official release was the 12" single "Smiling Monarchs" on Factory. One of the few American bands to be featured by the label, the single was even mixed by Bernard Sumner of New Order. This is probably why it leans so heavily towards a NO-style sound, and is in fact a bit uncharacteristic of the band. the single has highly processed guitar, and makes them out to be a synth-pop group. it has few of the characterisitics that made them special and unique, and i personally find it a bit grating, even. tragic, really, given the profile it could have given them. they would then go on to release a couple of records on Caroline, make the scattered compilation appearance, and in the ensuing years slowly but surely peter out.
Abecedarians moved to Caroline one year later for their debut EP Eureka. Resin followed in 1987. Two compilations have since been released: AB-CD (1988), which is a collection of nearly all of Eureka and Resin, plus the Factory single “Smiling Monarchs,” and The Other Side of the Fence (which includes unavailable early demo tracks).
Beyond “Smiling Monarchs,” the band had a unique, spare sound that was both genuine and endearing. Chris Manecke’s understated vocals, churning guitar, and accompanying earnest rhythm licks via John Blake’s chugging bass and Kevin Dolan’s thrumming drum kit made the band’s sound larger than a mere trio, yet refreshingly raw รก la garage rock. The lyrics are dark, yet delivered in a way that makes the listener think perhaps the intention is more ironic than morose. There’s no denying Abecedarians’ post-punk roots.
Abecedarians recordings are rare and very hard to get. I have heard from John Blake that a box set is planned for release. No date has been set, but I know that such a release will make a lot of Abecedarians fans very happy. It has been a long wait for those wishing to replace lovingly worn vinyl with updated audio tracks. Here’s hoping the long wait will soon be over.
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The Abecedarians' first full record wore its British influences heavily on its sleeve, so it's no wonder the band had already released a single on Factory Records -- at times, you get the feeling that all three members listened to nothing but Closer and maybe some A Certain Ratio and Crispy Ambulance material when they were first forming the band. Far from being simply copycats, though, the trio brought in a stark emotional and musical sensibility to the realm of American indie-rock of the time, avoiding either post-R.E.M. jangle or incipient punk-grunge snottiness. If anything, their peers were the likes of American Music Club and Thin White Rope, though Eureka's lengthy tracks doesn't quite reach as high as either of those two bands at their finest. Guitarist/vocalist Chris Manecke takes understandable center stage; his stringwork unsurprisingly relies heavily on digital reverb, though that isn't used as a fig leaf to cover inadequacies, as his sharp slashing on songs like "Ghost" demonstrates. As a vocalist, the Ian Curtis/Bernard Sumner style of flat projection is a clear model for Manecke, but so is the quiet intensity of the Comsat Angels' Stephen Fellows and the Sound's Adrian Borland's empathetic passion, making for an attractive overall combination. The crisp interplay of drummer Kevin Dolan and bassist John Blake (the latter of whom throws in some [at times] surprisingly funky fretless work) makes for the perfect counterpart to Manecke. Picking out highlights is a bit hard -- Eureka is consistently strong throughout -- but there are some definite breathtaking moments. "Soil" blends a relentless drive that calls to mind late-'70s Bowie with some truly haunting guitar lines, while the instrumental "The Other Side of the Fence" adds piano and synthesizer to a slightly gentler arrangement to set a definite sense of downbeat mood, much like Joy Division's "The Eternal."
Abecedarians - Eureka (flac 529mb)
01 Ghosts 6:39
02 Soil 7:00
03 Beneath The City Of The Hedonistic Bohemians 4:40
04 I Glide 7:29
05 Mice & Coconut Tree 4:59
06 Misery Of Cities 5:49
07 Smiling Monarchs 6:48
08 Benway's Carnival 5:12
09 Switch 4:52
10 Other Side Of The Fence 4:09
11 They Said Tomorrow 5:09
12 Wildflower 4:19
13 John's Pop 3:15
14 Spaghetti Western 5:55
Abecedarians - Eureka (ogg 181mb)
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"A little more conventionally rocking than the spare impact of Eureka, Resin maintains the same level of punch and post-punk emotionalism which characterizes the Abecedarians' sound, resulting in another miniclassic to go alongside the earlier record. At a few points, Manecke's lyrics don't quite connect as they should -- while the delivery of "Dinner" is marvelous, as is the nervous crawl of the music, the lyrical combination of religion, sex and food is a bit tortured as the song progresses. This said, it's all about the general ambience to begin with, and on that level the Abecedarians are again flawless, bringing a haunting darkness to just about everything they do. Though the bandmembers work with a different engineer here than any of the three which helped on Eureka, the basic sound of the band remains almost exactly the same, a testament to how clear the trio was about its music. In a neat development, a little bit of humor creeps into things as well on Resin. The self-explanatory "Spaghetti Western," with Manecke delivering a great Morricone impersonation on guitar while archly singing about sheriffs shooting down best friends and waiting for the hangman's noose -- it's clearly not meant to be taken seriously, and helps in considering the rest of the album with a slightly lighter eye as well, especially considering other tracks are called "Sufferin' Tarnation (Surf Western)" and "Where Whitie Ain't Allowed," an instrumental aside from the movie sample which provides the title. It isn't all fun and games, though, and on songs like the forceful "Press Escape," where the sly computer metaphor of the title hints at the wracked lyrics and strong music of the track, the Abecedarians come into a power all their own.
Abecedarians - Resin (flac 264mb)
01 Dinner 4:48
02 Spaghetti Western 6:24
03 Where Whitie Ain't Allowed 3:52
04 Wild Flowers Grow From the Trash 4;19
05 Press Escape 5:00
06 Laugh at Yourself 3:36
07 Sufferin' Tarnation 3:16
08 Panic in Needle Park 6:51
Abecedarians - Resin (ogg 93mb)
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This 2x10" vinyl was released in a numbered edition of 1750 copies. Quite rare then and in more ways than one. the only american band to be signed by the Manchester based Factory Records label this release comprises of early demos (from '83-'85) It's the the best of the genre with a deep post-punk mood coupled with a west-coast groove. This split personality manifests itself in a variety of unique ways from the driving rythmns, twangy guitars and snaking bass-lines of post-punk to the ethereal vocal delivery and unorthodox compositions of the new-wave, never forgetting the easy groove that places this band as pure los angelenos. the schizophrenia also translates into the nature of the songs (i guess being a collection of demos a cohesive thread was never likely to run through the compilation) we have moody stuff, happy stuff, dancy stuff, groovy stuff, hard stuff, soft stuff, transatlantic stuff, eastern stuff, we get all kinds of instrumentation from drum machines and synths to real drums and guitars and exotic instruments - all handled in refreshing ways. This collection is all over the place then but i think that is why i like it and if you are looking to check out this band this album would be the perfect place to start as a fan of new wave and post punk this release stands comparison with the best of the genre with a deep post-punk mood coupled with a west-coast groove. This split personality manifests itself in a variety of unique ways from the driving rythmns, twangy guitars and snaking bass-lines of post-punk to the ethereal vocal delivery and unorthodox compositions of the new-wave, never forgetting the easy groove that places this band as pure los angelenos. the schizophrenia also translates into the nature of the songs (i guess being a collection of demos a cohesive thread was never likely to run through the compilation) we have moody stuff, happy stuff, dancy stuff, groovy stuff, hard stuff, soft stuff, transatlantic stuff, eastern stuff, we get all kinds of instrumentation from drum machines and synths to real drums and guitars and exotic instruments - all handled in refreshing ways. this collection is all over the place then but i think that is why i like it and if you are looking to check out this band this album would be the perfect place to start.
Abecedarians - The Other Side Of The Fence (flac 315mb)
01 Beneath the City of the Hedonistic Bohemians 4:41
02 Ghosts 5:57
03 John's Pop 3:10
04 Come On 4:43
05 Classic 3:32
06 Spaghetti Western 5:51
07 Switch 4:51
08 Where's Karen 2:35
09 Soil 6:08
10 The Other Side of the Fence 3:57
11 Wildflower 4:15
12 They Said Tomorrow 5:21
Abecedarians - The Other Side Of The Fence (ogg 125mb)
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Something very rare, compiled from a collection of unknown gen cassette tapes and very likely the first representation of this Orange County, California based new wave act on Dime. Although not an obscure band, Abecedarians had a very strong local following, they are best known for two things: the Factory Records 12" single "Smiling Monarchs"; and the total unavailability of their entire back catelogue. Smiling Monarchs is a big nod to 1983-period New Order with a remarkable resemblance to NO's Your Silent Face. By sheer coincidence, the final Factory release of the single was produced by New Order singer, Bernard Sumner. I prefer the demo version included here.
On the whole the band's sound leans more towards other UK acts such as Modern English and B-Movie. However on the more instrumental tracks, such as the Mardis Gras recordings, influences such as Brian Eno and, at times, the Durutti Column are all too evident. In their time, Abecedarians released just one single, Smiling Monarchs, one EP, Eureka and one studio album, Resin. Since their break-up in 1988, two compilations of their work, AB-CD and The Other Side of the Fence have been made available. All of these are long deleted and currently fetch silly money (in excess of $100) on various auction sites.
Abecedarians - Demo Recordings 1983 - 1988 (flac 607mb)
01. Wildflower
02. They Said Tomorrow
Final versions of these tracks eventually found their way on to 'The Other Side of the Fence' compilation.
1984 Factory Demos
03 Smiling Monarchs
04. Benways Carnival
1985 Mardis Gras Demos
05. Mardis Gras
06. untitled
07. untitled
1985 Live
08. Pipe Dream
November 1985 - Eureka Demos
09. Beneath the City of the Hedonistic Bohemians
10. Surf Western
11. The Misery of Cities
12. untitled
13. Hip Hip Hooray
1987 Resin Demos
14. Laugh at Yourself
15. Surf Western
16. Dinner
17. untitled
1988 The Last Demos
18. untitled
19. Lift off
20. untitled
21. untitled
22. Brand New Song
23. untitled
24. untitled
25. Money
Abecedarians - Demo Recordings 1983 - 1988 (ogg 231 mb)
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Today's artists are a Los Angeles based post-punk trio active in the mid to late 1980s. The lineup consisted of Chris Manecke (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Kevin Dolan (drums) and John Blake (bass). They specialized in reverb heavy, synth driven post-punk songs..... ..............N'Joy
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Most people will recognize Abecedarians from their single 80’s hit called “Smiling Monarchs.” The original band formed in 1983 in Los Angeles and consisted of Chris Manecke (guitar, vocals, keyboards), John Blake (bass), and Kevin Dolan (drums). “Smiling Monarchs” was mixed by Bernard Sumner of New Order and released on Factory Records. The New Order influence is apparent in the prominent use of synthesizer, the magnitude of which is not heard in any of the band’s subsequent recordings. This debut track became instantly popular and is featured on many 80’s various artist collections.
Abecedarians have roots in both post-punk and atmospheric 4AD pop, much like the Joy Division/New Order axis. The group first appeared along with fellow Southern Californian bands Jane's Addiction and Kommunity Fk on the Scream compilation, signing to England's Factory label for the single "Smiling Monarchs" in 1985. Abecedarians moved to Caroline one year later for debut album Eureka, and Ab-CD Resin followed in 1988. Two compilations have since been released: The Other Side of the Fence (which collects unavailable early demo tracks on a 10" record) and Ab-CD Resin, which is the album to get considering it collects virtually all of Eureka and Ab-CD Resin, plus the Factory single.
The Abecedarians sound is characterized by lead-man Manecke's deep, rich and distinctive vocal delivery and idiosyncratic lyrics; along with guitarwork that swims in a gravy-like sea of reverb. the rhythm section is a sturdy, restrained anchor for the atmospherics their songs swim in, with the occassional synth part thrown into the mix for good measure. The band would alternate between more upbeat, poppy, synth-driven post-punk and slower, sludgier, and decidedly stranger dirgelike material. although they made a couple of great pop songs, it's the latter category of their material i find the most intriguing.
Their first official release was the 12" single "Smiling Monarchs" on Factory. One of the few American bands to be featured by the label, the single was even mixed by Bernard Sumner of New Order. This is probably why it leans so heavily towards a NO-style sound, and is in fact a bit uncharacteristic of the band. the single has highly processed guitar, and makes them out to be a synth-pop group. it has few of the characterisitics that made them special and unique, and i personally find it a bit grating, even. tragic, really, given the profile it could have given them. they would then go on to release a couple of records on Caroline, make the scattered compilation appearance, and in the ensuing years slowly but surely peter out.
Abecedarians moved to Caroline one year later for their debut EP Eureka. Resin followed in 1987. Two compilations have since been released: AB-CD (1988), which is a collection of nearly all of Eureka and Resin, plus the Factory single “Smiling Monarchs,” and The Other Side of the Fence (which includes unavailable early demo tracks).
Beyond “Smiling Monarchs,” the band had a unique, spare sound that was both genuine and endearing. Chris Manecke’s understated vocals, churning guitar, and accompanying earnest rhythm licks via John Blake’s chugging bass and Kevin Dolan’s thrumming drum kit made the band’s sound larger than a mere trio, yet refreshingly raw รก la garage rock. The lyrics are dark, yet delivered in a way that makes the listener think perhaps the intention is more ironic than morose. There’s no denying Abecedarians’ post-punk roots.
Abecedarians recordings are rare and very hard to get. I have heard from John Blake that a box set is planned for release. No date has been set, but I know that such a release will make a lot of Abecedarians fans very happy. It has been a long wait for those wishing to replace lovingly worn vinyl with updated audio tracks. Here’s hoping the long wait will soon be over.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
The Abecedarians' first full record wore its British influences heavily on its sleeve, so it's no wonder the band had already released a single on Factory Records -- at times, you get the feeling that all three members listened to nothing but Closer and maybe some A Certain Ratio and Crispy Ambulance material when they were first forming the band. Far from being simply copycats, though, the trio brought in a stark emotional and musical sensibility to the realm of American indie-rock of the time, avoiding either post-R.E.M. jangle or incipient punk-grunge snottiness. If anything, their peers were the likes of American Music Club and Thin White Rope, though Eureka's lengthy tracks doesn't quite reach as high as either of those two bands at their finest. Guitarist/vocalist Chris Manecke takes understandable center stage; his stringwork unsurprisingly relies heavily on digital reverb, though that isn't used as a fig leaf to cover inadequacies, as his sharp slashing on songs like "Ghost" demonstrates. As a vocalist, the Ian Curtis/Bernard Sumner style of flat projection is a clear model for Manecke, but so is the quiet intensity of the Comsat Angels' Stephen Fellows and the Sound's Adrian Borland's empathetic passion, making for an attractive overall combination. The crisp interplay of drummer Kevin Dolan and bassist John Blake (the latter of whom throws in some [at times] surprisingly funky fretless work) makes for the perfect counterpart to Manecke. Picking out highlights is a bit hard -- Eureka is consistently strong throughout -- but there are some definite breathtaking moments. "Soil" blends a relentless drive that calls to mind late-'70s Bowie with some truly haunting guitar lines, while the instrumental "The Other Side of the Fence" adds piano and synthesizer to a slightly gentler arrangement to set a definite sense of downbeat mood, much like Joy Division's "The Eternal."
Abecedarians - Eureka (flac 529mb)
01 Ghosts 6:39
02 Soil 7:00
03 Beneath The City Of The Hedonistic Bohemians 4:40
04 I Glide 7:29
05 Mice & Coconut Tree 4:59
06 Misery Of Cities 5:49
07 Smiling Monarchs 6:48
08 Benway's Carnival 5:12
09 Switch 4:52
10 Other Side Of The Fence 4:09
11 They Said Tomorrow 5:09
12 Wildflower 4:19
13 John's Pop 3:15
14 Spaghetti Western 5:55
Abecedarians - Eureka (ogg 181mb)
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"A little more conventionally rocking than the spare impact of Eureka, Resin maintains the same level of punch and post-punk emotionalism which characterizes the Abecedarians' sound, resulting in another miniclassic to go alongside the earlier record. At a few points, Manecke's lyrics don't quite connect as they should -- while the delivery of "Dinner" is marvelous, as is the nervous crawl of the music, the lyrical combination of religion, sex and food is a bit tortured as the song progresses. This said, it's all about the general ambience to begin with, and on that level the Abecedarians are again flawless, bringing a haunting darkness to just about everything they do. Though the bandmembers work with a different engineer here than any of the three which helped on Eureka, the basic sound of the band remains almost exactly the same, a testament to how clear the trio was about its music. In a neat development, a little bit of humor creeps into things as well on Resin. The self-explanatory "Spaghetti Western," with Manecke delivering a great Morricone impersonation on guitar while archly singing about sheriffs shooting down best friends and waiting for the hangman's noose -- it's clearly not meant to be taken seriously, and helps in considering the rest of the album with a slightly lighter eye as well, especially considering other tracks are called "Sufferin' Tarnation (Surf Western)" and "Where Whitie Ain't Allowed," an instrumental aside from the movie sample which provides the title. It isn't all fun and games, though, and on songs like the forceful "Press Escape," where the sly computer metaphor of the title hints at the wracked lyrics and strong music of the track, the Abecedarians come into a power all their own.
Abecedarians - Resin (flac 264mb)
01 Dinner 4:48
02 Spaghetti Western 6:24
03 Where Whitie Ain't Allowed 3:52
04 Wild Flowers Grow From the Trash 4;19
05 Press Escape 5:00
06 Laugh at Yourself 3:36
07 Sufferin' Tarnation 3:16
08 Panic in Needle Park 6:51
Abecedarians - Resin (ogg 93mb)
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This 2x10" vinyl was released in a numbered edition of 1750 copies. Quite rare then and in more ways than one. the only american band to be signed by the Manchester based Factory Records label this release comprises of early demos (from '83-'85) It's the the best of the genre with a deep post-punk mood coupled with a west-coast groove. This split personality manifests itself in a variety of unique ways from the driving rythmns, twangy guitars and snaking bass-lines of post-punk to the ethereal vocal delivery and unorthodox compositions of the new-wave, never forgetting the easy groove that places this band as pure los angelenos. the schizophrenia also translates into the nature of the songs (i guess being a collection of demos a cohesive thread was never likely to run through the compilation) we have moody stuff, happy stuff, dancy stuff, groovy stuff, hard stuff, soft stuff, transatlantic stuff, eastern stuff, we get all kinds of instrumentation from drum machines and synths to real drums and guitars and exotic instruments - all handled in refreshing ways. This collection is all over the place then but i think that is why i like it and if you are looking to check out this band this album would be the perfect place to start as a fan of new wave and post punk this release stands comparison with the best of the genre with a deep post-punk mood coupled with a west-coast groove. This split personality manifests itself in a variety of unique ways from the driving rythmns, twangy guitars and snaking bass-lines of post-punk to the ethereal vocal delivery and unorthodox compositions of the new-wave, never forgetting the easy groove that places this band as pure los angelenos. the schizophrenia also translates into the nature of the songs (i guess being a collection of demos a cohesive thread was never likely to run through the compilation) we have moody stuff, happy stuff, dancy stuff, groovy stuff, hard stuff, soft stuff, transatlantic stuff, eastern stuff, we get all kinds of instrumentation from drum machines and synths to real drums and guitars and exotic instruments - all handled in refreshing ways. this collection is all over the place then but i think that is why i like it and if you are looking to check out this band this album would be the perfect place to start.
Abecedarians - The Other Side Of The Fence (flac 315mb)
01 Beneath the City of the Hedonistic Bohemians 4:41
02 Ghosts 5:57
03 John's Pop 3:10
04 Come On 4:43
05 Classic 3:32
06 Spaghetti Western 5:51
07 Switch 4:51
08 Where's Karen 2:35
09 Soil 6:08
10 The Other Side of the Fence 3:57
11 Wildflower 4:15
12 They Said Tomorrow 5:21
Abecedarians - The Other Side Of The Fence (ogg 125mb)
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Something very rare, compiled from a collection of unknown gen cassette tapes and very likely the first representation of this Orange County, California based new wave act on Dime. Although not an obscure band, Abecedarians had a very strong local following, they are best known for two things: the Factory Records 12" single "Smiling Monarchs"; and the total unavailability of their entire back catelogue. Smiling Monarchs is a big nod to 1983-period New Order with a remarkable resemblance to NO's Your Silent Face. By sheer coincidence, the final Factory release of the single was produced by New Order singer, Bernard Sumner. I prefer the demo version included here.
On the whole the band's sound leans more towards other UK acts such as Modern English and B-Movie. However on the more instrumental tracks, such as the Mardis Gras recordings, influences such as Brian Eno and, at times, the Durutti Column are all too evident. In their time, Abecedarians released just one single, Smiling Monarchs, one EP, Eureka and one studio album, Resin. Since their break-up in 1988, two compilations of their work, AB-CD and The Other Side of the Fence have been made available. All of these are long deleted and currently fetch silly money (in excess of $100) on various auction sites.
Abecedarians - Demo Recordings 1983 - 1988 (flac 607mb)
01. Wildflower
02. They Said Tomorrow
Final versions of these tracks eventually found their way on to 'The Other Side of the Fence' compilation.
1984 Factory Demos
03 Smiling Monarchs
04. Benways Carnival
1985 Mardis Gras Demos
05. Mardis Gras
06. untitled
07. untitled
1985 Live
08. Pipe Dream
November 1985 - Eureka Demos
09. Beneath the City of the Hedonistic Bohemians
10. Surf Western
11. The Misery of Cities
12. untitled
13. Hip Hip Hooray
1987 Resin Demos
14. Laugh at Yourself
15. Surf Western
16. Dinner
17. untitled
1988 The Last Demos
18. untitled
19. Lift off
20. untitled
21. untitled
22. Brand New Song
23. untitled
24. untitled
25. Money
Abecedarians - Demo Recordings 1983 - 1988 (ogg 231 mb)
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1 comment:
Thank you so much, Rho!
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