In the Spin: 2003
The Swinging Laurels: Bang Bang...Is Anybody There?
This is the sort of thing that (I'm given to understand) was all the rage in "underground" dance clubs some 20-plus years ago, so it would be tres hip now if anybody knew about it. The Swinging Laurels were an early-'80s band from Leicester, England who are (needless to say) little remembered, especially in the US. They were basically lumped in at the time with the concurrent New Romantic scene, and there is certainly an undercurrent of foppy British electro-dance to their sound, but there's more going on than that. I could be wrong but I don't think they ever made a full album. On the handful of singles I've heard though, including this 4-track 12-inch, there are instrumental tracks that strongly feature a horn section, there's the occasional near-exotica touch, and a fair amount of evocative minimal synth backing. There are also a couple of experimental, sort of avant garde-sounding, atmospheric tracks. Their finest moment that I'm aware of (not on this record) was their circa-'81 single "Peace of Mind," a dancey, dubby affair with loping bass synth and spaced-out saxophone, achieving near transcendence. As of a couple of years ago there was a website called peoplesound.com where one of the guys from the band had made a few tracks (including "Peace of Mind") available on a self-released CD, if you're curious.
Zverina.com/New York: 1987
The Swinging Laurels: Rodeo/Hair by Mantini WEA Records, 1982
Like an SUV named after a tree, this band has a song called Rodeo. Actually, it's not too bad, a little Dexy's Midnight Runnersish. B is better, Hair by Mantini done lounge act style with what sounds like samples from TV or a movie. The picturesleeve is charmingly dated, too, how often today do you see a cool dude sporting white pants, a white mesh shirt and brown leather bombing jacket?
Poca Madre Enterprises
The Swinging Laurels: Peace Of Mind, 1981
Minimal synth-pop with vocals and sax. Not much happening, but it's atmospheric and tuneful.
The Church of Me
Fun Boy Three The Telephone Always Rings, 1982
Almost demented in its unspoken paranoia, the sneering brass of the Swinging Laurels added to the single mix. As "un-pop" a pop record as Bowie's "Sound And Vision" was five years previously.
Click here to read the latest articles/interviews with the band about their careers.
Click here to read the latest reviews of How NOT to Make It in the Pop World by John Barrow.
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