(2022) Eyeless In Gaza - Skeletal Framework: The Cherry Red Recordings 1981-1986  


Review:
The complete Eyeless In Gaza Cherry Red recordings, compiled and curated by Martyn Bates and Pete Becker. Their entire 1981-1986 output for the label re-worked into five thematic suites by the band, bringing new life and light to familiar and much-loved material. During the first half of the 1980s, few artists cut a path as individual and self-contained as Eyeless In Gaza. Over six albums and several classic singles, the duo followed their muse in multiple different directions at once, unrestrained by any desire to fit in with whatever was going on around them. Bursts of primal electronica sat comfortably alongside reflective ballads and lo-fi recordings and polished productions were equally valued, all of it pulled together by Martyn Bates’ unmistakable vocals and a singular, minimalist approach to songwriting. Curated by Eyeless In Gaza, and accompanied by Martyn Bates’ song-by-song reflections on their work, ‘Skeletal Framework’ presents the band’s entire Cherry Red output re-cast as five themed suites (or perhaps even playlists), each reflecting one of their many sides. The group’s best-known work sits comfortably alongside deeper album cuts and rarities with interesting results, as the duo guide us back and forth across recordings spanning almost six years of one of Cherry Red’s most distinctive artists. — cherryred.co.uk


   


Track List:

Disc 1
01. Looking Daggers
02. Skeletal Framework
03. Half-Light
04. September Hills
05. The Felling's Mutual
06. In Your Painting
07. Fixation
08. Continual
09. Scale Amiss
10. Faceless
11. The Decoration
12. Voice From The Tracks
13. Whitewash
14. True Colour
15. Out From The Day To Day
16. Plague of Years (Early Version)
17. Taking Steps (Early Version)
18. A Keepsake
19. From A to B
20. Soul On Thin Ice
21. Seven Years
22. Knives Replace Air

Disc 2
01. Others
02. No Perfect Stranger
03. Twilight
04. One By One
05. Sweet Life Longer
06. Everpresent
07. Two
08. China Blue Vision
09. New Love Here
10. Speech Rapid Fire
11. Changing Stations
12. Sunbursts In
13. Point You
14. Clear Cut Apparently
15. Veil Like Calm
16. Welcome Now
17. New Risen
18. Pencil Sketch
19. Picture The Day
20. Rose Petal Knot
21. Invisibility
22. Pearl and Pale
23. Keynote Inertia
24. Taking Steps
25. Kodak Ghosts Run Around

Disc 3
01. Drumming The Beating Heart
02. Lie Still,Sleep Long
03. See Red
04. Bright Play Of Eyes
05. Corner Of Dusk
06. Before You Go
07. At Arms Length
08. Catch Me
09. No Noise
10. Evening Music
11. Every Which Way
12. Stealing Autumn
13. My Last, Lost Melody
14. Far Lands Blue
15. Your Rich Sky
16. Only Whispers
17. Leaves Are Dancing
18. Back from the Rains
19. Between These Dreams
20. Flight Of Swallows
21. Catch Me, Count Me, Catch Fire

Disc 4
01. Light Sliding
02. Dusky Ruth
03. Ill Wind Blows
04. The Eyes Of Beautiful Losers
05. Inky Blue Sky
06. Throw A Shadow
07. Tall And White Nettles
08. Sixth Sense
09. Lights Of April
10. Scent on Evening Air
11. Transcience Blues
12. Through Eastfields
13. Lift Of Music
14. To Ellen
15. Tell
16. Still Air
17. She Moves Thru The Fair
18. The Cantonese Detective Agency

Disc 5
01. Big Clipper Ship
02. Dreaming at Rain
03. Pale Saints
04. Lies Of Love
05. To Steven
06. John Of Patmos
07. Avenue with Trees
08. Sun-Like-God
09. Sheer Cliffs
10. Letters to She
11. Jane, Dancing (Extended)
12. Three Kittens
13. To Elizabeth S.
14. Falling Leaf - Fading Flower; Goodbye Summer
15. Warm Breath, Soft And Slow
16. You Frighten


Media Report:
Genre: new wave, post-punk
Country: UK
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits
Compression mode: Lossless
Writing library: libFLAC 1.2.1 (UTC 2007-09-17)


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