Thursday, March 8, 2012

Mixed Feelings - Another Place (1982-1984)

Tonight's post is the kind that doesn't happen often, and I'm very excited to be sharing this with all of you. I hope you'll enjoy the contents as much as I have.

If you've been following the Crispy Nuggets compilations, you'll probably remember one of the standout bands from Vol. 1, Mixed Feelings, and their instantly catchy minimal synth diamond "Another Place (Like Home)". Well, I've had the pleasure of meeting the song-writer of the band, Mr. Sean Cooper, and he's been kind enough to make the band's other recordings available.

Aside from the fact that I really think these songs are great, I'm most impressed by how young they were at the time (which you can see clearly in the photos). The band was from Basildon, which if you think hard enough might bring another synthpop band to mind... I'm going to quote Sean directly here, because he tells it better than I ever could:

"We started in the band in 1981 whilst still at school, Nicholas Comprehensive in Basildon which is the same school that the Mode boys went to...i recall seeing their first gig at our school disco ( i hassled martin about his synth after the "gig") and quite often we would watch them rehearse in one of the school classrooms. I had wanted to be a synth player in a band for some time cos as a young kid i was into early League, Numan, Kraftwerk and had "auditioned" with a couple of "new romantic" and even a rockabilly band (armed with only a cheap electric organ), but it wasn't until a childhood friend said "lets start a band" that I really took the idea seriously....so we asked a couple of other mates to join, saved up some money, bought a couple of cheap synths and a drum machine and off we went...

We were (and i still am!) heavily influenced by Mode. And yeah I got to meet them numerous times, I would often bump into Martin and he was always interested to see how the band was going (somehow he knew that i had been expelled from school...)...we also knocked on Daves front door one night and invited him to a gig we were doing just down the road from him...
"

photo taken on the same street where Fletch lived

As a huge DM fan myself, I found that story to be absolutely amazing. If you like this blog, you probably like DM too, which will come in handy as a few of these songs are DM covers :-)

Most of these tracks were recorded in 1982 under the main core group, but roles varied out through '84. Sean Cooper always on the task of song-writer and synths, Mark Robinson was the vocalist, but unfortunately suffered a voice break later on. Pete Reynolds and Alan Stone also took on synth duties, while Geoff Conner manned the drum machine. Last and certainly not least is Lorraine Olson, who provided guest vocals on tracks 01, 05, 06, and 08.


I can honestly say there isn't a song here I don't like, this is a prime example of pure DIY minimal synth, at it's best. I hope you'll feel the same. Enjoy!


Track List:

01 - Another Place (Like Home)
02 - Because Of You
03 - Fate
04 - Final Demand
05 - Fun
06 - The Captain
07 - Told You So
08 - Stand Up High
09 - Holding On
10 - Ice Machine (Cover)
11 - Photographic (Cover)

Download

47 comments:

MIke Brandon said...

ace. cheers from NYC!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful job! Well done.

guy smiley said...

Great story. Thanks for the download. and all of the other stuff you've been posting recently too ! awesome blog.. keep it coming

Anonymous said...

wow! thanks!

Anonymous said...

They are really good at what they were doing :)

stephen said...

Nick,

This is Brilliant.

The cover of "Ice Machine" is tremendous.

Stephen
obscure

Nick B said...

I also think this is excellent music.

The cover of Ice Machine is especially good.

You have a great blog - thank you

Nick in the UK

sean said...

im not a fan of the ice machine cover....when we recorded it i had a bit of a row with the engineer about the chorus...i wanted it to be true to the original but he argued all kinds musical reasons as to why we should drop down in the chorus...as it was our first time in a studio we gave in to his "experience"....

ta

sean

Anonymous said...

Great stuff! Jens

Anonymous said...

Having listened to this lots this weekend I can honestly say I love it to bits.

My two favourite tracks are currently
"Final Demand" and most especially, "Told You So".

Sean, I take your point about "Ice Machine" but I still prefer your version to the Depeche Mode version I have

Nick B

sean said...

Nick, thanks for the kind words.

Jens, is that the same Jens who i spoke to years ago?

sean

Anonymous said...

Who will be first to put these glorious tracks on vinyl, I wonder!? :)

Nik

Anonymous said...

great stuff, thanks :)

Vanilla Face said...

I think this breaks the record for most 'Nick's to comment on one post.

Of course I agree with the vinyl comment-- who knows what the future holds in store for these great tracks ;)

stephen said...

Sean / Nick,

This should obviously be put out on Mute records.

That will be redemption, and bring the story full
circle. Then after the band is reformed which I'm
sure it is about to be they can open for Depeche Mode
on their next tour.

The story is great, the music is amazing, and there
is no reason for not making both of the above
happen.

Send the tracks to Mute already, and start practicing.

Stephen
obscure identities

stephen said...

Sean,

After this happens, then ask Martin to ask you how the band is going?

Stephen

sean said...

hahahaha, thanks for the comments Stephen...

would have trouble reforming, im on the other side of the planet from that lot now...

im thinking that perhaps a little wee word in someones ear might be in order...

Lorraine Olson said...

Well..... I never thought I would hear this stuff ever again.... some of the best days of my life and Sean is a genius song writer!!!! Do you know what..... Id be up for a reunion any day ha ha..... what a laugh and re-live the good old days one last time hey x

stephen said...

Sean,

Other side of the planet, Whatever? This is the
internet age. According to Lorraine the band
has just been reformed. I told you it would.
She sounds very hungry for that Depeche Mode crowd action ;-) Don't let her down Sean....
I'll release the Mixed Feelings record in the next couple months if Mute doesn't.

Stephen,
obscure identities

p.s. I'm not kidding, you can ask Nick.

Anonymous said...

Ridiculous conversations aside, some great things do happen on this blog. Nice one, nuggets.

stephen said...

Anonymous,

Playing ahead of Depeche Mode, and getting a Mute
record deal is very serious. There is nothing ridiculous about it.
I will not be surprised if both of these things happen.

Stephen
obscure identities

Vanilla Face said...

RE: DM convo,

Word on the street has it they're going to have to compete with Aspect Ratio for the gig. Stephen, can you confirm?

Nick
Vanilla Face

stephen said...

Nick,

Well I know both Martin and Dave are serious Aspect Ratio fans.
They've actually have been begging me to be able to open an Aspect Ratio show. I told them that I'll only let Depeche Mode open one of my shows if they play their pre-Speak and Spell set and include "Ghost of Modern Times", "Television Set", and "I Like It" especially. The agreement has been made, but the date and location is pending. I'll keep you updated on further developments, as I'm expecting you
to attend.

Stephen Set
Aspect Ratio
Obscure Identities

Vanilla Face said...

Stephen,

I will be there, in the front row, wearing my Aspect Ratio foam finger. Give Composition of Sound my regards.

Nick
Vanilla Face
#1 Fan

gabbo said...

Thanks for posting! Excellent songs. Love it!

craterscar said...

Thanks Nick and congrats to the guys in band: absolutely stunning synthpop ... and humanity still needs synthpop.

i would love to see this one reissued on vinyl (obviously on any label except Obscure Identities - too pricey and the catalogue is not bad but not so brilliant)

stephen said...

Craterscar,

Mixed Feelings- Out Soon on Obscure Identities.
Thanks for promoting it. I will give you a free copy because you
are the only minimal synth collector I know that does not buy $40 records.
All you have to do is post your full name, and location
so everyone will know who you are. There is obviously no
other record label that could do this band justice.
Obscure Identities catalogue is the best catalogue obviously,
and you are obviously jealous.


Stephen
obscure identities

p.s. I will look forward to you saying Mixed Feelings suck soon.

stephen said...

Nick,

I'll talk to Martin, and see if he'll dress like a girl
for you. Don't ask me for a VIP pass though.
Those will be very hard to get.

Stephen Set
Aspect Ratio

Anonymous said...

Hi Sean,

Yes, the same Jens. We lost contact, unfortunately, but I'm still out here. Perhaps I'm still in your mail system?

sean said...

as long as i get paid some royalty i dont care who sells it...i might clear 10 bucks a year?

jens, i lost your details...email me at coopa1@xtra.co.nz

Anonymous said...

Sean, "You've got mail".

Anonymous said...

Great post.

Anonymous said...

absolutely amazing !!!!!!!

B.Martin said...

Awesome song !!!Really love it !!!Thanks.sell my house

ilios said...

Thanks for all the rare (and expensive!)gems you're offering here.I managed to download just about everything(well,an 80%) from the start till the metropolitan 45 from march 2011,and now mediafire has deleted everything at least from this single up to october 16(chanson deux)2011.I don't know if you can reupload all this stuff but please do!

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Joshua Blevins Peck said...

Amazing post!

Unknown said...

Looking at the old photographs is always fun! Thoroughly enjoyed reading the post!

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Noodleboy said...

great post. thanks for sharing.

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Larry said...

Totally awesome. I really love this album. Every song is super.

Thanks, Crispy for the great work you do. It is appreciated by this old newbie to the genre.

Anonymous said...

Got a cassette of these guys. Used to see them at Chesters in Southend, brilliant live.

Larry said...

Incredible. I love Lorraine's style and sound so much too. There is some serious talent in these songs. Is there anything else by them available? Thanks.

T.Theodorus Ibrahim said...

I like Stand Up High, but all of them are amazing. Wish Olson had sang on more.