Formed in 1980 and disbanded in 1981, the obscure Welsh post-punk band Violin Sect left behind just one seven-inch, “Highdays and Holidays/Rivals,” documenting their brief existence. In fact, they’ve flown so low on the radar since then that they were even overlooked for the Messthetics compilations, the CD series that brought the sounds of the many forgotten and amusingly-named UK DIY bands of their time and ilk to a (relatively) wider audience. This started to change in 2019, however, when Sect bassist Steve Walker posted a couple of previously unreleased songs that he’d dug up to Soundcloud, where Minimum Stacks label head Joe Piccirillo heard them as his label was just getting off the ground. Fast forward to 2023 and we have the Vile Insect 12-inch, featuring all four songs from the band’s short life transferred from the original ¼" tapes. The result, to Andrew Forrell of Dusted’s ears, is a mix of “dubby rhythms, scratchy post-punk guitar, whimsy and skepticism,” able to stand with Scritti Politti’s “Skank Bloc Bologna” and Swell Maps “Read About Seymour.” And thanks to this release, it’s finally in a position to reach the audience it deserves.
Although Walker’s bandmates — Steve Jinks (guitar), Phil Rimmell (drums) and Hywel Pontin (percussion and backing vocals) — were unavailable to take part, Walker has assembled a list of some of his favorite music, art and literature from his 67 years on earth for Dusted. “A snapshot within a snapshot,” if you will.
The Raincoats
I was lucky enough to catch a London gig by the Raincoats in 1979 around the time they released their first single. This year Gina Birch (bass/vocals), also 67, has released her first solo album, I Play My Bass Loud, and it’s been worth the wait. Here’s an early one from the first Raincoats LP, though.
Mica Levi — “Lips”
I got the same sort of excitement when I first heard Mica Levi, together with their bandmates in Micachu and the Shapes. Their work has continued to grow and encompasses other genres such as film soundtracks (e.g., Jackie).
Sufjan Stevens — “Video Game”
I first became aware of Sufjan Stevens with the release of Illinois and caught him at the end of his UK tour promoting it at King’s College London with a pared-down (although still with those wondrous wings) extra gig. In later years he was in Bristol on the Carrie & Lowell tour. Sublime. Here’s a later track with fabulous dancing.
Saul Leiter — In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life
I’ve spent a lifetime as a specialist nurse supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities to maintain and develop their independence together with practicing as a part time psychotherapist for the general public, within the UK’s National Health Service. During this time, I’ve drawn, painted, made music but mainly taken photos (since I was a kid with a darkroom). Maybe there’ll be an exhibition of my own one day but, like Saul Leiter, I’m used to “postponing things and seeing no reason to be in a rush.” For me, his exhibitions and photobooks have a magical quality that validate and inspire all at the same time.
Ivor Cutler
Ivor Cutler always had my heart but here’s an epic that didn’t feature on his own albums.
Angeline Morrison — The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience
In 2022 Angeline Morrison released an astonishing album… I’m afraid that I can’t stop myself recommending it to people! If you get a chance…
Paul Wright — Arcadia
Arcadia is a short film that explores Britain’s relationship with the earth, its secret pasts, hidden histories and collective amnesia using old film and TV footage in an exhilarating fashion.
Wet Leg — “Chaise Longue,” live at the BRIT Awards, 2023
A performance from the here and now, incorporating the past with the present in a truly WTF moment at the Brits!
Gretchen Gerzina — Black England
Books… so many books! So, here’s what I’m currently reading.
Anthony Gormley — Another Place
Finally… if ever in Liverpool, visit Crosby Beach and experience Antony Gormley’s sculpture. It consists of 100 cast iron figures facing towards the sea, (gradually becoming encrusted with barnacles, etc.) all modeled on Gormley’s own naked body.
To finally share a treasure with y'all- my coworker a while back introduced me to the Cornwall-based retro soul/funk/doowop band The Mighty Sceptres (whose Nothing Seems to Work scored the montage to my comedy of errors life for a lil while over the summer).
My coworker was bemoaning their lack of albums since 2015, so I looked the band members (Angeline Morrison and Nick Radford) up and found to my great delight that Angeline Morrison not only has other albums under her own name in the same excellent stylings but also! does wyrd/psych folk music with a focus on unpacking the threads of Black experience from the historical UK folk tradition.
I'm surpressing my urge to express how cool this is strictly in the language of exclaimation points, so, to lift up one of her tracks:
This is Child Ballad #295 , and to be honest I've long ignored it since it's at the end of the list and since the other song most notably about a "brown girl" (#73, Lord Thomas and Fair Elliner/The Dun Broon Bride) deals her such an ugly hand (though perhaps her tragedy is meant to inspire sympathy). This, though, is splendid, gloriously unambiguous and unapologetic and I love her.
Angeline Morrison "The Feeling Sublime" from her forthcoming album Are You Ready Cat? on Freestyle Records. Preview all tracks below. I can't wait to hear the full track of "The Looking Dance."
Already familiar to fans of Freestyle Records acts Frootful and Lack Of Afro after supplying her memorable voice to tracks by both, as well as working with masters of the mellow; The Ambassadors Of Sorrow, Angeline Morrison's ability to craft subtle, yet very catchy melodies infused with folk, bossa nova, R&B and jazz rhythms and textures ensures her music sounds fresh, engaging and highly original.
Now signed to Freestyle Records as a solo artist in her own right, the music that Angeline creates has an ethereal, other worldly quality, due in no small part to the wide ranging styles and influences that inform her highly individual, quirky, song writing and vocal abilities. Stir in elements of 60s torch song style, hypnotic, exotic and eclectic melodies, and you begin to understand the myriad of musical textures Angeline blends into a homogenous soundscape.
