C86 Show - Indie Pop

Alien Sex Fiend with Nik Fiend & Mrs Fiend

Since their emergence in the early 1980s, Alien Sex Fiend have remained one of the most loved and longstanding pioneers of the Goth movement. Fusing themes of horror, humour, inner turmoil and outer space with an industrial and electronic sound years ahead of its time, the band scored countless indie chart hits, found success across Europe, America and Japan and won a dedicated, adoring fanbase which exists to this day.

Clare Grogan & Altered Images special

Altered Images were an early 1980s Scottish New Wave/post-punk band. Led by lead singer Clare Grogan, the band branched into mainstream pop music, and had six UK Top 40 hit singles and three Top 30 albums between 1981 and 1983.

Pere Ubu special with David Thomas

Pere Ubu is an American rock group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite a variety of long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant. Describing their sound as "avant-garage," Pere Ubu's work drew inspiration from sources such as musique concrète, 60s rock, performance art, and the industrial environments of the American midwest.

While the band achieved little commercial success, they have exerted a wide influence on subsequent underground music.

Attila the Stockbroker

Attila the Stockbroker, punk poet, multi instrumentalist musician and songwriter. He performs solo and as the leader of the band Barnstormer 1649, who combine early music and punk. He describes himself as a "sharp tongued, high energy social surrealist poet and songwriter." He has performed over 3,300 concerts, published eight books of poems and an autobiography (which itself has 38 poems in it) and released over forty recordings (albums and singles).

Sally Timms in conversation - The Mekons, Marc Almond & much more

Sally was born in Leeds, England. She grew up in the Yorkshire dales, sang in the church choir and performed in poetry recitals as a child. In 1985 she joined the Mekons as a full-time member and has regretted it ever since. Unfortunately, the only way out of the Mekons is in a box, so she's still there.

Known as one of the laziest women in show business, she frequently calls in favors from her more talented and successful friends so that she can dedicate more time to watching television and eating bananas. She has blonde hair, grey eyes, and appalling mood swings. Despite her fondness for off-color commentary on virtually every aspect of popular culture, she possesses a truly magnificent voice.

 

The Brilliant Corners with Davey Woodward

The Brilliant Corners were a British indie pop band from Bristol who recorded throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s.

The group was formed in 1983, taking the name from the Thelonious Monk jazz album, Brilliant Corners.

The line-up included David Woodward (b. Avonmouth, Bristol, England; vocals, guitar), Chris Galvin (1959 – 22 December 1998; bass guitar), Winston Forbes (lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals), Bob Morris (drums) and Dan (occasional trumpet and keyboards). A later addition was Phil Elvins on guitar.

The band's first releases were early examples of indie pop, with three singles being released in 1984 on their own SS20 label. Their first (mini-)album, Growing Up Absurd, appeared the following year. With an explosion of indie pop groups in 1986, their May release Fruit Machine EP gained them both attention and radio airplay, followed by a second mini-album, What's In A Word. "Brian Rix", a re-recorded version of a track from the LP, with added trumpet, and a tribute to Rix, the "king of farce", was issued as a single, the proceeds going to Mencap, the charity of which Rix was chairman. The video, featuring Woodward running Rix-like around a couch with his trousers around his ankles, was shown on The Tube, further raising the band's profile.

In March 1988, the band set up another label, McQueen, and released third album, Somebody Up There Likes Me, followed by a collection of their sought-after early singles, Everything I Ever Wanted. Two more albums followed in 1989 (Joy Ride) and 1990 (Hooked), followed by a second compilation, Creamy Stuff, in 1991. They released A History Of White Trash in 1993 before splitting up.

Woodward and Galvin formed the Experimental Pop Band in 1995. Galvin died from cancer in 1998.

Sean O'Hagan talking about Microdisney, The High Llamas, Stereolab etc

Sean O'Hagan is a founding member of the Irish indie band Microdisney, alongside Cathal Coughlan; the band initially formed in Cork but was based in London from 1982 until their split in 1988. He released a solo album titled High Llamas in 1990, which would become the name of a band he subsequently formed. The High Llamas were influenced by the Beach Boys, Ennio Morricone, Antonio Carlos Jobim and avant-garde electronica. He has also collaborated extensively with Stereolab, he was an official member from 1993 to 1994, and is credited as a guest musician on later releases.

The Suncharms with Marcus Palmer

Formed in 1990 the band supported indie pop legends such as The Brilliant Corners, St Christopher, The Orchids and The Television Personalities plus gigs with emerging Shoegaze bands such as Cranes, Catherine Wheel and Curve which brought the attention of Wilde Club records.

By June 1991 the first EP ''Sparkle'' was released.
In November 1991 the second EP "Tranquil Day" was released which then led to a Peel session in April 1992.

Slumberland Records first approached the band about the possibility of releasing something way back in 1992 but sadly a release never materialised.

In April 1993 The Suncharms played the last gig of their initial phase.

In 2014 Cloudberry Records contacted and made plans to release a retrospective compilation CD of the two EPs plus assorted demos and previously unreleased songs.

In 2015 the band reunited to start collecting old recordings and assorted memorabilia to make the CD and booklet.

Loop with Robert Hampson

Crass with Penny Rimbaud

XTC special with Colin Moulding

Sex Clark Five SCF with James Butler

The Men They Couldn't Hang with Phil Odgers

Boyracer with Stewart Anderson

Soup Dragons with Sean Dickson

James with Saul Davies

The Siddeleys with Johnny Johnson

Sarah Records with Clare Wadd

The Pink Label with Paul Sutton

The Shrubs with Nick Hobbs