Colourbox - The Moon Is Blue 12''

Released in 1985 on the 4AD label (BAD507), the 12'' single for Colourbox's "The Moon Is Blue" is regarded as a high point of the band's career, showcasing their unique blend of soul-inflected vocals, electronic production, and early sampling techniques. It is often described as a melodic, lush, and somewhat desperate waltz, with some critics comparing its atmosphere to "the Ronettes in outer space". 

Colourbox were an unusual, esoteric pop band that were on the 4ad label, and put out a grand total of 1 full length album, in 1985. It was a absolutely a pop record, with proper songs, and ear candy, but it also had an electronic tinge, and featured some nascent sampling experiments. It was unquestionably different, and sounded nothing like the other stuff that was big at the time ( that being Duran Duran, Culture Club and the like). The band consisted of Martyn, and Steven Young, who later went onto to fame, as part of M/A/A/R/S, creators of the massive “Pump up the Volume”, and a vocalist by the name of Lorita Grahame.

I stumbled upon them after reading a review of this song back in the day, their new single from summer of ’85, and bought it solely based on the positive review, without hearing it. When I did, I just fell in love, and couldn’t stop playing it. It sounds like the Ronettes in outer space, a big lush, melodic, and desperate waltz. And so here’s to it, 32 41 years later, and still a gorgeous thing.

Colourbox - Say You 12”

Okay, a Tuesday recap for those who still need recapping. The band was formed by brothers Martyn and Steve Young, Ian Robbins, and vocalist Debbion Currie. Currie and Robbins left the band in 1983, with the role of vocalist then being filled by Lorita Grahame. Signed up to the 4AD label Martyn and Steven together with Lorita were pioneers of experimental pop music. Colourbox stood apart from their then 4AD label mates; bands such as Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, and This Mortal Coil (although the Young brothers contributed to tracks on the latter project's first two albums It'll End in Tears and Filigree & Shadow). Their sound was eclectic, drawing from reggae and soul influences (with covers of tracks by U-Roy and Augustus Pablo released as singles), beat-box driven hip-hop rhythms, blue-eyed soul, as well as a fusion of far-ranging influences spanning from classic R&B, to dub and industrial. Using montages of analogue magnetic tape pieces and experimenting with tape machines, Colourbox were at the fore-front of sampling, which in its digital form would become ubiquitous in the course of the 1980's. The band worked in a seeming contrast of pure artistic research in the studio and an anti-intellectual stance towards the outside world.

Colourbox - Colourbox

The band's sole full length album was, and is, a lost treasure -- though much about its production and general sound firmly places it as a product of the mid-'80s, it was still a stunning debut which covers any number of sounds and styles with aplomb. The result is a unique fusion, where you can't quite guess what will happen from one track to the next, but the sound still resembles the product of one particular vision. The opening songs set the range and ambition of the group straightaway -- from the instrumental "Sleepwalker," a truly beautiful piano piece with some extra production touches, the band slams into the sampling/guitar/rock/dance masterpiece "Just Give 'Em Whiskey." Crammed with samples from the likes of Westworld and The Prisoner, it's a total winner of beat, sound, and arrangement. Lorita Grahame makes her first appearance on the next number, the previously released cover of U-Roy's dancehall classic "Say You" -- her lovely singing provides the anchor for the album as a whole, matching the multiplicity of Colourbox's approaches with skill. The other cover on the record is often cited as its highlight -- a revamping of the Supremes' tremendous "You Keep Me Hanging On," which makes the near contemporaneous take by Kim Wilde seem like the weedy thing it is. There are plenty of other examples of Colourbox reaching for the skies, though: from the mid-century tearjerker gone modern "The Moon is Blue" and the album-closing gentle drama of "Arena" to the aggressive "Manic," which features a snarling guitar solo from William Orbit. There's a slightly curious discrepancy in the album's varying editions -- the vinyl version featured an extra record with other tracks and some alternate versions, only half of which ended up on CD. Those included were another take on "Arena" and the amusing samplefest "Edit the Dragon."

Colourbox - Punch 12''

Let’s make this a strong contender for follow up of the week. 4AD had a wide range of styles and none more widely than Colourbox. Formed by brothers Martyn and Steve Young, Ian Robbins, and vocalist Debbion Currie (Robbins and Currie left the band in 1983, with the role of vocalist being filled by Lorita Grahame) the band were active between 1982 and 1987. Their sound was eclectic, drawing from reggae and soul influences (with covers of tracks by U-Roy and Augustus Pablo being released as singles), beat-box driven hip-hop rhythms, blue-eyed soul, as well as a fusion of far-ranging influences spanning from classic R&B, to dub and industrial. “Punch” was released during the long lazy summer of ’84 sounding bright and breezy in stark contrast to their stable mates.

Colourbox - Colourbox (Mini) 12"

Colourbox is the debut mini-album from Colourbox, released by 4AD in November 1983. MAD 315 is the album's catalogue number, used to distinguish it from their 1985 self-titled album, although the mini-album is sometimes referred to as Horses Fucking due to the cover image. Colourbox are as revolutionary as they remain unfairly obscure. Mixing soul sensibility (Lorita Grahame's gorgeous vocals) with fundamental eclecticism into a not at all easy sound identifications, this (actually their self-titled debut mini LP) is one hell of a tiny experimental episode from their precious vaults. "Justice" demonstrates the creative process without digital equipment available now - which Colourbox pioneered beating down many of their peers. The track leans towards ultimate balladry while at the same time the listener is mercilessly mind warped to great effect by its subliminal, experimental repetition. Even Grahame's voice is suddenly perverted by a tape-like chewed sound sliding in and out of its massively reverbed melodic focus. Albeit released in 1983, 'Colourbox' mini LP is way ahead of its time.

Colourbox – Breakdown 12”

Found lurking the dark recesses of my MP3 collection. It is the two 12” versions of Breakdown / Tarantula by Colourbox. Formed in 1982 by brothers Martyn and Steven Young, Colourbox drew on influences as varied as blues, soul, rock, dub and funk, they combined elements from each with movie dialogue and weird and wonderful samples. Vocalist Debbion Currie was recruited to sing on their 1982 4AD debut Breakdown; Currie was replaced by Lorita Grahame in 1983. Now why they had to remix / re-record the single when the original version (IMO) is the better version is anybody’s guess. In contrast to the slower, funkier first version, the second version of Breakdown is a syrupy new wave dance jam, and a hard-driving beat with lots of tape edits. The second version could be to debut new vocalist Grahame which would mean re-recording. Although still a strong contender for the remix is that the vocals on both versions are Currie’s, her vocal tone is audibly more deadpan. If you listen closely I’m sure you’ll be able to make up your own mind.

The 2012 Colourbox box credits Debbion for the 1st version of Breakdown / Tarantula and Lorita for the 2nd…sorted!