Welcome to the first of this week’s lunch time Part Time Punks Session specials. First through the gate are 13th Chime. I bet you haven’t heard of them, so let me introduce you. 13th Chime were formed in Cambridgeshire England in 1980 and between ’81 and ’82 they released three 7” Positive Punk singles, Coffin Maker, Cursed and Fire. The band was Mick Hand, Gary O'Connor, Terry Taylor and Ricky Cook, and they were early gothic pioneers. Pictures of the band from back in the day show them drawn to morbid subjects featuring coffins and screaming (Oh My Goth) witches. During 1984, Rob Shawl joined the Chime’s to play keyboards. When Mick Hand upped and left to ‘travel the world’ (as you do), Dave Middle was roped in too replaced him on vocals. The group soldiered on, but sadly folded later in 1984.
Then…In 2009 Sacred Bones Records based in New York released two albums by 13th Chime. One was the re-release of the three singles plus three previously unreleased tracks, and the second was the unreleased debut lost album, to a new and global audience. A complete discography of all 13th Chime’s previously recorded material was eventually released on CD. In 2015, Mick Hand reformed the group bringing back Rob Shawl on guitar and Dave Middle on drums. The band was completed by adding Jon Rickard from early 80's Gothic band Final Scream. This is great innit!? So, then in 2016, 13th Chime released the connection between the past and present with their debut/second album, Noir. Which finally leads us to the reason behind this post…The Part Time Punks Session.
On September 10th, 2018, 13th Chime stepped into an L.A. studio to record a Part Time Punks session. They put down a mix of new and old songs, some already released, some that were not, recording a total of six songs. The recording of these tracks captured the distinct sound of 13th Chime. They have an old-style feel, dark and raw where the life and energy contained in these tracks was perfectly captured. The Part Time Punks Session included the tracks; Cuts of Love, Interviewing Time, Dug Up, Last Day, Sexual Spasms and Substance. Enjoy!