Needle Time

  The Danse Society - Say It Again [SOC 128 2x12 UK 1985 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] That eighties phenomenon of twelve inch double packs was used as a marketing tool to push single sales in the competitive UK singles chart. I don't think the idea ever worked for Arista Records and their (short-term) investment into The Danse Society. The label also paid for Stock, Aitken & Waterman to produce the a-side, as well as threw money at image consultancies to polish the band's image, in addition to their new polished pop sound. Consequently front-man Steve Rawlings was re-modeled to look like a cross between Pete Burns and Anna Friel. Only kidding of course, Miss Friel was only nine years old when this single came out, but you'll see what I mean in the video below. This is the last in my run of releases by The Danse Society, and likely their most commercial. Having four different tracks adds to the value of this release, still mildly goth, the a-side is restrained synth-pop with a...

  The Danse Society - Hold On (To What You've Got) [SOC DJ129 UK Promo 1986 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Dingy goths given a good wash & polish by a major label, The Danse Society developed into a more commercial sound as the eighties developed.  Hold On (To What You've Got) was seemingly aimed at the Simple Minds/U2 crowd with pounding bass & drums, pinned down by some nice Edge-type guitar. The song never charted, however this promo version also included the previously unavailable dance remix of an earlier single, Heaven Is Waiting ...which I really quite like! A1 Hold On (To What You've Got) B1 Heaven Is Waiting (Dance Mix)

  The Danse Society - Heaven Is Waiting [205 972 UK 1984 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] I have covered The Danse Society extensively in years gone by, in fact my last attempt at a rip of this album was in June 2012. I guess we now need an upgrade? Like last weeks Party Day, The Danse Society were from Barnsley, they were the more successful of the two bands with a bit of a wider commercial appeal - a bit more Kid Jensen & Janice Long than John Peel, if you know what I mean. Arista Records licensed the bands own Society label to give them this, their major label debut album, which is pressed onto horribly thin vinyl by Sonopress. Ironically it was to be the band's last, as the band fragmented shortly after a few minor chart indentations with the album's excellent title single and a tabla-tinged goth disco cover of 2000 Light Years From Home .  Probably a bit to much synth to fit around the pure goth genre, yet there are dark influences here from The Cure to Joy Division. There are e...