Needle Time

  The Names - Spectators Of Life [CEL 2-6554 FRA 1980 24-Bit FLAC] Originally released in Belgium on WEA International in 1979 as a seven inch (the band's only major label release), French label Celluloid Records picked up the tracks for a twelve inch release. It has to sound better than my crackly original single ....and it does. The Names from Brussels were originally punk new-wavers, The Passengers. Although they never released anything in their first identity (well not until 2017), the sound was very different from their Hannett produced, post-Manchester gloomy sound for Factory Records. Their up tempo debut,  Spectators of Life could well have been mistaken for a Devoto composition, perhaps I may not be the only one who rhears early Magazine on this three-track single. A1 Spectators Of Life B1 White Life B2 The Drive  

  The Names - Swimming [TWI 065 BEL 1982 24-Bit FLAC] The Names emerged from the dreary gloom of early eighties Bruxelles, and briefly relocated to the even drearier gloom of Stockport to enter Strawberry Studios with Martin Hannett in 1982.The resultant sessions produced their debut album, Swimming and two very strong singles, Calcutta and The Astronaut . The band had already provoked interest with their 1981 synth-swept-wave classic Factory Records single, Nightshift however 'somebody' decided that future releases should be exported to Factory Benelux and close allies Les Disques Du Crépuscule. If you ever wanted to know how early The Cure would have sounded if produced by Hannett, then Swimming is a huge clue. This is the sound of Belgian coldwave; like Manchester, Brussels is a city of beautiful architecture shrouded in grey disaffection - the two cities have close historic links as trading centres and musically it all changed for the Belgian capital when Joy Division p...

By Chance - Soul Kitchen [CRAM 5457 BEL 1981 24-Bit FLAC] A new rip for 2019 and a significant 24-bit upgrade.... Here is the one off single by Belgian post-punk "super group" By Chance who comprised Michel Smordynia from The Names, two members of Flouze plus the prolific Marc Hollander who was once a Honeymoon Killer as well as being a significant player in modern Belgian music. Soul Kitchen is a slap bass funk driven new wave cover of The Doors track, whilst Revenge has a dreamy melancholic feel. It would be nice there was more By Chance, however I think this is our lot. A1  Soul Kitchen B1  Revenge

The Names - Spectators Of Life [7" WEA 18 087 BEL 1979 24-Bit FLAC] It's a bit crackly during the run out, but don't that spoil your enjoyment of this classic debut single by The Names who, back in 1979, were just a new wave band signed briefly to WEA. A1 Spectators Of Life B1 White Life B2 The Drive The Names - Night Shift [FAC 29 UK 1981 24-Bit FLAC] This is a fresh rip from my original Factory single, sounding much better than my 16-bit rip a few years ago on the ESWA blog. Another in my series of fantastic b-sides A1 Night Shift B1 I Wish I Could Speak Your Language The Names - Calcutta [FBN 9 BEL 1982 24-Bit FLAC] Most of you will know Calcutta , some of you may not, all the same here is my 24-bit rip of this classic twelve from The Names, made all the better by Martin Hannett's crisp production. Enjoy. A1 Calcutta B1 Postcards The Names - The Astronaut [TWI 111 BEL 1982 24-Bit FLAC] The Names last single...