The Noise Figures: Aphelion 2015 + Telepath 2018

 

  " A psyche-garage trip by car... through time. "

The Noise Figures are like a time machine channeling The Sonics and The Doors: They pass through 1960s garage and ‘70s psychedelia, taking in ‘90s alt-rock and modern fuzz along the way. The Athens-based duo is comprised of George Nikas (vocals, drums), already known to Greek

audiences from his previous work with Zebra Tracks, and Stamos Bamparis (guitars, vocals), also known from his time with the grunge group Keyser Söze. In January 2012 they released their single ‘Bitter Taste’ and entered the studio to work on more material. The Noise Figures EP was released digitally later that year and was soon followed by their self-titled debut album. In 2018 the band returned more fearless than ever with their third full-length studio work, Telepath, inspired “by the theory of spiritualism and personal experiences” to use their own words. 
                        

The band connects, in a unique way, 2013 Athens with 1965 San Francisco through the musical influences of the band. Restless fuzz guitars flirting with old-fashioned garage but also with contemporary blues,

amps with plenty of spring reverb and dirty overdriven vocals form the music backbone of their sound. The lyrics draw their themes from experiences on the road and express a dizzying madness for life. Traveling by car under the hot sun, hallucinogens, girls next door and beautiful wild landscapes are some of the inspirations of the two artists who are driving the imagination of the listener on an adventurous Kerouacian journey. “The Noise Figures” is best listened loud and is the ideal soundtrack for escaping the urban boundaries by car.
                                

In 2020, the Athens-based drums-guitar duo of George Nikas and Stamos Bamparis released their heaviest

album to date. The Perfect Spell is a dark and cynical glimpse into a metaphysical void- how else can someone describe an album that begins with the wildly joyful “I Cheat Death” and ends with chugging riffs in “Pilgrims of the Dark”? The Noise Figure take a step forward by taking the road back to their fiery rock n’ roll roots and their heavy psych inner-self, with metallic drum beats and brain-pounding energy, feeling more improvised and loose than ever.

                                             

01. THE NOISE FIGURES - APHELION 2015

                                   

Two years after the release of their self-titled debut that created a great sensation, The Noise Figures duo

is back dynamically with “Aphelion”. After two European tours, hundreds of concerts in all major Greek cities and having shared the stage with some of the most important bands (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Growlers, Japandroids, No Age, Dead Meadow, Sonic Jesus, Sylvain Sylvain), George Nikas (drums, vocals) and Stamos Bamparis (guitar, vocals) elevate the musical tones and offer us some of the best songs of the year. Recorded in five days, on a reel-to-reel tape machine, with vintage gear and tuned to A=432 Hz, produced and sound engineered by Alex Bolbasis in Artracks Studios, ”Aphelion” answers the

question of what happens when you combine ideally the raw power of Death From Above 1979, the spirit of Black Sabbath and the fuzz of Black Angels. Spunky vocals, massive guitar riffs and sticky tunes in harmony with a special engraving, created by Bob Studio for the cover artwork, are making ”Aphelion” an album that is here to stay.
                             

The Noise Figures – Aphelion
Label: Inner Ear – INN114
Format: CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: Sep 28, 2015
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock

TRACKS

                       

01. Shoot The Moon
02. In The Boneyard
03. Run
04. Don't Throw Your Head
05. Aphelion
06. Holy One
07. Feathers
08. Blood
09. No Use
10. Celebration Time

LINE - UP

                  

Drums, Vocals – George Nikas
Guitar, Vocals – Stamos Bamparis
Producer, Engineer – Alex Bolpasis

NOTES

Recorded At – Artracks Studio
Recorded in five days, on a reel-to-reel tape machine, with vintage gear and tuned to A=432 Hz.

Flac Size: 268 MB

02. THE NOISE FIGURES - TELEPATH 2018

                            

Two and a half years after “Aphelion”, The Noise Figures return more frenetic than ever with their third full-length studio work entitled “Telepath”. Inspired by the theory of spiritualism and influenced by personal experiences, “Telepath” is an intoxicated concept album, with intensively sobering attention to

detail in every single track, revealing a different side of the band’s personality and crossing all the paths the duet from Greece has traveled so far, from heavy blues to psych garage to a fuzz vertigo. With its swinging moods of bright to dark undertones, the album sounds sharper than ever, with more energy, intensity and tuneful sensibility, capturing the band’s hundreds of live performances and touring thrust. With Alex Bolpasis’ stamp on production and mixing, The Noise Figures develop the artistic freedom they have cultivated over the years, while keeping their primitive spirit of raw guitar and drum sound intact.
                                

The Noise Figures – Telepath
Label: Inner Ear – INN150
Format: CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: 2018
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock

TRACKS

                            

01. Taste Like Time     3:21
02. Strange Medium Child     3:22
03. Stay Forever Young     3:27
04. Out Of Touch     3:58
05. Healing Light     3:08
06. Telepath     3:15
07. Hypnotized     2:32
08. Lethargy     4:22
09. Never Sleep     2:20
10. Glow Electric     5:02

LINE - UP

                        

Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Stamos Bamparis
Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards – George Nikas

Flac Size: 264 MB

4 Non Blondes: Bigger, Better, Faster, More! 1992

San Francisco's 4 Non Blondes burst onto the national scene with their massive, neo-hippie anthem

"What's Up" from their debut Bigger, Better, Faster, More? Although they failed to recreate the single's success, the album, as a whole, is a fairly engaging mix of alternative rock, quasi-funk, and blues. 4 Non Blondes formed in San Francisco in 1989. Their lineup comprises Linda Perry (guitars, vocals), Christa Hillhouse (bass), Dawn Richardson (drums) and Roger Rocha (guitar); previously in the band were founding members Shaunna Hall (guitar) and Wanda Day (drums).
                                   

The name of the band came from an experience the group had in the Bay Area with a blonde family.

According to Christa Hillhouse, "Right next to us, there's a trash receptacle with a piece of pizza on top and the kid wanted to pick it up. The mom said, 'No, it's probably dirty, what with the pigeons and people.' And she stared right at us. We were Non Blondes." They said the experience became a symbol that they did not fit the California stereotype. They got their start in the San Francisco bar scene, especially lesbian bars, gaining a significant lesbian following.
                               

The focal point is on lead singer Linda Perry who also plays guitar and was the primary writer of

the material. Perry has a powerful set of pipes akin to Johnette Napolitano, but, unfortunately, she tends to cut loose when a little more restraint would benefit the proceedings. However, "Superfly" is a feel good, funky number and "Spaceman"'s yearning lyrics are delivered over a quiet, martial drum rhythm. A solid debut that got lost in the wake of its mammoth hit. 
                       

The video for "What's Up?" became a smash on MTV, propelling sales of the album to over six

million copies worldwide. "What's Up?" was selected as Best Song by the Bay Area Music Awards; moreover, Perry was chosen as Best Female Vocalist and Bigger, Better, Faster, More? won for Best Album. The group toured with Neil Young, Pearl Jam, and Bob Dylan. The band recorded tunes for the soundtracks to Wayne's World 2 and Airheads. The first single was "Dear Mr. President", which bass player Christa Hillhouse told Songfacts "was about the hierarchy of power and government." 
                            

The second single, "What's Up?", reached No. 1 in several countries and went gold in the United States,

while the album itself went platinum, accumulating sales of 1.5 million copies in the United States alone and 6 million copies worldwide. However, Perry felt that the group had become too pop; consequently, she left 4 Non Blondes. She released her solo debut, In Flight, in 1995. Perry departed from Interscope Records in 1998 and recorded her second full-length, After Hours, for her own label, Rockstar Records. 
                                   

4 Non Blondes – Bigger, Better, Faster, More!
Label:Interscope Records – 7 92112-2, Atlantic – 7 92112-2
Format:CD, Album, Stereo
Country:US
Released:Oct 13, 1992
Genre:Rock
Style:Alternative Rock, Folk Rock, Hard Rock

TRACKS

                          

01. Train    3:47
02. Superfly    4:37
03. What's Up   4:55
Engineer – Mark Hensley, Kent Matcke
04. Pleasantly Blue    2:27
05. Morphine & Chocolate    4:41
06. Spaceman    3:40
07. Old Mr. Heffer    2:16
08. Calling All The People    3:17
09. Dear Mr. President    4:43
10. Drifting    3:30
11. No Place Like Home    3:09

LINE - UP

                      

Linda Perry – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Christa Hillhouse – bass, background vocals
Roger Rocha – lead guitar (credited but joined after the album's completion)
Dawn Richardson – drums

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Shaunna Hall – guitar
Rory Kaplan – Mellotron
Suzie Katayama – cello, accordion
Louis Metoyer – guitar
Dave Rickets – keyboard
Andy James – drums
Laurent Tardy – piano

Flac Size: 280 MB

The House Of Love: The House Of Love 1988 + Fontana Or The Butterfly Album 1990 + Babe Rainbow 1992

 

The House of Love put together a long-running career built on shiny ringing guitars, dreamily psychedelic melodies, bursts of noise, and Guy Chadwick's dryly observant, sometimes cutting

songs. Their initial incarnation leaned into the noisy side of their sound, recording for Creation and releasing some of the label's early signpost songs like "Christine" and "Shine On." Once the band signed to a major label, their '90s output became more polished, but also more nuanced; 1990's self-titled LP is considered to be a classic alternative album by many. All the elements of their early recordings surfaced on further albums made as the group reunited over the years, though they were a little softer around the edges, and on 2022's State of Grace they explored country-rock and the blues. 
                        

The House of Love were formed in 1986 in Camberwell, London, by former Kingdoms singer and guitarist Guy Chadwick: he had been inspired to start a new band after seeing the Jesus and Mary

Chain in concert at London's Electric Ballroom. He wrote a new song called "Christine", which gave him ideas for progress: "The idea of the sound of the group and what kind of musicians to look for... female vocals... a good take on the Velvets' sonics... and of course the image." Chadwick teamed up with an old friend, drummer Pete Evans, and recruited the rest of the initial House of Love lineup via an advert in Melody Maker. 
                      

This brought together an international band of London-born lead guitarist Terry Bickers (ex-

Colenso Parade), described as "a genius guitar player," by Creation Records' Alan McGee, German rhythm guitarist/co-singer Andrea Heukamp and her bass guitarist boyfriend Chris Groothuizen (from New Zealand). Chadwick opted to name his new band The House of Love after Anaïs Nin's book A Spy in the House of Love There was a considerable age differential in the band: Chadwick, by now aged 30, was nearly ten years older than Terry Bickers. 
                           

The following year, the House of Love moved over to Fontana and released two singles, "Never" and "I Don't Know Why I Love You." By the end of 1989, Bickers left the group; he was replaced by Simon Walker. The House of Love's second untitled album -- often referred to as "The Butterfly Album" -- was

released in early 1990 and saw the band adding production values to their sound, giving it an arena-ready feel without losing the inherent drama found in Chadwick's tales of love and loss. After the group's 1990 tour, Walker left the group and was replaced by Simon Mawby. The House of Love returned in early 1992 with Babe Rainbow, which received favorable reviews that were unmatched by sales figures. The continuing lack of commercial success began to wear on the group, leading to their 1993 disbandment after the release of Audience with the Mind.  
                             

  

In 2005, Chadwick and Bickers made amends, played several gigs, and released Days Run Away.  A brand-new album was released from a re-formed House of Love lineup that featured original drummer

Evans, She Paints Words in Red, which was released in April 2013. Chadwick gathered a new crop of musicians -- guitarist Keith Osbourne, drummer Hugo Degenhardt, and bassist Harry Osbourne -- and began recording a new batch of songs. Betraying a heavy blues-rock and C&W troubadour influence, the House of Love's seventh album, State of Grace, was issued in 2022 by Cherry Red, mere months after the label released Burn Down the World, a complete collection of the group's '90s recordings.
                               

ALBUMS ON THIS POST

01. The House of Love 1988
02. The House of Love / Fontana or The Butterfly Album 1990
03. Babe Rainbow 1992

01.  THE HOUSE OF LOVE 1988 DELUXE EDITION

                                   

For all of the band's later highlights, there's no question that this is where the group shone the best; still

hungry, still focused, and not plagued by the personality conflicts that would cause Terry Bickers' acrimonious departure, the quartet served up a half-hour-long delight. Guy Chadwick's yearning vocals and ear for memorable melodies matched beautifully with Bickers' fantastic guitar, and if the recorded results didn't really show the latter at full strength (Chadwick essentially told him what to play, and he only cut loose in concert), it's still something.
                            

The House Of Love – The House Of Love
Label: Cherry Red – CRCDBOX61
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Deluxe Edition, 30th Anniversary Edition
Country: UK
Released: Sep 28, 2018
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock

CD1.  THE ALBUM        

                         

   
01. Christine    3:27
02. Hope    2:57
03. Road    3:45
04. Sulphur    3:06
05. Man To Child    2:51
06. Salome    2:30
07. Love In A Car    4:00
08. Happy    2:54
09. Fisherman's Tale    3:45
10. Touch Me    3:04
11. Shine On (Demo - Album Bonus 7")    3:56
12. Christine (Demo - Album Bonus 7")    4:02

Flac Size: 274 MB

CD2.  SINGLES, B-SIDES, RARITIES        

                         

   
01. Shine On    3:20
02. Love    2:25
03. Flow    2:36
04. Real Animal    2:59
05. Plastic    2:04
06. Nothing To Me    3:11
07. The Hill    2:58
08. Loneliness Is A Gun    2:25
09. The Hedonist    4:05
10. Welt    3:18
11. Destroy The Heart    2:46
12. Blind    2:39
13. Mr. Jo    3:56
14. Shine On (Guy Chadwick Demo)    3:26
15. Real Animal (Demo)    5:34
16. Touch Me (Demo)    4:34
17. Happy (Demo)    4:47
18. Road (Alternative Version)    4:03
19. Salome (Alternative Version)    2:45
20. Fisherman's Tale (Alternative Version)    3:27
21. Destroy The Heart (Demo)    3:19
22. Shine On (Fuck Version) (Flexidisc)    2:18

Flac Size: 471 MB

CD3.  DEMOS            

                     

01. Road (Longer Early Mix 2/88)    3:59
02. Sulphur (Early Mix 2/88)    3:01
03. Happy (Early Mix 2/88)    3:07
04. Fisherman's Tale (Early Mix 2/88)    3:47
05. Touch Me (Early Mix #1 2/88)    3:02
06. Salome (Longer Early Mix 2/88)    2:46
07. Shine On (Band Demo)    4:01
08. Real Animal (16 Track Demo)    4:39
09. Christine (16 Track Demo)    4:08
10. Hold On To Me (16 Track Demo)    3:54
11. Hope (Alternative Version 3/88)    2:52
12. Man To Child (Alternative Version 2/88)    2:52
13. Love In A Car (Alternative Version 3/88)    4:24
14. Modern World (Demo - Alias Welt)    3:06
15. Little Girl (Alias Mr Jo) (Alternative Version)    4:25
16. Sulphur (Alternative Version)    2:32
17. Happy (Alternative Version)    2:53
18. Touch Me (Alternative Version)    3:06
19. Shine On (Rehearsal)    3:22
20. Real Animal (Rehearsal)    3:22
21. Destroy The Heart (Rehearsal - No Guitar)    2:50

Flac Size: 469 MB

 CD4.  BBC SESSIONS 1988 - 89       

                         

    
01. Destroy The Heart    2:46
02. Nothing To Me    3:52
03. Plastic    2:04
04. Blind    2:42
05. The Hedonist    3:06
06. Don't Turn Blue (Alias Soft As Fire)    3:17
07. Safe    5:11
08. Love In A Car    4:47
09. In A Room    3:23
10. The Beatles And The Stones    3:23
11. Christine    3:56
12. Loneliness Is A Gun    2:30

Flac Size: 276 MB

CD5.  LIVE        

                        

01. Christine (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht)    3:27
02. Man To Child (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht)    3:11
03. Road (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht)    4:21
04. Shine On (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht)    3:41
05. Plastic (Live, Groningen)    2:07
06. Sulphur (Live, Groningen)    2:55
07. Touch Me (Live, Groningen)    2:57
08. Nothing To Me (Live, Groningen)    3:49
09. I Don't Know Why I Love You But I Do (Live, Groningen)    4:04
10. Never (Live, Top Rank, Brighton)    3:08
11. Se Dest (Live, Top Rank, Brighton)    3:47
12. The Hedonist (Live, Top Rank, Brighton)    2:29
13. Soft As Fire (Live, Top Rank, Brighton)    3:06
14. Fisherman's Tale (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    3:49
15. Happy (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    3:12
16. Love In A Car (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    4:24
17. Destroy The Heart (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    2:46
18. I Wanna Be Your Dog (Live, Le Cigale, Paris)    3:15

Flac Size: 361 MB

LINE - UP

Guy Chadwick - vocals, guitars
Terry Bickers - lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Groothuizen - bass guitar
Pete Evans - drums

WITH

Andrea Heukamp - guitar and backing vocals on "Christine"

02.  THE HOUSE OF LOVE / FONTANA OR THE BUTTERFLY ALBUM 1990

                     

Following the combination of indie success and massive hype leading up to the band's first album proved

to be too much for the original lineup, with Bickers leaving after a series of problems and pressures once the group signed to Fontana. Yet rarely has a fraught series of recording sessions resulted in something so flat-out stunning. The House of Love's second self-titled album in a row -- third counting the German singles comp -- remains something of a high-water mark in what can loosely be termed U.K. post-punk music, acting as an effective final statement before the onslaughts of Madchester, grunge, and Brit-pop.
                         

The House Of Love – Fontana Or The Butterfly Album
Label: Fontana – 842 293-2, PolyGram – 842 293-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. Hannah    5:44
02. Shine On    4:00
03. Beatles And The Stones    4:23
04. Shake And Crawl    3:40
05. Hedonist    3:36
06. I Don't Know Why I Love You    3:30
07. Never    3:43
08. Someone's Got To Love You    3:40
09. In A Room    4:05
10. Blind    3:44
11. 32nd Floor    4:05
12. Se Dest    5:02

LINE - UP

                                  

Guy Chadwick – vocals, guitars
Terry Bickers – lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Groothuizen – bass guitar
Pete Evans – drums

Flac Size: 574 MB

03.  BABE RAINBOW 1992

                        

Babe Rainbow is the only House of Love studio album to feature Simon Walker (ex-Dave Howard Singers

as well as being Chris Groothuizen and Pete Evans’ bandmate in My White Bedroom). Walker had replaced Terry Bickers as lead guitarist in December 1989 and would himself leave the band in mid-1992 (to be replaced by Simon Mawby of The Woodentops). Former House of Love member Andrea Heukamp returned as a guest performer to add extra guitar and backing vocals. 
                                

The House Of Love – Babe Rainbow
Label: Fontana – 512 549-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Ethereal

TRACKS

                   

01. You Don't Understand    3:50
02. Crush Me    3:48
03. Cruel    5:47
04. High In Your Face    4:44
05. Fade Away    3:24
06. Feel   3:55
Songwriter – Warne Livesey    
07. Girl With The Loneliest Eyes   3:42
Songwriter – Warne Livesey    
08. Burn Down The World    5:54
09. Philly Phile    4:23
10. Yer Eyes    4:11

LINE - UP

                            

Guy Chadwick - lead vocals, guitars, bass guitar
Simon Walker - guitars
Chris Groothuizen - bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Evans – drums

WITH

                       

Warne Livesey - guitar, hurdy-gurdy, keyboards, backing vocals
Andrea Heukamp - guitar, backing vocals
Pandit Dinesh – tablas

Flac Size: 312 MB