Crisis in the neighbourhood

The new album by Liverpool group China Crisis has been released at last via the Pledge music site. 

Autumn in the Neighbourhood is their first new album of studio material in 21 years (the last being 1994's rather weedy Warped By Success), and comes a full 30 years after their multi-million selling Flaunt the Imperfection, considered by many to be their artistic zenith.

Autumn is a worthy "follow up" to their heady eighties albums, and many tracks rely on the cool, mellow sounds perfected in the mid-eighties with producer Walter Becker, while maintaining the band's whimsical homely charm. Comparisons with previous works is almost inevitable in sucg cases, yet take the album for what it is: a fine colelction of well-crafted songs, written by accomplished, mature musicians, put together without any undue pressure. 

Sadly, with the album being a Pledge 'project', it's no longer available to purchase after its initial release to pledgers although rumour has it that it will be available in proper shops soon. Rumour also has it that band member and vocalist Gary Daly is willing to send out copies against payment of an equivalent sum to a charity of your choice. Search the China Crisis Appreciation Society facebook page to see if it's still true.

Currently touring North American neighbourhoods, China Crisis will be playing various festivals over the summer and a UK tour proper afterwards. In the autumn, of course.

For a trip down memory lane and to see how the Chinas were doing 30 years ago, click on the pic for to read their interview in Smash Hits from June 1985 (courtesy of the ever wonderful Like Punk Never Happened).

La Edad de Oro

La Edad de Oro (The Golden Age) was an Spanish TV popular arts programme which ran from 1983 to 1985, and is considered to be a cult TV show of the time..something like the Beeb's OGWT..but even more cult ...and pop....and continental.
The show, presented by one Paloma Chamorro (pic.), was an important milestone in Spanish pop culture in the post-Franco years and featured many trendy bands of the time, including such names as The Durutti Column, Cabaret Voltaire, Culture Club, Aztec Camera and many more. Bands would perform live sets of 5 or 6 songs usually accompanied by an interview with Ms Chamorro.
A John Foxx performance and interview from 83 recently cropped up on youtube and is now circulating as a bootleg DVD. As far as I can see only programmes featuring Spanish bands have appeared in official DVD form, although if anyone knows anything to the contrary please let me know.
I was pleased to come across an Edad de Oro performance by China Crisis dating from early 1984 on youtube (see this user's channel for more bands and info). It's a a tight set by the Chinas featuring tracks from their first two albums (just prior to recording and releasing Flaunt the Imperfection) including this rare performance of No Ordinary Lover (anyone know who the drummer is as it's not Kevin Wilkinson).

Anyone for China?

I am occasionally prompted by a good friend of mine to go back and find out what Liverpool combo China Crisis are up to these days. Never ones for a high profile (save for a few months in the mid-eighties) the Chinas still marvellously publish news of gigs and things via good old myspace (sooo 2000's). So judging by the events list on there, whether you're in Palma or Portsmouth, London or Liverpool then you should get a chance to check 'em out.

I was also pleased to see loads of footage of the Chinas from their golden era has cropped up on youtube including this little gem on the ORS in 82 (?). Just a tad too much dry ice, but they were so brilliantly young and innocent...



Their music always had that Spring into Summer kind of feel to it (first three albums
are def. pre-autumnal equinoxe stuff) so let's get the good times rolling. And to that end glad to see Saltyka and his friends' China Crisis page is still up (As featured on LIM yonks ago..).

or
watch / listen to my China Crisis video playlist

China life

Found some really spiffing vintage pics of Liverpool popsters China Crisis in Gary Daly's photobucket account today, which he very kindly (although perhaps unwittingly?) has made available to the public!

Also some nice music on the band's myspace page including a version of Christian I'd never heard before and a new song Slow Houses which actually I think is Safe as Houses slowed down, hence the name.

Band member Gary Daly apart from being one of Britain's best musicians ever, is also a damn good artist and has a CD/postcard boxset "How to Live and Love your Life" available through Polite publisher of cards, books and art multiples based in Cheshire UK. (See Gary Daly performing Baghead Blues here.) His works will also be shown at Kirkby Gallery in Newtown Gardens, Kirkby, L32 8RR, Merseyside, from 23rd Feb - 10th May.

China Crisis will also be playing a one-off fund raiser for 'Friends of Meols Park' on Thursday 5th February. Let's hope for some new material..... (wishful thinking..?)

China Crisis on myspace
Gary Daly on myspace

Crisis? What Crisis?

music blog find of the day:
All you ever wanted about the China Crisis