01 April 2024

1AD

This month I have a slew of jumbo projects that somehow all fell into April. No sense bushing around the beat...might as well plunge right into this new mess. 

A dive into 4AD..

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The influential 4AD label set the mood for an entire generation of music lovers in the 80s. The label was started in 1980 by music enthusiasts Ivo Watts-Russsell & Peter Kent while working at a Beggars Banquet record shop. Kent left after a year to start Situation 2 Records. Throughout this entire story, 4AD maintained the almost entirely uninterrupted sense of integrity up until the mid 1990s. But even Watts-Russell was unable to preserve this sense of purity much beyond a decade & a half. The reason he called it a day was the usual, familiar, eternal problem: making art usually requires money, & making money usually destroys art.

Originally calling their label Axis, the two released an initial series of four 7" singles before finding out that the name Axis was already being used by another label. Having to quickly come up with a new name, the partners noticed the following bit of typography that their graphic designer had put on a flyer announcing the Axis releases:

1980 FORWARD
1980 FWD
1984 AD
4AD

So 4AD it was.

Here are the first four 7" singles from Axis. 

 

The Fast Set - Junction 1, Axis AXIS 1, 1980.
all decryption codes in comments

Side A - Junction 1
Side B - Children of the Revolution
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bearz - She's My Girl, Axis AXIS2, 1980.
Side A - She’s My Girl
Side B - Girls Will Do
 
 
 
 
 
Bauhaus - Dark Entries, Axis AXIS 3, 1980.
Side A - Dark Entries
Side B - Untitled (Dark Entries demo)
 
 
 
 
 
Shox - No Turning Back, Axis AXIS 4, 1980.
Side A - No Turning Back
Side B - Lying Here
 
 
 
 
 

note: Because of the depth of the 4AD label & the length of time they have been around, I would like readers to chime in with any request they might have for anything I have not shared. If I have it I will share it in a final 4AD Requests post.

Enjoy,

17 comments:

  1. The Fast Set - Junction 1 7"
    FTcNauxeXp1Wz-uvGtsuC2yyWhCsE_R1DTXkYzZenQg
    Bearz - She’s My Girl 7"
    B8AdPfn7QkWWMlwCTL9KkS9Tc0Rm-OeiLLpvWigD85M
    Bauhaus - Dark Entries 7"
    FV64eGS41rWlc_rICGtm5dkp_DnnK3tntS4uLifcnzg
    Shox - No Turning Back 7"
    HIhKgGtE324SEzHo5pM2zOimIYYkWpzUtkQtO_a1B_8

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  2. Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Most welcome. Stay tuned for much more.

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  3. Many thanks NØ.
    Bearz - another West Country band (Bath) from my youth.
    Shox - recorded at the famous (for Dub) Gooseberry Studios and fronted by the lovely Jacqui Brookes.
    No requests but please keep these wonderful memories coming!
    MarkyD

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  4. You're an absolute fuckin legend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A legend in my own mind, maybe. But thanks.

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  5. WoW Nathan! You continue to amaze--had never ever seen that Bauhaus 7, I'm sure I've posted many 4AD in the past but early Monday morning here and I gotta label my weekend rips now. Cheers!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, brother. Many more offerings. Next up is the first year of 4AD - 1980.

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  6. Anything from the Rutkowski sisters.

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    Replies
    1. I've shared several The Hope Blister & there will definitely be several This Mortal Coil coming up. Anything in particular or is that good?

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    2. Its to hard to think. Anything rare. or not so rare. thank you,

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    3. Dear Anonymous Not in 4ad, but in a more pop angle H.O.P.E's "The Kindness of strangers may do for you.
      Cheers
      Diego

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  7. What a nice ride we are going to have in April. Thank you very much for your generosity. I'll be here every single day of April. Really looking forward to this month. Muchas muchas gracias señor.
    Pablo

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, my friend, for you kind patience. Hope there is much you enjoy this month.

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  8. I've been working backwards in time towards the Axis post, and in my humble opinion the music gets better with every passing year...
    I think that everyone who likes a bit of Indie or Alternative rock will find a band that satisfies their needs in the 4AD back catalogues. Thank you so much Andie

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    Replies
    1. Attempting universality, I too think there should easily be "something for everyone". Thanks, AJ.

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