London-based Sandals play downtempo, trip-hop, & acid jazz styled early-90s dance music mixed with poetry & conscious hip-hop. They only recorded two albums (the second has never been released) & one EP (1995s Cracked, seen by many as one of the essential early examples of trip-hop) even though they had signed with a major label (London) & scored a pop hit with their single "Feet".
The band consisted of Derek Delves on lead vocals & percussion, John Harris on various reed instruments, Ian Simmonds on bass, & Will Blanchard on drums. The group never had a full-time guitar or keyboard player, preferring to rely on friends on a song-by-song basis.
London released Rite to Silence, preceded by the single "Profound Gas," in early 1994. The second single, "Feet," was a hit. The album got generally positive reviews, but the A&R executive who signed Sandals quit the London label shortly after the album's release. His replacement neither enjoyed nor understood their music. Sandals recorded a new album with Luke Gordon, aka Spacer, who had produced their EP. London rejected the album. The group split up in early 1996. Ian Simmonds went on to release several well-received, jazz-oriented solo records under his own name & as the Juryman. Will Blanchard drummed for both Dot Allison & Beth Orton.
On the US CD release of Rite to Silence, the tracks vary from the EU version that I have. The US version begins with the 8:40+ track "Profound Gas" while the final track "Profound Dub" was relpaced by the tracks: "Feet (Dust Brothers mix)"; & "Feet (Wrong Side of Town mix)". I have included "Profound Gas" & the "Feet" remixes as bonus tracks here.
Feet
Nothing
No Movement
Change
Ardens Bud
We Wanna Live
We Don't Wanna Be the Ones to Take the Blame
Lovewood
Here Comes The Sign
Profound Dub
bonus tracks -
Profound Gas
Feet (Dust Brothers mix)
Feet (Charles Webster Wrong Side of Town mix)
The fix is in,
NØ
Rite to Silence
ReplyDelete1qfFbGsUzNer_5oDqnahRjrmyg7AwzWtiokKIlkObK0
Yes but:
ReplyDeleteSandals - Yesterday's Tomorrow (2009)
"Recorded and mixed at Milo Studios, Hoxton SQ, London, end of 1993 and beginning of 1994. Mastered at Battering Ram.
All tracks previously unreleased.
This is the Sandals' long lost second album recorded in 1993/94. After hearing the demo sessions London Records decided not to pick up the option for this Sandals album. Rudiments licensed the album (for Japan only) and eventually it got a proper release in June 2009."
https://mega.nz/folder/nP5mSb7T#1h8aZ_Og3xoO6FJQJtZNlw
PW, you are a saint. I was fantasizing & wishing I could somehow sneak into the London archives & listen to the unreleased & rejected Sandals. You have made my day, week, & the month of S. Fan-fucking-tastic.
ReplyDeleteNØ, just glad to put a little your way when you've put so much mine.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, here's FLAC if you need it.
Sandals - Yesterday's Tomorrow (2009)
https://mega.nz/folder/LHoikQ5T#Lw0bUKI158Ng1mbiahjiSQ
PW, thanks for the upgrade. I usually like to keep things at 320Kbps, so I can just covert the FLAC & replace the 192. I just want to say thank yo so much again for this. I've listened to it three times since I downloaded it yesterday. I hear new things every time & dig it more each time. It is so fantastic to hear new music from a band that I never dreamed I would hear more of. You're the best, my friend.
Deletebravo... I fotgot to put Sandals in my list of requests ! ..
ReplyDeleteI had also Cracked EP, darker & deeper, more electronic and elaborate production.
I listen to Sandals alot back in the day ... I really like the vocals .. the peculiar timber of the voice. The guy doing the electronics is Ian Simmonds who after Sandals produced exellent music with is name and he has been working with Pressure Drop and Leftfield. Sandals were tagged as Acid Jazz !
IMO are with Pressure Drop, Laika, Red Snapper. More osbure, no cliche, gold.
... btw .. any Death In Vegas ...?
or ... Funky Porcini ?
ps. bless PW
Thanks mauz. Glad you saw PWinks link to Yesterday's Tomorrow, a real treat to me. Cracked is indeed great. I've shared Pressure Drop several times in the past. Definitely have some Death & Funki. Just give me a bit of time to dig'em out & get'em ready.
DeleteI know that you posted the magnum Pressure Drop and also the magnum Fila Brazilia ... another reasone why this blog is a reliable ahd necessary lighthouse in dark seas storming hurricanes.
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind.
DeleteI'm late but what a good album ! Thanks
ReplyDeleteHope you saw the link to their previously unreleased Yesterday's Tomorrow from Frenz PWinks. Thanks, Sorgual.
ReplyDelete