FROM THE VAULTS. RARE AND UNRELEASED TRACKS FROM ’80s MOD LEGENDS.
The wild cards of the late ’80s and early '90's Mod scene. North London’s The Studio 68! — average age 20 — are fast approaching Mod legend status thanks to their inclusion on definitive compilations ‘Millions Like Us’ and ‘Eddie Piller Presents The Mod Revival’.
'The Total Sound!’ finally tells the young Mods' forgotten story.
Named after the student riots of 1968, and with an encyclopaedic knowledge of pop culture — influences ranged from The Small Faces and the Beat poets to Richard Neville’s counterculture bible ’Playpower’ — they offered a stylish, high-octane rejection of both '80's indie introspection and '90's grunge nihilism.
Recorded between 1987 and 1991, the recordings featured on The Total Sound capture The Studio 68! at their very best.
Veering between blazing pop anthems (‘Get Out Of My Hair’), apocalyptic freakbeat (‘Understood’) and space-age acid soul (show-stopping final track ’Sky’s The Limit’), it is the sound of the band at full throttle, their ultra-tight delivery honed by countless gigs on the London circuit alongside Dodgy, The Moment, The Clique, The Reflection, The Aardvarks and others.
Also included are brilliant proto-acid jazz instrumental ‘Groovin’ With Mr B’ — recorded live in Hamburg in June 1988 — a mind-blowing cover of Cliff Richard’s ‘Devil Woman’ and the Hammond organ-heavy title track — which pre-dates The Charlatans’ debut single ‘Indian Rope’ by two-and-a-half years.
The result is an album which proves The Studio 68! were a band who were way ahead of their time — a postcard from the Britpop future.
Available in very limited numbers (just 250), 150 Copies on Black Vinyl and 100 on a special Italian target vinyl, this essential collection is a genuine collectors item.
Elliot Palm, London.
FEATURES
Side One
1. Groovin’ With Mr B
2. The Feeling
3. Devil Woman
4. Get Out Of My Hair
5. Thirteenth Chime
6. Understood
7. Searchin’
Side Two
8. The Total Sound
9. Closer Than Close
10. Living In A World Of Your Own
11. Time Machine
12. Back In The USSR
13. Your Side Of Things
14. The Sky’s The Limit
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