Released
1998
Label
Beggars Banquet
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Contact
Beggars Banquet
17-19 Alma Road
London SW18 1AA
United Kingdom
Visit
Last Edit/Update
02 juli, 1998
Tones On Tail
EVERYTHING!
Track Listing
Disc A
1. Lions
2. War
3. Happiness
4. The Never Never (Is Forever)
5. Performance
6. Slender Fungus
7. Movement Of Fear
8. Real Life
9. Rain
Disc B
1. Go! (Club Mix)
2. Christian Says
3. Twist
4. Burning Skies
5. O.K. This Is The Pops
6. You, The Night And The Music
7. When You're Smiling
8. There's Only One
9. Now We Lustre
10. A Bigger Splash
11. Copper
12. Means Of Escape
13. Instrumental
14. Performance (7" Version)
15. Shakes
16. Heartbreak Hotel (Live)
In early 1982, Daniel Ash (of Bauhaus) embarked on a
side-project with art school friend/ex-roady Glenn Campling -- later, after the
disbandment of Bauhaus in 1983, Kevin Haskins also joined in. Tones
On Tail was the name of this band, and between 1982 and 1984 a series of singles,
and one album, were released. The music drew upon a wide variety of influences, and the
style and mood of Tones On Tail's releases fluctuated between the
melancholy and dark sound of Bauhaus, and lighter, more fun-loving and
danceable tracks, bearing a closer resemblance to the later recordings of Love And
Rockets.
For those who may never have heard Tones
On Tail's music, it is perhaps best described as melodic, psychedelic, dance-pop,
driven by adventurous percussion, prominent analog synths and strong bass lines. The songs
span a wide spectrum of moods and emotions, aided by lyrics that are at turns darkly
ironic and achingly poetic. Here are downright silly tunes like "Slender
Fungus," compelling dance club classics "Go!" and "Lions," joyous
and playful songs such as "Twist" and "Happiness," and here are also
the exceedingly beautiful and melancholy compositions "Burning Skies" and
"Rain." As such, Tones On Tail can be seen as a transitional
project for Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins, bridging their work in Bauhaus
and Love And Rockets. Yet, in its brief lifespan, Tones On Tail
managed to create a legacy that has already outlived the band itself by close to 15 years.
Originally, Tones On Tail's
records were of course released on vinyl, but with the explosion of the compact disc
market, the recordings were re-released on CD. Different compilations of the band's
material appeared in America and Europe, but neither of them collected everything.
Now, Beggars Banquet has released a new double-CD entitled Everything!,
finally bringing together all of Tones On Tail's songs. The first disc of
the set is the album Pop, which came out in April of 1984; and the second disc
features the songs from the singles/EPs: A Bigger Splash (May '82), There's Only
One (Sept. '83), Burning Skies (May '83), Performance (March '84), Lions
(May '84) and Christian Says (Nov. '84).
In addition to the collected
musical works, a brief radio interview with Daniel Ash has been included at the
end of the second CD, and the booklet includes an essay on the band's history, photos,
track listings and cover reproductions of the original releases, as well as lyrics to all
the songs. This is in all respects the definitive Tones On Tail
collection.
