Saturday 1 August 2015

The Membranes - Do The Supernova



"It's one for the money!
Two for the show!
Three to get ready!
Go, cat, go!
DO THE SUPERNOVA!......."


  The Membranes are from Blackpool and got together as long ago as 1977. Their first release was 1980's Flexible Membrane 7" flexi which came out on Vinyl Drip Records, as did the following year's Muscles single. Their debut album was a 6 track effort which was probably my first purchase of theirs and which included the excellent Myths And Legends. I also remember my record collection including their classic Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder 7"

  Led by John Robb (who went on to form Goldblade), the band were never afraid to push the boundaries of punk and consequently didn't get stuck in the same rut as some of their contemporaries. Favourites with the much missed John Peel they also released the Everything's Brilliant single (another one that sat proudly in my collection) and had US success with 1986's Songs Of Love And Fury album.

  1989 saw the release of the album To Slay The Rock Pig and this looked like being their final long player but they reformed in 2009 in order to play All Tomorrow's Parties and earlier this year Cherry Red Records released Dark Matter/Dark Energy, a sonic soundscape that deals with the themes of life and death (both on a personal and a Universal level), it's been racking up some great reviews.

  Aside from Robb (vocals/bass), the line up currently features Nick Brown (guitar/piano/brass), Pete Byrchmore (guitar/strings/keyboards) and Ron Haynes (drums). Today they're appearing at the Kendall Calling Festival ahead of gigs later this month at The Rebellion Festival in Blackpool and gigs in Bristol and London.

  From the new album, and also released as a single, this is Do The Supernova.....

 

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