LUDDITES - The Strength Of Your Cry (EP, 1983)LUDDITES - Altered States (7-inch, 1984)
Oddly, aside from Das Kabinette, all of the bands I’ve reviewed thus far have been from the North American continent. The reason I think this odd is because an awful lot, if not the majority, of the music I listen to actually originates in Europe, and to be more specific, the United Kingdom most repeatedly. So, out of proper respect for my collection I thought it high time to grab something that just screamed British, and for this I have chosen two 45s from the not so prim and proper English band called Luddites.
Luddites’ 1983 debut EP, “The Strength of Your Cry”, shows us an enthusiastic young band successfully utilizing a wide range of familiar Brit-punk stylings from poppy postpunk to barbaric anarcho-punk to edgy goth. It’s an interesting listen for sure, being loose and dancey one moment, and then tense and chilly the next, but I can’t help but to feel slightly let down by the EP’s lack of direction or personal style. I mean I was entering one of the songs into a playlist the other day and almost found myself spelling the band’s name out J-o-y D-i-v…… ACKKK! 
But wait… it would be completely absurd to judge a band on one release alone (unless they only have one release of course), so let us take a moment to soak in Luddites’ second release titled “Altered States” which is a convincing testament to the band’s true emerging spirit. With only one year of growth the band have decidedly tossed aside their hardcore leanings and chosen to give focus to the cold, gothic-tinged postpunk they had touched on earlier. Sounding like a fit of anger drowning in a pool of fresh tears, the two songs offered here will awaken inner sadness and stir up once calm nerves. And although the Joy Division influence is still apparent (is this a bad thing?), the band’s skill level has noticeably improved providing a denser, more complex listening experience and a greater understanding of just where these guys hoped to go. Too bad “Altered States” would be the band's final epitaph.
DOT #11
17 comments:
Thanks for these Noinim. I just recently found out about the 'Altered States' 7". I have another song 'Just To Return' on a comp. 12" called '4 Your Ears Only', released in Belgium. Other bands are Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Red Guitars and Party Day.
Do you happen to have both 7"s of Cold Dance, also released on Xcentric Noise? Would like to hear these.
I do have one of the Cold Dance 7-inches in my collection, but I had no idea that there was another. The one I have is called "No Glamour In Industry". It's on my list of possible postings; the only problem is my turntable broke so I'll have to hold off until I can find a reasonably priced replacement. I seem to recall someone somewhere recently stating that they now had these available through SLSK, but I haven’t checked to confirm.
The second Cold Dance 7" is 'Medusa'. I think this one is harder to find.
Hope you can resolve the turntable problem soon.
Very cool noinim. Another band I've always wanted to hear....
Great songs. thanks a lot!
a fantastic post been after this for years ta buddy
conmanxxx - i'm curious to know, do you have a blog to share? seems a lot of people choose not to make their blogs public. why is this?
If you could please re-upload these tracks I would be eternally grateful. I haven't heard these since the mid 80s!
re-upppppppped! enjoy.
thanks for this, really cool stuff.
link is broken, upload again please
i love your blog, i just found it! could you possibly re-upload the luddites album? the link isn't working anymore.
thanks! great job!
I first heard the Luddites in 1983, played on the Radio by the late John Peel, when I was 17. I taped it from the radio - but the tape got lost lost somewhere a few monrths later - the song however has haunted me for 25 years, but I presumed it was too obscure to ever hear again, intil I found your blog! A hundred thanks for reconnecting me with "the strength of her cry"
Peel Session from 1983 here http://cliffrichardsneck.blogspot.com/2009/04/luddites-peel-session-19-9-83.html
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It is extremely interesting for me to read the post. Thank author for it. I like such topics and anything connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more soon.
Keep on posting such themes. I like to read blogs like that. BTW add some pics :)
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