Friday, February 1, 2013

Elephant Talk – Ask 7” (Fragile Records, 1983)



Elephant Talk were a pleasingly punky Goth band that appeared out of Cornwall. This last bit surprised me a bit since thanks to my entire knowledge of Cornwall having been gleaned from Ripping Yarns, I naturally understood it to be populated entirely by pirates, smugglers and eccentric innkeepers.

The band seem to have taken their name from a single by Prog rock gods King Crimson (EG, 1981) and several other bands have since followed suit, making research into Elephant Talk ever so slightly awkward.

Sadly, Elephant Talk proved to be a short lived affair and the Ask 7” would be the only thing they would ever release. Sad, because it’s a highly enjoyable listen, especially the A side, but equally sad because managing to get Art Director for The Face magazine, Neville Brody who had also worked with much better known acts including Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode, Clock DVA and Throbbing Gristle, to provide the cover art must have been quite a coup, but doesn’t seem to have translated into success. 

I've thought long and hard trying to work out just what this reminds me of, and eventually came to the conclusion of a cross between Joy Division and Bauhaus with Gavin Friday on vocals might come close. But decide for yourself.


Ask (For some inexplicable reason Youtube wrongly calls this song “Alive”)




Burning Halo



After this it’s all over as various members, like opening a sack of cats, explode in all directions, forming numerous new bands and projects.
Short and sweet, just like this post really.

Track Listing
  1.  Ask
  2. Burning Halo
Line Up: Ross Reid (vocals), Matthew Watts (guitar), Adam (bass), Andy Copelin (drums)