Got into them in 1980 totally by accident. I was trolling through the albums in Virgin records in Birmingham and saw the cover for Jeopardy and something just told me to take a chance on it. Loved them ever since. Tragic loss losing Adrian to suicide and also Colvin Mayers to illness. Great band and deserved far more success than they got.
Adrian was a fan of Joy Division and Ian Curtis. I slightly prefer The Sound over Joy Division for Adrian's guitar playing; however, songs like "New Dawn Fades," "Atmosphere," "Ceremony," "Decades," "Love Will Tear Us Apart," and "Disorder" are absolute classics to me and I don't find them overrated. I think a lot of people hate on them, because so many douchebags wear the Unknown Pleasures tshirts where we kind of form a hatred for them as a band due to guilt by association. Overall, I like the Sound for their guitar playing/synth sound while I like Joy Division for Peter Hook's bass playing. Both Ian and Adrian were also great lyricists.
Do you find that the vocal melody in the verse of The Sound's 'Heyday' is reminiscent of Curtis' singing style? I really do, though I haven't heard anyone else comment on it. I know 'Silent Air' was about Ian, but I wonder if that one was too.
@@plushy9849 Definitely "Heyday" has Ian's vocal delivery style. I have always thought Ian was a low tenor that tried to sing like a baritone and by trying to sing like a baritone a la David Bowie and Jim Morrison, he created a really unique style that so many have emulated since. Early Joy Division songs were more tenorish in nature, but then he went with the vocal delivery style that was found on Unknown Pleasures which kind of emulated Jim Morrison's voice in a low tenorish way. Just look out how great Thom Yorke (a low tenor) covered "Ceremony" and sang it like I would expect Ian would have sang it. I never Knew "Silent Air" was about Ian. Really cool to know that now.
@@soysaucehairdye7869 Just gave it a listen, hadn't heard it before. I see what you mean! That style of singing seems to expose the vulnerability of the person - it's quite pensive and introspective, almost like we're hearing their internal dialogue. I absolutely love Adrian's voice and tell people that it's the most truthful voice I've ever heard. Ian has that truth in his voice too. I love voices that have real humanity in them - you can hear the blood and the muscle, the vitality, frustration, and confusion. Both were troubled and they found a way to open up a portal from the enormity of their internal worlds to reach to us.
@@plushy9849 Yeah my two favorite singers of all time are Dolores O'riordan and Jeff Buckley for the pure emotion they could express. The Cranberries "Them" and Jeff Buckley "Opened Once" are such emotional masterpieces.
In my book, Shock Of Daylight is his crowning achievement and one of the best EPs of all time. So powerful. And it’s more hopeful than a lot of his earlier stuff.... I would also recommend his minimal/synth punk project SECOND LAYER. Awesome stuff!
Second Layer is freaking amazing. Essential listening for any Sound fan. Adrian's body of work is so consistently incredible that it's honestly insane.
I just randomly discovered The Sound this past Spring with From the Lion's Mouth, and I've not been able to get enough of that record and Jeopardy! I've even learned Skeletons on bass. 🥰 I'd absolutely love the records of both of these. Thanks for the tip about Heads and Hearts! I was bummed that my local record store didn't have Jeopardy or From the Lion's Mouth, but I know for sure they have Shock of Daylight and probably Heads and Hearts as well. 💜 Adrian's lyrics are poetry to me. Up until I transitioned I struggled pretty badly with gender dysphoria. I Can't Escape Myself so perfectly reminds me of those feelings. Winning, on the other hand, reminds me of how stuck I felt in a dead end career for a while, but once I started finally "swimming" I started winning. I'm so happy to have stumbled upon this band on my Spotify home page.😍 I love and agree with your take that the first two records are punk! No wonder they've paired so well with my Against Me! and Laura Jane Grace albums. ^_^
Sound is great discovery for me . Listen song by song nearly two months . Thank you too for supporting this great band . Comsat Angels , Chameleons too . I like his first band also - The Outsiders .🙂
The Sound is underrated for sure. The were however pretty massive in The Netherlands, for some strange reason they were a festival staple and beloved by the new wave crowd..
We have to admit, the Sound & Adrian Borland created an amazing Romantic story ! And the funny thing is i discovered THE SOUND with the 1985 album HEADS AND HEARTS. It was an amazing catchy sound and production. Became for 2 years my favourite band. Then i almost forget them for few years and like 5 years ago, i listen to FROM THE LIONS MOUTHS, and again i took a huge pleasure... Like specifically WINNING was such a premonition on Adrian's life & destiny !!! Anyway today THE SOUND still one of my favourite band, with of course THE CHAMELEONS. Thx for your time. Peace !!! RIP Adrian !!!
Great video! Like you, I only discovered The Sound a few years ago, when 'From the Lion's Mouth' auto-played after a Chameleons album on You Tube, but they've completely changed my life since then. As for the documentary - it should be coming out on DVD soon, until then keep your eyes open for screenings at film festivals. It's already had a few showings in the UK, the latest as part of the Doc N' Roll festival. It's a great film, but quite heavy. There was a tribute night for Adrian in the Cavern in Raynes Park last December for his 60th birthday. Another is planned for April - same venue, as it was often frequented by Adrian himself. Thanks for making this video and helping others to discover this great music. To think we could've gone our whole lives having missed it - doesn't bear thinking about!
@@plushy9849 Was a strange evening. I had to play on the "house drumkit" aka a set of worthless broken drums from the 70's. I literally taped me a set together with gaffers tape. But, that didn't matter to deliver a punky liveset for a nice little audience. You came especially from Manchester I remember.
I was so happy to see someone recognize this band. I grew up in southern California in the 80's and never herd these guys. I found them about ten years ago looking up obscure post punk bands. I was absolutely blown away by all of their albums. I'm a huge chamealons fan and i think there are some similarities also. I totally agree with the early simple minds vibe. The only tjing i disagree with you is your opinion on joy division. I love them. Thank you for sharing. ✌
Posting on the 20th anniversary of Adrian's final decision. Like you, I missed out on Adrian's talents until it was too late. Was only introduced to them around 2005 by a Danish friend. Also only got my head round the Comsats a couple of years ago (despite them being a local band to me) and the Chameleons last year. "New Dark Age" is so relevant in 2019.
Loving this Mr F. I got into The Sound recently, via The Chameleons I think. So good. I was searching for more info about Adrian on UA-cam and saw you pop up!
Same here. Ever since discovering The Sound and his work and learning his life story I can't help but relate to him so heavily. I think about him every day, feel so sorry for him.
Adrian's music after the Sound was simply majestic. He experimented with a lot of what "ifs" that really made his music stand out. At least that is how I see and hear it.
I got into The Sound during early 00's. I heard "Swimming" and I fell in love. I have Jeopardy and "From The Lion's Mouth on lp. And yes, he's great on guitar as well. I need to hunt down "Propaganda" I just bought Cardiacs: Is This The Life 12" That is one of my fav jams ever. Cheers from Finland, Petri
Amazed to hear that despite growing up up in the UK in the late 70's / 80's you never actually heard of The Sound then. The irony is I was a teen in the early to mid 80's in New Zealand where I first heard of them & bought their records & cassettes. There was even a review of "Heads And Hearts" in our local Paper! New Zealand - the other side of the world! Hold on, didn't Adrian write a song with that title? :) Thanks for your great overview of one of the most underrated Bands ever...
Is there any way to read that review? I think it's so interesting just how far music can travel, especially for back then New Zealand is quite impressive!
I too belatedly discovered The Sound around 1990 as a friend of mine had their first two albums, and I already liked Echo & The Bunnymen, so their sound was right up my street. As some time later he started selling some of his vinyl collection I was quick to get those albums off him. Shortly afterwards I bought a used copy of the live album "In the hothouse" too. I got The Chameleons and Comsat Angels on my shelf too. Especially the former are fantastic and so influential.
Nice tribute, and props on tracking down all those records. Probably a bit easier than it was in the U.S., especially when I started looking in 1983 -- took five years to find my first used copy of Jeopardy. I just finished Simon Heavisides’ book Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland, recommended for all fans. Rhino is reissuing the first three LPs on colored vinyl, but it seems only in the UK, on Sep 13.
18:18 on heads and hearts =Bliss.Also Total Recall has imo one of the greatest set of lyrics ,but the line 'There must be a hole in your memory " Oh My Goodness.....
4:58 - jeeze man, Sound, Chameleons and CSA.....that's like my last five years of music journies on UA-cam for me..... Got an earworm with "Falling" by Comsat Angels (Real Genius Sndtrk), that search lead me to their other work and the Chameleons Script of the Bridge album, which somehow lead me to "Hour of Need". And the Sound/Borland catalogs.
Great band, I try to get people to listen to them as nobody has heard of them. I think the name of the band might have been a problem for them - certainly makes googling for them more difficult! I also get Echo and the Bunnymen vibes from them in a good way. Man I love the very early 80s, what an interesting time in UK music.
i bought their first album when it was released purely because I saw the cover and decided to give them a go. Got the album home and was blown away. Bought everything they did after that. Their performances on TOGWT were brilliant. Tragic to lose Adrian and the keyboard player at such young ages.
So, I think I did listen to a little of Jeopardy before and filed it in the endless "check out later..." file, but I gave it a solid listen today before watching this and was super-impressed. Definitely a sublime post-punk mix that swims around fluidly between goth and psyche...I suppose Borland has been in my periphery via the Witch Trials, which I have to revisit forthwith...And definitely will dig more into the Sound. I think I ignore the lyrics too much lately due to the way I consume a lot of music...
Listening to Propaganda now and hear more stoogeish but also poppy like some Oz bands like Died Pretty or Ed Kuepper after the Saints...I'll sort it out when I am not stoned...Love the last record on a major label cut-out copy...
The Witch Trials is really weird but pretty awesome. I wish Adrian had some vocals on that EP because when he sings in his baritone voice with lack of major inflection it makes for a very grim atmosphere that I adore. Listen to Black Flowers off Second Layer's 1981 "World of Rubber" LP; it's like being a vampire!
The Sounds first 7" was on the same label as the Cardiac Arrest debut 7", both in 1979... I suspect he was pals with soon to be, The Cardiacs back then (I also suspect they were local to each other). Nice to see Comsat Angels, astounding debut... Enjoying your work.
Cardiacs were connected to The Sound, early label with Stephen Budd, Max The Cat was in Cardiac Arrest, roadie for The Sound, before he joined, Time & Sarah Smith appeared on Shock Of Daylight, several gigs together & Tim went on to recorded & produced 5am, lots of various projects interwoven unreleased projects over the years. I am sure this guy is a lovely bloke but so information is incorrect, Fact is each Sound record took at least a year before it actually gor released. I sadly remember a time when you could pick up these albums for 99p in Virgin Megastores back in the mid 80's to late 80's.
Max (Colvin), who replaced Bi Marshall, from "The Lion's Mouth" onwards, played in The Cardiacs before joining the Sound. He was a great friend of Sarah and Tim Smith and was invited to their wedding some time around 1984=5 (I lent him a suit for that purpose since he didn't have any and was rather broke) (he may have been best man but I'm not quite sure anymore)... The Smiths rented a house not far from Kingston=Upon=Thames's station and he'd pop in regularly. Plus, Tim and Sarah played on at leat one of Adrian's albums and I think I remember Tim produced his "5.00 am" album. Sadly (for lack of a better word), Tim passed away a few days ago. Here's part of the mail he sent me when I mailed him to try and get back in touch with Max in 2002, only to learn that my old mate was no longer with us, only in our hearts... "Dear Jean, Hello there old pal, it's Tim Smith... sorry for not getting back to you sooner but I've been away for a bit, I remember you, mainly from that time in the Gazebo pub in Kingston pre that amazing gig at the poly with them 'Monochrome set' what you enticed us all to, I gotta say that that gig (despite all the millions of gigs I ever seen since) sticks in my mind more than most. I am so sorry to find out that you only recently found out about what happened to our Colvin, please dont worry if you thought that you dredged up old memories for me, not a day passes anyway without me thinking of him all the time DEEPLY and with extra LOVE that he squeeeezed from us ALL (without him even being aware of it). Colvin was/is my best friend I ever did have...I knew him since the age of four...all the way from Guyana he was (or whatever that country is called now) and he changed my life with his kindness and goodness and beautiful humor and god knows what else. He is in my head every day, the trouble is, every time I talk, or think of him I start blubbing like a two year old kid who has just fallen off his bike...like now....keep him in your head and he lives forever and ever, and KNOW IT that he WOULD have thought of you in the last few weeks of his life because that's the kinda guy he was...beautiful, kind, beautiful. (...)"...
@@VUDUVOX Max did always strike me as being very kindhearted. Thank you for sharing, he seemed like such a great person from how highly people speak of him. Rest In Peace to him.
Also, by the way, a couple of Adrian's solo albums are still available on vinyl. One actually came out on RSD this year, but only in the Netherlands. Please get in touch if you need help finding them. My local record shop in Denmark has them both on order for me as I write, so they should still be available to order. There are also the "complete" CD box sets on Renascent which include some Sound stuff you won't find anywhere else.
I almost turned this off when you referred to Joy Division as "rubbish". No matter what your taste, a band like JD would never have had the fierce adulation and longevity of captivating new listeners if they were "rubbish". It was a silly dismissal of them that undermined you a bit as a commentator. However, I carried on watching as you are one of the few fans of The Sound and I enjoyed your further overview of their albums. You must see the doc, it's almost frightening in some of its revelations, the only drawback was they didn't have the money to use much of the music. A decent video, but I'd watch for alienating viewers with offhand dismissals of other great post-punk bands.
you are just butthurt, i guess time has managed to romanticize joy division and specially ian curtis and his suicide.. and that its actually fucking rubbish... joy division never had any future anyway.
...just listen to "heartland" and tell me they weren`t decades ahead of their time - best band ever & best frontman ( my honest vote, rightfully deserved ) - best song ever Chameleons/Second skin (... for me right now in my life and from my heart )
Simplesmente não compreendo como não foram considerados uma das maiores bandas de rock dos anos 80 e com certeza, umas das melhores bandas de post-punk, superaram em muitos bandas como Sioux, Bauhaus, Sister of M., Echo the Bur. , em fim, na minha opinião, foram melhores que estas bandas, e com certeza, estão no mesmo nível de The Cure, Joy Division e The Smiths.....superando eles com algumas canções e letras....
The Sound was one of those post punk bands that really "rocked out" in the conventional sense. Rocked harder than their contemporaries inclueding Joy Division which never really "rocked out" weren't really a "rock hard" band, The Sound was that band that would rock hard live and on record, sounded like the more energetic post-punk revival bands only 20 years earlier. Its kind of a wonder how they never broke through, being relatively conventional rockers in the likes of the Stooges and Roxy Music with a darker tinge. Looks were very important in music (still are) they weren't a band of pretty boys add to that Adrian's mood swings leaving a deep mark on the music made it not so digestible as the Bunnymen, The Cure et al. I love New Order, instrumentally Joy Division were great the singer sounding like a 65 year old with early onset dementia (even tho he was in his early 20s) really held them back. They were getting mad promotion in 79-80 I just dont get it, the music's fine tho.
I find it difficult for anyone to be taken seriously who refers to Joy Division as rubbish. Sure, each to their own, but if you take a look at the two bands, to call either rubbish only displays a total lack of understanding of the music at the time - unlike you, I saw both Joy Division, in April 1980 (did not play well that night), and the Sound several times (always excellent) in the early eighties. I remember at The Venue in Victoria, London talking to Max Myers at the bar about Sad Lovers and Giants, who were supporting them that night, and Borland shows up looking a bit agitated like he'd lost something. Joy Division's Transmission comes on the PA and I ask both of them what they thought about Joy Division, and almost in unison they answered "fucking brilliant". Borland chats for a minute or two with myself and Myers, then goes away looking around a lot. I ask Max if Borland lost something, he says, "oh, his mind probably". We both laugh. Both The Sounds first two albums were great, especially Lions Mouth, which Dudley (drummer) described as "brilliant, first one was a load of shit" Apparently he sounded like total idiot when talking about it. Real mockney twat. My mate saw him same night and told me this. Point is, every one is human, and any one who is an artist or understands art is living not too far away from the world of anxiety and depression in some form. If Ian Curtis wasn't the way he was, he'd probably be a civil servant today, If Borland wasn't the way he was he'd be alive doing some shit job I suppose. Not that shit, though. Don't forget his dad paid for their instruments, he was from a posh part of South London, middle class socialist/Marxist type. No matter where we come from, our real reality is inside us, not outside us, as the two sad suicides of Curtis and Borland display. Sure, The Sound were underrated. So fucking what? If an artist lives to be rated on any scale, then they fail to be an artist, merely an egotist. Ironically, most people who claim to be artists are the most egotistical people I've ever met. Except Lemmy (Motorhead), who was the most sensible man England produced in the 20th century. RIP all three of them. All brilliant, all human.
So you were at the Venue ? I don't remember much of Sad Lovers' support slot though. But I must have been around when you spoke to Max. Adrian was feeling quite tense given the fact that backstage, before their gig, people from the record company had brought in a designer who offered to dress the whole band as some kind of space cadets. You should have seen Adrian's face then... Max and I escaped to the bar laughing our heads off.
@@vuduvoxhq354 Happy days, eh? The reason I remember SLAG playing was because I worked with Cliff the bass player at our crappy civil service job in Harrow, and he was excited about playing with The Sound. Should have mentioned an RIP for Max as well. Great guy.
Both Joy Division and the Sound are great bands. I'm amazed you don't like JD, because The Sound was heavenly influenced by JD. I think Adrian was a better singer, but as a band JD was more inventive, but that's allright. I totally agree an your view on The Comsat Angels. Their first three brilliant albums are not on Spotify and that is a shame. You should listen to the Gentry from Holland. One of John Peel favorite bands from the Netherlands. I 'm sure you like that band.
Man very happy to have found your chanell camt agree more with the joy division sound under over rated... no dis to joy division but come on... the sound shoulda been kings... its cruel world but that music lives on and once the moment has passed it's all that matters HAIL
"Thunder up" was originally released on the "indie little fish turned major sharks" Belgian label Play It Again Sam, wasn't it ? Then Adrian released his first two solo works with them and they ripped him off no end. He was bloody angry about that at the time.
I think I recall either Mike or Graham not having anything nice to say about that label either in interviews they've given. What a bunch of crooks that label seemed to be. For shame.
@@massivegat5087 I once came across Adrian in their offices after popping there ro deliver press-photos for a friend, one of the last times I saw him.... He had an itw with the bosses and was shaking with frustration/anger before entering the hyenas' den.
Nah, I am a MASSIVE fan of Adrian and The Sound ( saw them several times live and they were superb ) BUT you totally lost me with your ludicrous comment about the over rated Joy Division against the under rated THE SOUND - BOTH BANDS WERE AWESOME IN THEIR OWN RIGHT ! To believe, or say otherwise just proves your ignorance of not being there at the dizzy height's of both. I saw so many great bands who may be described as " Underground " or " under achieving "( certainly on a commercial scale ) but the truly exceptional, inimitable bands of the late 70's / early 80's POST PUNK era were, without doubt : THE SOUND, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, JOY DIVISON, MAGAZINE, GANG OF FOUR ... and there were many, many more who never achieved commercial success but who influenced so many during their creative days : including YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS, THE MONOCHROME SET, B.MOVIE, MODERN EON ( Try listening to the album FICTION TALES ) ..... to name a few. The live gigs I saw during that era are forever etched upon my soul. GREAT DAYS INDEED.
Propaganda wasn't their 1st album at all, it was a collection of demo recordings made by Robert Borland capturing the transition of The Outsiders to The Sound, Jeopardy was the 1st release and recorded in 1979, it took a year to get released after signing to Korova. 26th of April 1999, the day he sadly committed suicide it was given the title 'Propaganda' and the tapes were sent to Wally Brill while he was recording 'Harmony & Destruction'.
I feel like Joy Division sounds much more "of the time". The Sound really hinted more at things to come in my opinion. The combo of melody and emotion is something that feels ahead of its time and something that became prevalent much later. For one example, I feel like there wouldn't be that one great Bloc Party record (the first one) with the The Sound.
The Sound were reasonably well known in Portugal in the mid-80s. My friends and I loved "Jeopardy" and "From the lions mouth". For me, they were much better than Joy Division.
I got shock of daylight and heads and hearts together on long player cd. Great stuff, sadly after that thunder up sounds like the death of the band, lacks any fire and passion.
They were not unknown to those who liked them at the time. Saw them 3 times between 1981/83 . Adrian was influenced by the lyrics of Ian Curtis and the sound of "unknown Pleasures" " "Post punk " yawn .Not used in England at the time . They were "new wave" and apart from Joy D for me the best band of the period (late 70's /early 80's) This guy waffles for England " I hate Joy D" (lol) he doesn't like "Novelty, New dawn fades , the only mistake, Transmission , decades ???
From the lions mouth is one of my favourite albums ever. A masterpiece its flawless.
agree.
It's an amazing album, they could have taken on U2 if they had pushed themselves.
Whenever I think of an underrated band, my first thought is The Sound. @@davedogge2280
ua-cam.com/video/WGrd7VvlI_E/v-deo.html
I literally discovered this band today & cant believe these futuristic sounds are coming at me from the past. Way ahead of their time! Much love!
Got into them in 1980 totally by accident. I was trolling through the albums in Virgin records in Birmingham and saw the cover for Jeopardy and something just told me to take a chance on it. Loved them ever since. Tragic loss losing Adrian to suicide and also Colvin Mayers to illness. Great band and deserved far more success than they got.
Enjoyed this, thanks. Saw The Comsat Angels live in a small club in Dublin around 1980. Another great underrated band.
Love this Band so much .....have all all Vinyls to.
Great music & From The Lions Mouth is my alltime record ❤
Adrian was a fan of Joy Division and Ian Curtis. I slightly prefer The Sound over Joy Division for Adrian's guitar playing; however, songs like "New Dawn Fades," "Atmosphere," "Ceremony," "Decades," "Love Will Tear Us Apart," and "Disorder" are absolute classics to me and I don't find them overrated. I think a lot of people hate on them, because so many douchebags wear the Unknown Pleasures tshirts where we kind of form a hatred for them as a band due to guilt by association. Overall, I like the Sound for their guitar playing/synth sound while I like Joy Division for Peter Hook's bass playing. Both Ian and Adrian were also great lyricists.
Do you find that the vocal melody in the verse of The Sound's 'Heyday' is reminiscent of Curtis' singing style? I really do, though I haven't heard anyone else comment on it. I know 'Silent Air' was about Ian, but I wonder if that one was too.
@@plushy9849 Definitely "Heyday" has Ian's vocal delivery style. I have always thought Ian was a low tenor that tried to sing like a baritone and by trying to sing like a baritone a la David Bowie and Jim Morrison, he created a really unique style that so many have emulated since. Early Joy Division songs were more tenorish in nature, but then he went with the vocal delivery style that was found on Unknown Pleasures which kind of emulated Jim Morrison's voice in a low tenorish way. Just look out how great Thom Yorke (a low tenor) covered "Ceremony" and sang it like I would expect Ian would have sang it. I never Knew "Silent Air" was about Ian. Really cool to know that now.
@@soysaucehairdye7869 Just gave it a listen, hadn't heard it before. I see what you mean! That style of singing seems to expose the vulnerability of the person - it's quite pensive and introspective, almost like we're hearing their internal dialogue. I absolutely love Adrian's voice and tell people that it's the most truthful voice I've ever heard. Ian has that truth in his voice too. I love voices that have real humanity in them - you can hear the blood and the muscle, the vitality, frustration, and confusion. Both were troubled and they found a way to open up a portal from the enormity of their internal worlds to reach to us.
@@plushy9849 Yeah my two favorite singers of all time are Dolores O'riordan and Jeff Buckley for the pure emotion they could express. The Cranberries "Them" and Jeff Buckley "Opened Once" are such emotional masterpieces.
@@soysaucehairdye7869 Silent Air sounds like The Doors... bloody masterpiece
In my book, Shock Of Daylight is his crowning achievement and one of the best EPs of all time. So powerful. And it’s more hopeful than a lot of his earlier stuff.... I would also recommend his minimal/synth punk project SECOND LAYER. Awesome stuff!
Second Layer is freaking amazing. Essential listening for any Sound fan. Adrian's body of work is so consistently incredible that it's honestly insane.
Adrian Borland made some great solo stuff as well, love the tracks "walking in the opposite direction " and "inbetween Dreams"
The sound most under rated band ever.
Saved my life in 1989 and still my best driving music in car.
I just randomly discovered The Sound this past Spring with From the Lion's Mouth, and I've not been able to get enough of that record and Jeopardy! I've even learned Skeletons on bass. 🥰
I'd absolutely love the records of both of these. Thanks for the tip about Heads and Hearts! I was bummed that my local record store didn't have Jeopardy or From the Lion's Mouth, but I know for sure they have Shock of Daylight and probably Heads and Hearts as well. 💜
Adrian's lyrics are poetry to me. Up until I transitioned I struggled pretty badly with gender dysphoria. I Can't Escape Myself so perfectly reminds me of those feelings. Winning, on the other hand, reminds me of how stuck I felt in a dead end career for a while, but once I started finally "swimming" I started winning. I'm so happy to have stumbled upon this band on my Spotify home page.😍 I love and agree with your take that the first two records are punk! No wonder they've paired so well with my Against Me! and Laura Jane Grace albums. ^_^
I miss you Adrian, i hope you find peace
Sound is great discovery for me . Listen song by song nearly two months .
Thank you too for supporting this great band . Comsat Angels , Chameleons too .
I like his first band also - The Outsiders .🙂
The Sound is underrated for sure. The were however pretty massive in The Netherlands, for some strange reason they were a festival staple and beloved by the new wave crowd..
We have to admit, the Sound & Adrian Borland created an amazing Romantic story ! And the funny thing is i discovered THE SOUND with the 1985 album HEADS AND HEARTS. It was an amazing catchy sound and production. Became for 2 years my favourite band. Then i almost forget them for few years and like 5 years ago, i listen to FROM THE LIONS MOUTHS, and again i took a huge pleasure... Like specifically WINNING was such a premonition on Adrian's life & destiny !!! Anyway today THE SOUND still one of my favourite band, with of course THE CHAMELEONS. Thx for your time. Peace !!! RIP Adrian !!!
Great video! Like you, I only discovered The Sound a few years ago, when 'From the Lion's Mouth' auto-played after a Chameleons album on You Tube, but they've completely changed my life since then. As for the documentary - it should be coming out on DVD soon, until then keep your eyes open for screenings at film festivals. It's already had a few showings in the UK, the latest as part of the Doc N' Roll festival. It's a great film, but quite heavy. There was a tribute night for Adrian in the Cavern in Raynes Park last December for his 60th birthday. Another is planned for April - same venue, as it was often frequented by Adrian himself.
Thanks for making this video and helping others to discover this great music. To think we could've gone our whole lives having missed it - doesn't bear thinking about!
Thank you! Sorry for the late reply. Really looking forward to seeing the documentary!
Hey Plushy, was that you attending our tribute band "New Dark Age" to The Sound in London a few years ago?
@@CurtisDWhale Yes, it was! Both you and Curtis were great! :)
@@plushy9849 Was a strange evening. I had to play on the "house drumkit" aka a set of worthless broken drums from the 70's. I literally taped me a set together with gaffers tape. But, that didn't matter to deliver a punky liveset for a nice little audience. You came especially from Manchester I remember.
@@plushy9849 Respect that you travel that far for a gig of an unknown band. ;-)
I was so happy to see someone recognize this band. I grew up in southern California in the 80's and never herd these guys. I found them about ten years ago looking up obscure post punk bands. I was absolutely blown away by all of their albums. I'm a huge chamealons fan and i think there are some similarities also. I totally agree with the early simple minds vibe. The only tjing i disagree with you is your opinion on joy division. I love them. Thank you for sharing. ✌
Posting on the 20th anniversary of Adrian's final decision.
Like you, I missed out on Adrian's talents until it was too late. Was only introduced to them around 2005 by a Danish friend.
Also only got my head round the Comsats a couple of years ago (despite them being a local band to me) and the Chameleons last year.
"New Dark Age" is so relevant in 2019.
Loving this Mr F. I got into The Sound recently, via The Chameleons I think. So good. I was searching for more info about Adrian on UA-cam and saw you pop up!
Definitely get the Simple Minds reference too. Adrian sounds quite Jim Kerr at times (or vice versa). In a good way.
For me From the hothouse is the best live Album ever. So intense.
Just getting into The Sound, so thanks for the detailed guide geezer! = )
Adrian Borland is my new hero. RIP to him, and thank you for this video.
Same here. Ever since discovering The Sound and his work and learning his life story I can't help but relate to him so heavily. I think about him every day, feel so sorry for him.
I love the community around the Sound. Big love to you all. Great Vid, mate.
Never heard the bleakness in All Fall Down. Party of the Mind should have been a huge hit. Monument is a beautiful ode to Woman.
"where the love is" is super underrated from that album as well.
Party of the Mind definitely sounds like it would’ve been a hit!
@@curly_wyn It is a hit. For those of us in the know
Adrian's music after the Sound was simply majestic. He experimented with a lot of what "ifs" that really made his music stand out. At least that is how I see and hear it.
I got into The Sound during early 00's. I heard "Swimming" and I fell in love. I have Jeopardy and "From The Lion's Mouth on lp. And yes, he's great on guitar as well. I need to hunt down "Propaganda" I just bought Cardiacs: Is This The Life 12" That is one of my fav jams ever.
Cheers from Finland, Petri
the sound's propaganda is all that i want in a rock band. proper rock and roll. pure and simple.
That albums kicks ass, man. So bloody cool
Amazed to hear that despite growing up up in the UK in the late 70's / 80's you never actually heard of The Sound then. The irony is I was a teen in the early to mid 80's in New Zealand where I first heard of them & bought their records & cassettes. There was even a review of "Heads And Hearts" in our local Paper! New Zealand - the other side of the world! Hold on, didn't Adrian write a song with that title? :) Thanks for your great overview of one of the most underrated Bands ever...
Is there any way to read that review? I think it's so interesting just how far music can travel, especially for back then New Zealand is quite impressive!
yup, just discovered also and liking this band, especially the early stuff. i enjoyed your comments, thanks for sharing!
I too belatedly discovered The Sound around 1990 as a friend of mine had their first two albums, and I already liked Echo & The Bunnymen, so their sound was right up my street. As some time later he started selling some of his vinyl collection I was quick to get those albums off him. Shortly afterwards I bought a used copy of the live album "In the hothouse" too.
I got The Chameleons and Comsat Angels on my shelf too. Especially the former are fantastic and so influential.
I need to check out this band more, I've only listened to one of their albums.
Nice tribute, and props on tracking down all those records. Probably a bit easier than it was in the U.S., especially when I started looking in 1983 -- took five years to find my first used copy of Jeopardy.
I just finished Simon Heavisides’ book Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland, recommended for all fans. Rhino is reissuing the first three LPs on colored vinyl, but it seems only in the UK, on Sep 13.
The Chameleons are an incredible band as are The Sound... both beautiful rare beauty.
18:18 on heads and hearts =Bliss.Also Total Recall has imo one of the greatest set of lyrics ,but the line 'There must be a hole in your memory " Oh My Goodness.....
Agreed on that Mark. Gets me every time
After watching the Damned video, I was wondering if you were going to do a The Sound overview. Thanks for getting me into them! Awesome band.
Always a pleasure :)
You got good taste mate.
4:58 - jeeze man, Sound, Chameleons and CSA.....that's like my last five years of music journies on UA-cam for me.....
Got an earworm with "Falling" by Comsat Angels (Real Genius Sndtrk), that search lead me to their other work and the Chameleons Script of the Bridge album, which somehow lead me to "Hour of Need". And the Sound/Borland catalogs.
Cool set up in the back. Totally dig it. Rock on
Great band, I try to get people to listen to them as nobody has heard of them.
I think the name of the band might have been a problem for them - certainly makes googling for them more difficult!
I also get Echo and the Bunnymen vibes from them in a good way.
Man I love the very early 80s, what an interesting time in UK music.
Agree with all that. Cheers for watching!
i bought their first album when it was released purely because I saw the cover and decided to give them a go. Got the album home and was blown away. Bought everything they did after that. Their performances on TOGWT were brilliant. Tragic to lose Adrian and the keyboard player at such young ages.
I have From the lion's mouth signed by Mike Dudley. An exceptional piece of art.
Jeopardy and from the lions mouth are really great albums
So, I think I did listen to a little of Jeopardy before and filed it in the endless "check out later..." file, but I gave it a solid listen today before watching this and was super-impressed. Definitely a sublime post-punk mix that swims around fluidly between goth and psyche...I suppose Borland has been in my periphery via the Witch Trials, which I have to revisit forthwith...And definitely will dig more into the Sound. I think I ignore the lyrics too much lately due to the way I consume a lot of music...
Listening to Propaganda now and hear more stoogeish but also poppy like some Oz bands like Died Pretty or Ed Kuepper after the Saints...I'll sort it out when I am not stoned...Love the last record on a major label cut-out copy...
The Witch Trials is really weird but pretty awesome. I wish Adrian had some vocals on that EP because when he sings in his baritone voice with lack of major inflection it makes for a very grim atmosphere that I adore. Listen to Black Flowers off Second Layer's 1981 "World of Rubber" LP; it's like being a vampire!
The Sounds first 7" was on the same label as the Cardiac Arrest debut 7", both in 1979... I suspect he was pals with soon to be, The Cardiacs back then (I also suspect they were local to each other). Nice to see Comsat Angels, astounding debut... Enjoying your work.
Cardiacs were connected to The Sound, early label with Stephen Budd, Max The Cat was in Cardiac Arrest, roadie for The Sound, before he joined, Time & Sarah Smith appeared on Shock Of Daylight, several gigs together & Tim went on to recorded & produced 5am, lots of various projects interwoven unreleased projects over the years. I am sure this guy is a lovely bloke but so information is incorrect, Fact is each Sound record took at least a year before it actually gor released. I sadly remember a time when you could pick up these albums for 99p in Virgin Megastores back in the mid 80's to late 80's.
Max (Colvin), who replaced Bi Marshall, from "The Lion's Mouth" onwards, played in The Cardiacs before joining the Sound. He was a great friend of Sarah and Tim Smith and was invited to their wedding some time around 1984=5 (I lent him a suit for that purpose since he didn't have any and was rather broke) (he may have been best man but I'm not quite sure anymore)... The Smiths rented a house not far from Kingston=Upon=Thames's station and he'd pop in regularly. Plus, Tim and Sarah played on at leat one of Adrian's albums and I think I remember Tim produced his "5.00 am" album. Sadly (for lack of a better word), Tim passed away a few days ago. Here's part of the mail he sent me when I mailed him to try and get back in touch with Max in 2002, only to learn that my old mate was no longer with us, only in our hearts... "Dear Jean, Hello there old pal, it's Tim Smith...
sorry for not getting back to you sooner but I've been away for a bit, I
remember you, mainly from that time in the Gazebo pub in Kingston pre that
amazing gig at the poly with them 'Monochrome set' what you enticed us all
to, I gotta say that that gig (despite all the millions of gigs I ever seen
since) sticks in my mind more than most.
I am so sorry to find out that you only recently found out about what
happened to our Colvin, please dont worry if you thought that you dredged up
old memories for me, not a day passes anyway without me thinking of him all
the time DEEPLY and with extra LOVE that he squeeeezed from us ALL (without
him even being aware of it). Colvin was/is my best friend I ever did
have...I knew him since the age of four...all the way from Guyana he was (or
whatever that country is called now) and he changed my life with his
kindness and goodness and beautiful humor and god knows what else. He is in
my head every day, the trouble is, every time I talk, or think of him I
start blubbing like a two year old kid who has just fallen off his
bike...like now....keep him in your head and he lives forever and ever, and
KNOW IT that he WOULD have thought of you in the last few weeks of his life
because that's the kinda guy he was...beautiful, kind, beautiful. (...)"...
@@VUDUVOXWonderful of you to share.
@@VUDUVOX Max did always strike me as being very kindhearted. Thank you for sharing, he seemed like such a great person from how highly people speak of him. Rest In Peace to him.
Brilliant!
I am pretty new to The Sound and Comsat Angels, both are soooo good!
it is a masterpiece. I'm getting it signed by Mike Dudley..
Also, by the way, a couple of Adrian's solo albums are still available on vinyl. One actually came out on RSD this year, but only in the Netherlands. Please get in touch if you need help finding them. My local record shop in Denmark has them both on order for me as I write, so they should still be available to order.
There are also the "complete" CD box sets on Renascent which include some Sound stuff you won't find anywhere else.
Thanks for the heads up !
Jaw dropped when you mentioned T2....Boomland THE greatest ever album.....likewise devoted to The Sound...admire your taste
cheers!!!
Favorite band ever!! :D ^_^
I almost turned this off when you referred to Joy Division as "rubbish". No matter what your taste, a band like JD would never have had the fierce adulation and longevity of captivating new listeners if they were "rubbish". It was a silly dismissal of them that undermined you a bit as a commentator. However, I carried on watching as you are one of the few fans of The Sound and I enjoyed your further overview of their albums. You must see the doc, it's almost frightening in some of its revelations, the only drawback was they didn't have the money to use much of the music. A decent video, but I'd watch for alienating viewers with offhand dismissals of other great post-punk bands.
Fair comment Tim. Thanks for watching. Do you think there will be a DVD release of the documentary?
@@AnalogAttack I hope so, but don't know for sure.
you are just butthurt, i guess time has managed to romanticize joy division and specially ian curtis and his suicide.. and that its actually fucking rubbish... joy division never had any future anyway.
People still listen to Britney Spears and Englebert Humperdinck so I fail to see your point
4:52 you were about to say “script of the bridge” but you were holding up the “what does anything mean basically?” By the Chameleons.
Heard them in Wellington NZ/ in 81' fuck I thought I knew nothing about post new wave. We're not all Sheep down here!!!
...just listen to "heartland" and tell me they weren`t decades ahead of their time
- best band ever & best frontman ( my honest vote, rightfully deserved )
- best song ever Chameleons/Second skin (... for me right now in my life and from my heart )
Simplesmente não compreendo como não foram considerados uma das maiores bandas de rock dos anos 80 e com certeza, umas das melhores bandas de post-punk, superaram em muitos bandas como Sioux, Bauhaus, Sister of M., Echo the Bur. , em fim, na minha opinião, foram melhores que estas bandas, e com certeza, estão no mesmo nível de The Cure, Joy Division e The Smiths.....superando eles com algumas canções e letras....
The Sound was one of those post punk bands that really "rocked out" in the conventional sense. Rocked harder than their contemporaries inclueding Joy Division which never really "rocked out" weren't really a "rock hard" band, The Sound was that band that would rock hard live and on record, sounded like the more energetic post-punk revival bands only 20 years earlier.
Its kind of a wonder how they never broke through, being relatively conventional rockers in the likes of the Stooges and Roxy Music with a darker tinge. Looks were very important in music (still are) they weren't a band of pretty boys add to that Adrian's mood swings leaving a deep mark on the music made it not so digestible as the Bunnymen, The Cure et al.
I love New Order, instrumentally Joy Division were great the singer sounding like a 65 year old with early onset dementia (even tho he was in his early 20s) really held them back. They were getting mad promotion in 79-80 I just dont get it, the music's fine tho.
I feel a bit cheated to be honest growing up in the 80s we were fed so much shite music when bands like the sound existed
Sad but true . Females decide who will became a star .
Love the sound ! But seriously saying Joy Division were rubbish. Both great bands
Second layer is great too
Also, The Jazz Butcher (Pat Fish) for underrated genius while we’re at it in England
I find it difficult for anyone to be taken seriously who refers to Joy Division as rubbish. Sure, each to their own, but if you take a look at the two bands, to call either rubbish only displays a total lack of understanding of the music at the time - unlike you, I saw both Joy Division, in April 1980 (did not play well that night), and the Sound several times (always excellent) in the early eighties. I remember at The Venue in Victoria, London talking to Max Myers at the bar about Sad Lovers and Giants, who were supporting them that night, and Borland shows up looking a bit agitated like he'd lost something. Joy Division's Transmission comes on the PA and I ask both of them what they thought about Joy Division, and almost in unison they answered "fucking brilliant". Borland chats for a minute or two with myself and Myers, then goes away looking around a lot. I ask Max if Borland lost something, he says, "oh, his mind probably". We both laugh.
Both The Sounds first two albums were great, especially Lions Mouth, which Dudley (drummer) described as "brilliant, first one was a load of shit" Apparently he sounded like total idiot when talking about it. Real mockney twat. My mate saw him same night and told me this. Point is, every one is human, and any one who is an artist or understands art is living not too far away from the world of anxiety and depression in some form. If Ian Curtis wasn't the way he was, he'd probably be a civil servant today, If Borland wasn't the way he was he'd be alive doing some shit job I suppose. Not that shit, though. Don't forget his dad paid for their instruments, he was from a posh part of South London, middle class socialist/Marxist type. No matter where we come from, our real reality is inside us, not outside us, as the two sad suicides of Curtis and Borland display.
Sure, The Sound were underrated. So fucking what? If an artist lives to be rated on any scale, then they fail to be an artist, merely an egotist. Ironically, most people who claim to be artists are the most egotistical people I've ever met. Except Lemmy (Motorhead), who was the most sensible man England produced in the 20th century. RIP all three of them. All brilliant, all human.
I got Mike Dudley to sign my copy.
So you were at the Venue ? I don't remember much of Sad Lovers' support slot though. But I must have been around when you spoke to Max. Adrian was feeling quite tense given the fact that backstage, before their gig, people from the record company had brought in a designer who offered to dress the whole band as some kind of space cadets. You should have seen Adrian's face then... Max and I escaped to the bar laughing our heads off.
@@vuduvoxhq354 is this reply to me?
@@vuduvoxhq354 Happy days, eh? The reason I remember SLAG playing was because I worked with Cliff the bass player at our crappy civil service job in Harrow, and he was excited about playing with The Sound. Should have mentioned an RIP for Max as well. Great guy.
Jesus Christ how fucking pretentious can you get
Both Joy Division and the Sound are great bands. I'm amazed you don't like JD, because The Sound was heavenly influenced by JD. I think Adrian was a better singer, but as a band JD was more inventive, but that's allright. I totally agree an your view on The Comsat Angels. Their first three brilliant albums are not on Spotify and that is a shame. You should listen to the Gentry from Holland. One of John Peel favorite bands from the Netherlands. I 'm sure you like that band.
JD overrated??? Completely nuts. I love The Sound, but JD were another level.
Man very happy to have found your chanell camt agree more with the joy division sound under over rated... no dis to joy division but come on... the sound shoulda been kings... its cruel world but that music lives on and once the moment has passed it's all that matters HAIL
Thanks man. In retrospect the Joy Division comment was a little harsh and a lot of people were upset by it but...yeah haha
"Thunder up" was originally released on the "indie little fish turned major sharks" Belgian label Play It Again Sam, wasn't it ? Then Adrian released his first two solo works with them and they ripped him off no end. He was bloody angry about that at the time.
I think I recall either Mike or Graham not having anything nice to say about that label either in interviews they've given. What a bunch of crooks that label seemed to be. For shame.
@@massivegat5087 I once came across Adrian in their offices after popping there ro deliver press-photos for a friend, one of the last times I saw him.... He had an itw with the bosses and was shaking with frustration/anger before entering the hyenas' den.
There were Well known in Portugal 😉
They were
.sorry
Propaganda is under rated great album.
Just saying... thanks. 😎
Nah, I am a MASSIVE fan of Adrian and The Sound ( saw them several times live and they were superb ) BUT you totally lost me with your ludicrous comment about the over rated Joy Division against the under rated THE SOUND - BOTH BANDS WERE AWESOME IN THEIR OWN RIGHT ! To believe, or say otherwise just proves your ignorance of not being there at the dizzy height's of both. I saw so many great bands who may be described as " Underground " or " under achieving "( certainly on a commercial scale ) but the truly exceptional, inimitable bands of the late 70's / early 80's POST PUNK era were, without doubt : THE SOUND, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, JOY DIVISON, MAGAZINE, GANG OF FOUR ... and there were many, many more who never achieved commercial success but who influenced so many during their creative days : including YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS, THE MONOCHROME SET, B.MOVIE, MODERN EON ( Try listening to the album FICTION TALES ) ..... to name a few. The live gigs I saw during that era are forever etched upon my soul. GREAT DAYS INDEED.
Propaganda wasn't their 1st album at all, it was a collection of demo recordings made by Robert Borland capturing the transition of The Outsiders to The Sound, Jeopardy was the 1st release and recorded in 1979, it took a year to get released after signing to Korova. 26th of April 1999, the day he sadly committed suicide it was given the title 'Propaganda' and the tapes were sent to Wally Brill while he was recording 'Harmony & Destruction'.
I feel the opposite I much prefer Joy Division to the sound
I feel like Joy Division sounds much more "of the time". The Sound really hinted more at things to come in my opinion. The combo of melody and emotion is something that feels ahead of its time and something that became prevalent much later. For one example, I feel like there wouldn't be that one great Bloc Party record (the first one) with the The Sound.
The Sound were reasonably well known in Portugal in the mid-80s. My friends and I loved "Jeopardy" and "From the lions mouth". For me, they were much better than Joy Division.
Ear worm = technical term, lol...
We like a technician term.
I got shock of daylight and heads and hearts together on long player cd. Great stuff, sadly after that thunder up sounds like the death of the band, lacks any fire and passion.
They were not unknown to those who liked them at the time. Saw them 3 times between 1981/83 .
Adrian was influenced by the lyrics of Ian Curtis and the sound of "unknown Pleasures" "
"Post punk " yawn .Not used in England at the time . They were "new wave" and apart from Joy D for me the best band of the period (late 70's /early 80's)
This guy waffles for England
" I hate Joy D" (lol) he doesn't like "Novelty, New dawn fades , the only mistake, Transmission , decades ???
I think the sound are overrated and joy division are a much better band