1979- 1981 Illustration
Illustration were described as group who fell into futurist, the new romantic and early electronic music genres.
Time was spent rehearsing in Stockport where the band was based and many songs were written.
The group were sought after by major labels, including Phonogram and Island, but as with many a creative foray the group disbanded just as their first single was about to be released. The record label (Some Bizzare) then focused on their other newly signed act Soft Cell, who's first single 'Tainted Love' went on to reach number one in the UK charts.
This lost single 'Danceable', produced by Martin Hannett is now available on Invisiblegirl Records twenty-seven years after it was originally recorded. see news item here.
Watch the video (mono)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NCExf-xLMBo
Danceable is available from iTunes on the following link
Illustration 1979
(L-R) Tim Johnson - guitar, Tony Harrison - vocals, Julia Adamson -
keyboards, Paul Lancaster - bass and George Terry - drums
Drummer George Terry, (now know as Morgan King) has some fabulous examples of his more recent work here.
Bass player Paul Lancaster, a budding graphic designer created sparkling promotional material for the group, including mailers for record companies one titled 'Front Games For Boardrooms' which was complimented by the likes of producer Tevor Horn amongst others.
Illustration toured with groups from the Liverpool scene at the time,
such as Pink Military, Echo And The Bunnymen and The Teardrop
Explodes where label Zoo Records (owned by Bill Drummond) showed
an interest in the group.
They also played the Russel Club in Manchester, Factory Records first venue.
(L) Saul a mime artist friend who performed as a support act to Illustration
at their headline concerts and also joined them on stage as a mime
occasionally, pictured here with vocalist Tony (R) in 1981
With manager Graham Cooper, the group made various demo's for record companies and agreed to release one of these songs, on a compilation album
for 'Futurist' artists.
The song was taken from a demo engineered and produced by Phil Ault
and the album was to become a collectors item, as it documented initial
releases from many groups, including Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Blancmange
and The The. There are more details in the catalogue about this release titled 'Some Bizzare Album'.
Tidal Flow is the first track on side one
The song has been re-mastered from a slightly scratched original album (vinyl), but is still great to listen to. It is available from iTunes on the following link
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