Artist: The Lines
Title: Memory Span
Label: Acute
Genre: Indie
Bitrate: 207kbit av.
Time: 01:17:17
Size: 121.08 mb
Rip Date: 2009-03-22
Str Date: 2008-05-27
1. White Night 3:25
2. On The Air 3:35
3. Not Through Windows 3:11
4. Dance For A Drop Of Blood 2:03
5. Blisstability 3:44
6. Uneasy Affair 3:43
7. Don't Need Surgery 2:59
8. 2split Seconds 3:10
9. False Alarm 4:25
10. Background 4:55
11. Cool Snap 4:59
12. Nerve Pylon 3:45
13. Over The Brow 5:18
14. Transit 2:48
15. Part II 5:56
16. House Of Cracks 8:01
17. Old Town 7:25
18. Barbican 3:55
Release Notes:
Between 1978 and 1983, The Lines released 5 singles, 1 EP and
2 LPs to mixed reviews and little sales. One reviewer at the
time noted that "The stumbling block for instant accolades
seems to be the puzzling paradox that these are lasting pieces
of work which require several listens before they finally take
root in your soul." Sure enough, anybody who's spent enough
time with these records has developed a cult-like devotion to
The Lines. Over the years, these few records have become rare
and expensive collector's items and have never been released
on CD until now.
Acute's first Lines reissue "Memory Span" represents 5 years
in the growth of one of the most interesting bands of the era.
Their music evolved from skeletal and taut post-punk scorchers
to atmospherically recorded dubbed out bliss. The singles
possess an angular and melodic thoughtfulness and precision
that bring to mind Wire, Joy Division, the Feelies or Mission
of Burma. Included are the seminal cult-classic power-pop/punk
first single, "White Night", it's more taut and post-punk
follow-up, "On the Air" 7", the Cool Snap! EP(a desert-island
disc to Chuck Warner of Messthetics), the more atmospheric and
new wave Nerve Pylon and Transit singles, the rare final 12"
House of Cracks/Old Town and 2 early unreleased tracks.
Although they played shows with bands like The Cure, Bauhaus,
The Sound and Birthday Party, and featured members of prag Vec
and Alternative TV, they were never part of any scene. They
never toured and rarely spoke to the press. For 5 years they
rehearsed, performed and recorded to little acclaim, leaving
only 8 releases on vinyl. While unappreciated in their time,
they perfectly encapsulate the best qualities of the era:
angst-ridden angularity, danceable catchiness, sublime
dub-influenced atmospherics, sonic experimentation and killer
hooks, with an unrivalled consistency.