These Animal Men / S.M.A.S.H New Wave Of New Wave CD

BRITAIN in 1993 now seems like another time, another place. Paralysed into a state of torpor by 14 years of Tory government and cowed by England's failure to qualify for the World Cup, the national mood was one of escapism. Pop music was also short-circuiting, the charts full of manufactured boy bands (Take That, East 17), inane electro-pop (2 Unlimited's'No Limits', Culture Beat's 'Mr Vain') and novelty records (Mr Blobby). The independent sector, too, was entering it's darkest hour. With Seattle's nihilistic grunge scene -headed by Nirvana - championed as the cure for rock's ills. This lack of self-belief was reflected in a cover story in rock bible NME on 30th October 1993 titled "21st Century Joy", which suggested that the music scene in 2003 would be entirely electronic. Within a month, however, it was obvious to keen observers that a new sound and attitude was emerging from Britain's satellite towns like the proverbial bat out of hell. At the inaugural 'In The City' event in Manchester in November 1993 - a music industry showcase organised by Factory Records boss Tony Wilson - a crop of spiky young bands shared a radical, back-to-basics approach. Two in particular stood out - S*M*A*S*H and These Animal Men. Angry, articulate and caustically tuneful, both bands would - over the course of 18 glorious months - light up the British music scene as spectacularly as a distress flare. Backed by electrifying live performances both bands would go to be heralded by the NME in January 1994 as part of the 'New Wave Of New Wave'. Both signing record deals with Virgin off-shoot Hi-Rise Recordings, the bands would go onto to releases a string of EPs such as You're Not My Babylon, Spring 1994, Too Sussed? & I Want To Kill Somebody. Before debut albums Self-Abused and (Come On, Join) The High Society came out to respectable chart positions of 59 and 62. However, with both Blur and Oasis enjoying unprecedented chart success - Oasis' Definitely Maybe, released in August 1994, sold 100,000 in four days - both were seen as disappointing. Internal divisions, too, were pushing both bands to breaking point. SMASH imploded and TAM would go onto release the criminally overlooked second album Accident & Emergency. This unique 6CD collection brings together both bands output from this short lived scene. All of the EPs and albums are here and ordered chronologically to give the listener the best possible perspective of the how the scene unfolded. Accompanying the 6CDs is a 32 page booklet featuring former NME journalist Paul Moody's (the man responsible for coining the phrase the New Wave of New Wave) in-depth essay depicting the rise and fall of the scene, along with interviews with members of both bands. The booklet also includes previously unseen photos by photographers Martyn Goodacre and Andy Wilshere and short essay's from both Ed Borrie (S*M*A*S*H) and members of These Animal Men. As the music and photographs compiled here illustrate, the look and sound of both bands remains timeless. Turn up the volume. S*M*A*S*H and These Animal Men will see you in the speakers.

1. Speed King (Demo) 2. You're Not My Babylon (Demo) 3. Ambulance (Demo) 4. Drugs Again 5. Lady Love Your Cunt 6. Revisited No.3 7. Shame 8. Real Surreal 9. Too Sussed? (Live) 10. Speeed King 11. Jobs for the Boys 12. Who's the Daddy Now? 13. You're Not My Babylon 14. (I Want to) Kill Somebody (Topper Mix) 15. (I Want to) Kill Somebody (Keith Le Blanc Mix) 16. (I Want to) Kill Somebody (Gunshot 17. Headhunter Mix) 18. (I Want to) Kill Somebody (Bragg Reshuffle) 19. Revisited No 5 20. Barrabas 21. Oh Ovary 22. Altruism 23. Reflections of You (Remember Me) 24. Self Abused 25. Intermission (Instrumental) ['Silence Scream'] 26. Another Love 27. Another Shark in My Swimming Pool 28. Real Surreal 29. Dear Lou 30. Bang Bang Bang (Granta 25) 31. Time 32. A*L*L*Y*C (Bonus) 33. Trainspotter (Bonus) 34. Soul Around the World 35. Hooligan's Progress 36. Sharp Kid 37. Empire Building 38. Ambulance 39. This Year's Model 40. You're Always Right 41. Flawed Is Beautiful (Edit) 42. This Is the Sound of Youth 43. Sitting Tenant 44. Too Sussed? 45. (Come on, Join) the High Society 46. We Are Living 47. High Society (Return) 48. Another Love (Bobb It Mix) 49. Another Love (Uncut) 50. Petal Buzz 51. You've Got a Friend Who's a Friend of Mine 52. Reflections of You (Remember Me) (Live) 53. Time (Live) 54. Self Abused (Live) 55. You're Always Right 56. Nowhere Faces 57. My Human Remains 58. False Identification 59. Wait for It 60. You're Always Right [Extended Version] 61. Hammond Heavy (Emptyheads) 62. (My) Magazine 63. Wichita Lineman 64. Life Support Machine (Bentley Rhythm Ace Go to Town) 65. Life Support Machine (Freebie and the Bean Blip Mix) 66. Every Bullet ('s Got My Name on It) 67. Louis Louis 68. Seaman's Mission Lament 69. Sister Anne 70. Light Emitting Electrical Wave (Mandy's Mix) 71. Light Emitting Electrical Wave (Mutronic Mix) 72. Life Support Machine 73. Emitting Electrical Wave 74. Riverboat Captain 75. Monumental Money Maker 76. 24 Hours to Live 77. Sophisticated 78. New Wave Girl 79. Going Native 80. April 7th 81. When Your Hands Are Tied 82. Ambulance Man (Picking Up the Pieces) 83. Renumerator 84. Motorway Fast 85. Cleaning the System 86. Don't Get in My Way 87. Louie Loui (Origins) 88. Arthur Kane 89. When Your Hands Are Tied (Blues) 90. Hammond Heavy (Alternate Mix) 91. I Now Pronounce You 92. (This Is the) Sound of Youth (Fierce Panda Version) 93. Bang Bang Bang Granta 25 (Fierce Panda Version) 94. Shame [Demo] 95. Llyc [Demo] 96. Dear Lou [Demo] 97. Self Abused [Demo] 98. (I Want to) Kill Somebody [Demo] 99. Drugs Again [Demo] 100. Real Surreal [Demo] 101. Another Love [Demo]