NME C86: An Introduction to 80s Indie
Published August 01, 2005
Says the freakishly well-informed uao of Freeway Jam, "C-86 was an extraordinary release; most of the bands had been unknown prior to its issuance, but taken together they resembled a scene. Almost every one of the groups that appeared on C-86 were short-lived, but in their wake, newer indie bands on both sides of the Atlantic began experimenting with this airy, tuneful style."
Tom of Indie-mp3 whose tag-line is "Keeping the c86 alive" points out another distinction between the current twee pop and indie music scene and the c86 scene: politics. Unlike many of the C86 groups, indie music right now is rarely political. Personally, I prefer my music sans politik. Politics and music make for sloganeering, good protest chants, and propaganda, but not intelligent debate. That said, music remains the perfect visceral outlet for frustration, anger, or apathy born of perceived political disenfranchisement. "At this time, the NME was a socialist music paper in all but name," Tom explains in his C86 overview. He goes on to further link the politicization to Thatcherism, but I'd argue that there is as many, if not more, reasons for a band to be political today. Though that's likely every generation's claim.
In writing this, I've relied on more than a few quoted references. Hopefully this makes me look credible and journalistic, and not confused and lazy. I've also avoided actually describing the music. This was intentional. I'm no good at it. This sometimes makes having a blog with a primary purpose of music description a bit tricky. I've never claimed it was a useful blog.
Essentially, c86 is poppy but underproduced. Doesn't that describe all indie pop? Well, yes, but.. um . . . this stuff is, uh, jangly too. And old.
ED:TAS
- NME C86: An Introduction to 80s Indie
- Published: August 01, 2005
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Music
- Writer: Mocking Music
- Mocking Music's BC Writer page
- Mocking Music's personal site
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I dunno if it's interesting but some may already know that C86 was in fact only the latest in a whole series of NME Cassettes which started back in 1981 with the cleverly titled C81, can't quite recall now if it was 81 minutes long but wouldn't be at all surprised.
The whole series of NME tapes was born out of a conversation between myself and then NME journalist Roy Carr back when I was working for Rough Trade Records in London's then ultra-cool Ladbroke Grove area.
I was the second of three members of what turned into one of the best ever PR teams, led by my immediate boss, the legendary late Scott Piering, originally from San Francisco and backed up by the inspired mania of the sadly also late French-American genius Claude Bessey.
Really can't imagine why I'm the only one left alive now, as we were all living pretty much out there lifestyles, the one BIG difference I can think of is that Scott and Claude both smoked cigarettes heavily; Scott tried to get by on low tar brands but was occasionally tempted by the hideous beauty of Claude's seemingly ever-present Gauloises. Personally, I'd given up the killer weed one crazy night in Antwerp, Belgium, where I'd lived for a couple of years back in the mid 70s, but that's another story.
C81 was made available by mail order and broke records for reader response, so both the record company and the music paper, then edited by the excellent Neal Spencer, possibly the NME's last great Editor, were delighted to keep the series going.
A quick search turned up this link, which seems to be a Young Marble Giants fansite, the link leads to a photo of the artwork (it seems funny now to think that cassettes were actually hip and trendy then, all that tape!) and an artist listing that includes such greats as Scritti Politti, The Beat, Pere Ubu, Orange Juice, Cabaret Voltaire, D.A.F., the Specials, the Buzzcocks, the Raincoats, Josef K, Virgin Prunes, Aztec Camera, Red Crayola and Subway Sect amongst many more.
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"this stuff is, uh, jangly too. And old"
Love that description. Jangly is good. Great writing here, and really interesting article.
Mmm, the Pastels!