Danceability
APB were an early eighties post punk band from rural Scotland, from near the town of Ellon, so we are talking castles, lochs, monsters etc. Rural. A far cry from the New York club scene where APB's first independent, Aberdeen produced singles became sought after staples, unbeknown to the band until their eventual visit to the US east coast in 83/84 where they recorded an EP.
If you think their sound holds similarities to the media darling acts of circa '03, then no coincidence, they were really the unheralded fathers of modern 'indie dance' 'punk funk' (urgh, christ, I wrote that) or whatever else its called. More timeless in their sound I think than some of the other names that get put around.
apb - Danceability Part 2.
apb - Danceability Part 1.
apb - Palace Filled With Love
apb - What Kind Of Girl
apb - What Kind Of Girl (Instrumental)
Posted by Black Shag | 18 comments
May 2, 2010 at 10:02 PM
it looks like part 2 of Danceability has been posted twice, and part 1 is therefore missing. if u could get part 1 up, many of us would be grateful :) thanks for everything
May 2, 2010 at 10:32 PM
ah, thanks for spotting that and letting me know. It should be fixed now.
May 2, 2010 at 11:24 PM
excellent - this brought back memories. Would love to hear Shoot you down again!
May 4, 2010 at 2:22 PM
Love this band, but you missed their greatest song: 'Shoot You Down'!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra1jNtqDI_k
May 4, 2010 at 2:25 PM
I didn't miss it, I just don't own it. Mores the pity :/
May 4, 2010 at 8:56 PM
Really not knowing what you're going to find at BE is why I love this place.
May 5, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Could this be one of the funkiest white guys on bass? He is a white guy, I mean, they are from Northern Scotland.
May 8, 2010 at 4:12 PM
you got danceability 1 and 2 reversed. I have all the songs off something to believe in, I will send it to you
May 8, 2010 at 6:29 PM
I have the zip to send but how do I find out where to send it? KDVS ?
May 9, 2010 at 5:18 PM
mediafire or rapidshare? Its very kind of you, I know everyone will appreciate it.
May 11, 2010 at 3:40 PM
Pure Bliss many thanks
May 27, 2010 at 8:33 PM
Danceability and Shoot You Down were firm favourites at my local "alternative/goth/every other weirdo in a small town that can't get into the trendy town disco" club night called Gotham City (I know, terrible name, it was the early eighties and they knew no better) so thanks so much for the fond 'pre-ecstasy crap dancing' memories!
Did Mr Anonymous ever post you the whole APB album? I do hope so....and to think, if they were from New York they would have been spoken of in the same hushed reverential tones as ESG/Konk/Liquid Liquid; coming from the UK and making the funkiest "punkfunk" (ahem) imaginable in the early eighties was a curse, just ask Blue Rondo A La Turk!
June 12, 2010 at 11:16 AM
i can not stop listening to this. thanks alot. i love your write up too...funny shit. :)
-drilla
August 30, 2010 at 5:20 PM
great post, thank you. There is a great book written about this period http://ripitupandstartagainbysimonreynolds.blogspot.com/ think apb was missed out but still a good book to read
October 7, 2010 at 8:28 AM
Months ago someone offered to send a rip of the APB album "something to believe in" in the comments section, did they ever do this?
I am still sending the rip of Danceability Part One to anyone I come across with even an ounce of taste and I have yet to hear a bad response to it...astonished there has not been an edit of it, given the fact there are only 42 tracks left in the whole world that have not been re-edited I am reliably informed ;)
November 21, 2010 at 3:17 PM
Im from Aberdeen. I saw the band play many times at the Venue in the early 80's (in Aberdeen, obviously). But Like all good artists that have ever come from Aberdeen (although thats only about 5) the band received Zero recognition from their home base...very typical of Aberdonians, a very polarised inward looking people quite unique on the planet. A guy called Chris Cowie launched the most successful label ever to come from Aberdeen. Became a massive thing across the globe in the dance scene. He told me he was the last person the local promoters would ask to play. It was easier for the guy to get a gig in LA. A guy from Asberdeen worte a book on aberdeens musical history. He did a small mention of APB but completely missed out Cowie and his labels, WTF? yet the writer lauded all those crap bands that never did a damn thing. Aberdonains, the most jealous snakes in the Universe
Abedreen is APB, Chris Cowie and The Shamen!
December 16, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Cowie was a twat thats why he was never recognised as he had no credibility he was a total rip-off merchant. I sat in on many of his sessions and listened to his meanderings. Yes it is a shame that APB have never been recognized by the UK press but Peel gave them support and NY stations like WDRE and Matt Pinfield. You can get much of the back catalogue by visiting http://www.yamrecordings.com/artists/news.php?aid=2
February 26, 2011 at 4:55 AM
We found this post on a google search. Thanks for the club mix and instrumental version of "What Kind Of Girl." If anyone hereabouts still wants to hear "Shoot You Down," you may have it at http://www.mediafire.com/?opmwxkw9152jpkq#2. We dare you to remain absolutely motionless while listening to it.