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)
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
ReplyDeleteah, thanks for spotting that and letting me know. It should be fixed now.
ReplyDeleteexcellent - this brought back memories. Would love to hear Shoot you down again!
ReplyDeleteLove this band, but you missed their greatest song: 'Shoot You Down'!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra1jNtqDI_k
I didn't miss it, I just don't own it. Mores the pity :/
ReplyDeleteReally not knowing what you're going to find at BE is why I love this place.
ReplyDeleteCould this be one of the funkiest white guys on bass? He is a white guy, I mean, they are from Northern Scotland.
ReplyDeleteyou got danceability 1 and 2 reversed. I have all the songs off something to believe in, I will send it to you
ReplyDeleteI have the zip to send but how do I find out where to send it? KDVS ?
ReplyDeletemediafire or rapidshare? Its very kind of you, I know everyone will appreciate it.
ReplyDeletePure Bliss many thanks
ReplyDeleteDanceability 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!
ReplyDeleteDid 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!
i can not stop listening to this. thanks alot. i love your write up too...funny shit. :)
ReplyDelete-drilla
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
ReplyDeleteMonths ago someone offered to send a rip of the APB album "something to believe in" in the comments section, did they ever do this?
ReplyDeleteI 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 ;)
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
ReplyDeleteAbedreen is APB, Chris Cowie and The Shamen!
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
ReplyDeleteWe 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.
ReplyDelete