Buy Nightingales – Out Of True on CD and also No Love Lost (Vinyl), Four Against Fate (Vinyl), Perish The Thought (Vinyl), Become Not Becoming (Vinyl),
Artwork By [Cover Layout [At Kabukikoredesign] – Crayola
Artwork By [Cover Paintings] – David Yates
Bass – Ste Lowe
Drums, Percussion – Daren Garratt
Guitar, Vocals – Alan Apperley, Matt Wood
Lead Vocals – Robert Lloyd
Photography [Band] – Dave Twist
Producer – The Nightingales, Bob Lamb
© & ℗ 2006 Iron Man Records
Triple Gatefold Card Sleeve
Recorded at Bob Lamb’s Studio, Birmingham, England in June 2006
All songs Copyright Control
Except
9 House of Bryant/BMI
11 Biscuit Music Ltd
14 Edward Kassner Music Co Ltd
Birmingham’s original punk group The Prefects had been part of The Clash’s ‘White Riot Tour’, recorded a couple of Peel sessions, released a 45 on Rough Trade and, years after splitting up, had a retrospective CD released by NY label Acute Records to all round glowing reviews – from Rolling Stone to webzines.
The Nightingales was formed by a few members of The Prefects following that band’s demise in 1979.
Described in John Robb’s definitive book on post punk (“Death To Trad Rock”) as “The misfits’ misfits” and comprising an ever fluctuating line up, based around lyricist/singer Robert Lloyd, the Nightingales enjoyed cult status in the early ’80’s as darlings of the credible music scene and were championed by John Peel, who said of them – “Their performances will serve to confirm their excellence when we are far enough distanced from the 1980’s to look at the period rationally and other, infinitely better known, bands stand revealed as charlatans”.
The group recorded a bunch of critically acclaimed singles – pretty much always ‘Single Of The Week’ in the music press – and three albums, plus many radio sessions for their great supporter Peel. They also regularly toured the UK and Northern Europe, as headliners and supporting acts as diverse as Bo Diddley and Nico.
In the late Eighties the Nightingales stopped working but, following the occasional gig between times, they re-grouped in 2004.
After fucking about with various part timers, starry eyed wastrels, precious sorts and mercenaries the group arrived at it’s current line up, which features Lloyd, Andreas Schmid from Faust on bass, ex Violet Violet drummer Fliss Kitson and on guitar James Smith, who Lloyd had spotted playing with Damo Suzuki.
Since restarting the group have been more productive than ever – releasing six 7″ vinyl singles, two 10″ EPs and eight studio albums, touring England, mainland Europe and USA numerous times, playing various festivals and recording many radio sessions along the way.
The band continued and continue to operate with no manager, booking agent, publisher, et al, but they get by. And they work equally well with pop musicians, rock n rollers and the avant garde. The group is independent, maverick, diligent, daft, blah blah.
Until recent times the Nightingales made one record for a label and then, by choice or otherwise, moved on. But since 2017 they have been going steady with Tiny Global Productions.
The first TGP release was a 10” EP, followed in 2018 by a 45rpm collaboration with Vic Godard – “Commercial Suicide Man”- and another critically acclaimed ‘Gales album “Perish The Thought”.
To support “Perish The Thought” the group toured Europe extensively, from Scotland to Serbia.
2019 saw the filming of a feature length Nightingales documentary film, “King Rocker” -written by brilliant stand up comedian Stewart Lee, directed by Michael Cumming (‘Brass Eye’, ‘Toast Of London’, etc) – and the recording of a new album.
The album, “Four Against Fate”, was released in May 2020 but the accompanying UK and Euro tours had to be postponed until 2021.
Plans for “King Rocker” were also disrupted but the film will have theatrical & TV premiers later this year.
Before too long there will be assorted reissues and records of previously unreleased material. Plus a bunch of other stuff, maybe? Either way, by hook or by crook, more adventures will follow.
“There are drum and guitar bands and then there is the Nightingales, dwarfing the rest, unmatched and utterly underrated in both musical originality and stylistic innovation.” Rock n Reel *****
“The consummate sore thumbs of pop.” Sunday Experience
“Heartening evidence of the British art of mentally transforming ennui and chagrin into something approaching gold. Stitch that, popularity.” MOJO
“As original as it is uncompromising.” Stool Pigeon
“With The Fall getting Lifetime Achievement awards and Gang Of Four canonised it is long past time the wayward genius of Robert Lloyd and his cohorts was recognised” Record Collector
“Prophets without honour.” Stewart Lee
“They genuinely sound more vital than ever.” Uncut
“A maelstrom of Krautrockin’ grooves, Beefheartian guitars and pummelling percussion. Still scabrous, sardonic and singular, you really wouldn’t want it any other way.” Q
“Consistently one of the best live experiences in the country.” Brighton Noise
“How refreshing to hear Lloyd and his raucous hard-bitten charges still pulling off chair-legs and throwing them at the staid musical establishment. As glorious a racket as you could wish to hear.” Flipside
“The surplus of ideas on display is nothing short of dizzying.” The Fly
“Droll, surly, ace, a proper rock & roll group.” Mail on Sunday
“As difficult, original and wonderful as ever.” Brum Beat
“An arch glam terrace stomp through UKIP heartland.” Sunday Times
You can buy all sorts of Nightingales stuff in the Iron Man Shop
