Alternative Rock
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
1989 | Love Among The Ruins (single) | Siren Records |
1990 | Lies Damned Lies | Siren Records |
1990 | Lonely Together (single) | Siren Records |
1990 | Say You Won't Forget Me (single) | Siren Records |
1991 | Flying Kites | Sticky Music |
1993 | The Human Dress | Sticky Music |
1994 | Release the Peace | Sticky Music |
1995 | Greatest Bits: B-Sides and Demos 1988-1993 | Sticky Music |
1996 | Lamentations | Sticky Music |
2002 | Last Place on the Map | Sticky Music |
1989 Siren Records
1990 Siren Records (SRNCD28)
Steve Butler - Vocals
Charlie Irvine - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Dot Reid - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Ian Maidman - Bass
Richie Stevens - Drums
Written-By – Irvine, Reid, Butler
1990 Siren Records
1990 Siren Records
1991 Sticky Music (GUM16CD)
Steve Butler: Vocals, bass
Dot Reid: Harmonies, keyboards
Charlie Irvine: Harmonies, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
- Guest musicians:
Mark Castro: Harmonica
Martin Kiszko: Navaho flute
1993 Sticky Music (GUM22CD)
1994 Sticky Music (GUMMC30)
“In 1994 Radio One commissioned Lies Damned Lies and producer Michael Wakelin to create a one hour 'special' for Remembrance Sunday. The result is 'Release The Peace.' Taking the shape of a service of worship, and using radio news fragments, poetry and specially written music, the programme looks at war through the eyes of different people - it's victims, those who look to it for liberation, those who oppose it completely, and those who lay down their lives in it.
The music runs continuously throughout the hour, providing an emotional backdrop for these themes.
Release The Peace was first broadcast on 13th November 1994 and is released by arrangement with BBC Worldwide Ltd.”
Produced by Lies Damned Lies and Michael Wakelin
Music written, recorded and performed by Charlie Irvine, Dot Reid and Steve Butler, and published by Sticky Music except for:
“Release The Peace” - Guest vocal by Christine Doherty
“God Give Us Peace” - Written by Doug Gay
“We Are Our One Hope” - written and arranged by Andy Thornton. Guest vocal by Hazel Taylor
Readings by Ashley Collishaw and Moyna McGlynn
Additional programming by David McTeagu
Research by Anthea Cole. Digital Edit by Dave Flemming Williams
“Release The Peace” - opening with a sample from Bruce Springsteen's version of ‘War (What Is It Good For?)', this sets out the programme's manifesto. War is evil, destructive and brutal, but rather than helpless hand-wringing lets celebrate outbreaks of peace when they appear.
“All Of This ls True” - in the manner of a mass, we now have a time of confession. “I love you, I love you, I give you more weapons' intones the voice, as we admit to God our own collusion in the arms race, and media-borne knowledge about what really happens in war.
“Kyrie” - ‘Have Mercy On Us.' This ancient moment in the church's liturgy is shouted over a swirling mix of drums, guitars and eastern noises, making it a powerful cry of pain and longing. Incorporated in the track is an extract from 'A Cold Coming' by the poet Tony Harrison
“Absolution” - a spoken piece, written by Doug Gay, posing the central question of the programme, 'Who will absolve us from the guilt of war?'
“Weep With Those Who Weep” - a song of identification. Whatever of opinion about war we can join in the grief of those afflicted by it, who have lost sons, brothers, and fathers. The specially commissioned poem by Harry Smart, 'Remembrance,' is read over the same plaintive groove.
“God Give Us Peace” - the intercessions. Returning to the theme of positively pursuing peace, we ask for Cod to send it upon leaders and the led. Musically we're moving up, to mid-tempo funk.
“I Did This For You“ - here the parallel drawn between Christ’s laying down of his life, commemorated in the breaking of bread, and those who did the same thing in war, believing it was for others, for family, friends, comrades, nation. Rather than meaningless loss we have courageous sacrifice.
“We Are Our One Hope Of Peace” - a final 'up moment of blessing and challenge. Peace is possible, but it needs 'deep determination' to bring it about. We finish on a 135 beats per minute rush of optimism.
1995 Sticky Music (GUMMC31)
All songs written by Dot Reid, Charlie Irvine and Steve Butler
1. Hold Me and Forgive Me
Help - it's a pop-song… Written for the album that never was (same session as Fighting..). Recorded in Nov '93, at home in Heaven (the studio not the metaphysical place of mansions) with the help of Eddy John on drums. The song appeared later on the acoustic live album 'Human Dress' with its original chorus line - Please Forgive Me.
2. Loving Hands
Help - we've got a sampler… Originally demoed in '89 at home in Bristol and remixed as a B-side by a nice young man called Steve Williams at 'The Greenhouse' - a London studio owned by Gary Glitter…. A gospel song inspired by Mahalia Jackson (who makes a sampled contribution near the end) and including tasty samples we got from Paul King (the Uptown Horns no less). Bass from a nice young heavy smoker called Simon Jefferis.
3. My Eyes are Open
Written and recorded in a cottage in Devon in August '90 but never released. Based around a sampled bit of the party that happens near the end of Sergeant Peppers - 'yeah, actually Ringo drums on this one.'
4. Keep My Things
From the 'Greenhouse' session, and also used as a B-side.
5. I'd Rather Go To Heaven
Recorded rather iffily at home, way back, and curiously used as a B-side on our very first single release for Siren Records in '89…. said something about the experience of getting a deal.
6. Only You
Unreleased demo from '89, also remixed by Steve Williams.
1. Fighting to Make Peace
A mastered version of the song from ‘Human Dress’, recorded a couple of weeks after we wrote it on Iona. Great drumming from Eddy John (such a sensitive soul) and beautiful samples recorded in Russia by our chum Martin Kizsko.
2. Nothing
A B-side recorded in Aug '89 at the legendary Soho studio Good Earth (Ziggy Stardust, T-Rex..) and mixed a Maison Rouge by a nice young man called Richard Moakes. The drums were played outrageously loudly by Ritchie Stevens and the bass by lain Maidman - who together played on the Siren album 'Lies Damned Lies' recorded that year.
3. Help Me
From 8-track demos in '88, looking for a record deal. Recorded in the loft (literally) by a nice young man called Richard Bull who radically (for the time) use a computer to programme the drums…. state of the art Yamaha sounds of the 80's - check out those groovy Whasers.
4. Lies Lies Lies
and…..
5. You Came to My House
Also B-sides via the Greenhouse session of Feb '90.
6. Everyday
An unreleased demo from the Devon session of Aug '90. We really did hang out at the Hangman's Cafe.
1996 Sticky Music (GUMCD32)
2002 Sticky Music (GUMCD42)