Astral Glamour (CD)
The Homosexuals
Amoeba Review
James Elliott 05/14/2010
British post-punk band the Homosexuals was unfortunately obscure even during its active existence during the late 70s and early 80s. It’s a shame, because much of the music the band made sounds fresh and daring even today. Sonically similar to progressive, electronically inclined art-punk legends Wire, the Homosexuals’ sound is angular and disjointed and seems to deconstruct the typical rock song from the bottom up. The band’s entire output including many rare sides and alternate takes has been complied as a three disc set titled Astral Glamour. The music encompasses a broad stylistic scope, taking in shambolic power pop, noisy dub a la the Pop Group, snatches of African funk and experimental ambience. The set taken as a whole exposes a huge body of totally innovative art-rock, making it harder to understand why the band never achieved greater recognition. This remarkable release proves the Homosexuals to be much more than an unjustly forgotten footnote in the history of punk rock.
Track Listing
Disc 1 Titles |
Artist |
Length |
---|---|---|
1.
Hearts in Exile [Single Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:26 |
2.
Soft South Africans [Single Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:36 |
3.
Astral Glamour [EP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:51 |
4.
Divorce Proceeding (from Reality) [EP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:17 |
5.
Collected of You [EP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:53 |
6.
Vociferous Slam [EP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:34 |
7.
Mecho Madness [EP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:23 |
8.
Flying [Ici la bas EP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:43 |
9.
Technique Street [Ici la bas EP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:41 |
10.
Mecho Madness, No. 2 [Punk Mix/Surrey Sound Sessions]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:42 |
11.
(Do The) Total Drop [Ici la bas EP]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:08 |
12.
Walk Before Imitate [Surrey Sound Sessions]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:37 |
13.
Neutron Lover [Surrey Sound Sessions]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:01 |
14.
Naming of Parts [Surrey Sound Sessions]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:31 |
15.
False Sentiments [LP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:52 |
16.
Birds Have Risen I [EP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:41 |
17.
Birds Have Risen II [EP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:26 |
18.
Kiss With Venom [LP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:37 |
19.
A Million Keys [LP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:19 |
20.
My Night Out [Surrey Sound Sessions]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:06 |
21.
All About Cheap [LP Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:06 |
22.
Hearts in Exile [Full Mix]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:22 |
23.
Soft South Africans [Guitar Mix]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:50 |
24.
Collapsible You [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:43 |
25.
Regard Omission [Ici la bas EP]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:52 |
26.
Galore Galore [Ici la bas EP]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:07 |
27.
Cause a Commotion [Ici la bas EP]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:36 |
28.
Nippon Airways [Ici la bas EP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:33 |
29.
Prestel [Second Single/Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:12 |
30.
You're Not Moving the Way You're Supposed To (Pt. 1) [Second Single Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:09 |
31.
Calvary [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:11 |
32.
Symphonic Thaïs [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:30 |
33.
Toto Rello [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:13 |
34.
Yoghurt [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:20 |
35.
Mad Bombers of Major Valour [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:53 |
36.
Re Entry [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 05:50 |
37.
You're Not Moving the Way You're Supposed To (Pt. 2) [Second Single/Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:03 |
38.
Snapshots of Nairobi [Previously Unreleased/Live at the Whiskey a Go-Go]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:20 |
39.
Mitsu at the Controls [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:56 |
40.
Still Living in My Car [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:03 |
41.
Jesus [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 06:13 |
42.
Magic Moments, Pt. 2 [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:46 |
43.
Magic Moments, Pt. 1 [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:53 |
44.
Cheetah [Vocal/Previously Unreleased]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:04 |
45.
Early Developments [Vocal/Previously Unreleased]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:54 |
46.
One Minute [Vocal/Previously Unreleased]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:39 |
47.
Making Eyes [Vocal/Previously Unreleased]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:26 |
48.
Vision Expanding [Vocal/Previously Unreleased]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:11 |
49.
Charlie Watts [Vocal/Previously Unreleased]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:36 |
50.
Galore Galore [Vocal/Previously Unreleased]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:07 |
51.
Across Continents [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:16 |
52.
Final Distance [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:10 |
53.
Pamela [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:40 |
54.
It's What's in It, Isn't It? [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:30 |
55.
Nursery Chymes [Sir Alick & the Phraser Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:41 |
56.
In Search of the Perfect Baby [Sir Alick & the Phraser Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 05:29 |
57.
Snapshots of Nairobi [Instrumental/Surrey Sound Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:25 |
58.
My Size Side [Previously Unreleased
|
The Homosexuals | 04:46 |
59.
High and Low [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:22 |
60.
Black Noise [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:51 |
61.
Ants on Parade [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:52 |
62.
In My Age [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:29 |
63.
Woman/Man [Previously Unreleased
|
The Homosexuals | 03:21 |
64.
Victoria Falls [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:37 |
65.
Oh Baby Baby [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 04:12 |
66.
Making Eyes [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:26 |
67.
Charlie Watts [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:35 |
68.
Symbols I Love [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:00 |
69.
Especially To You [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:05 |
70.
Two Horizons [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:39 |
71.
There Are Shy Moons [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:38 |
72.
Adventure Master of the Future [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:33 |
73.
Early Developments [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:53 |
74.
Gimme Gimme [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:17 |
75.
One Minute [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:39 |
76.
Cheetah [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 01:07 |
77.
Visions Expanding [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:11 |
78.
Who Put the Jung in the Jungle Drums [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 03:18 |
79.
Radio Ham Stormy Jam [Venceremos Cassette Version]
|
The Homosexuals | 13:51 |
80.
Another Step [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 00:37 |
81.
Funeral [George Harrassment/Masai Sleepwalking LP]
|
The Homosexuals | 02:19 |