TRACKS CONSIDERED
~ Introduction
Left to right: Andy Peake (keyboards/vocals), Mik Glaisher (drums),
Stephen Fellows (vocals/guitar), Kevin Bacon (bass)
Yes, this site is HIGHLY subjective, and although the Comsat Angels never had top 50 chart success
in the UK they have a strong international following. There are two other sites on the
Internet devoted to them;
the comprehensive Sleep No More and
the Comsat Fellowship forum.
There is also a mailing list (see the Chasing Shadows page on Sleep No More).
If you're familiar with them you may have your own interpretations of their tracks. If these differ
from mine, that's probably because the band are many things to many people and we all get what we
want from the same source. I'm no musical authority; I don't know a thing about writing or playing
music and can't sing for toffee, but as the saying goes "I knows wot I like"!
For me the real relevance of the Comsat Angel's music is in the effect it has on people; the
psychological response. Their music is powerful in many ways; strong yet subtle; dark and
brooding at times and dazzling at others. It is also incredibly rich and diverse, ranging from the
gentlest, most elegant ballads to the hardest, thrashing rock tracks, and at every point of the
spectrum in between; yet they accomplish it all with equal quality and success. Also, despite the
great variation in their musical styles, their own unique sound is consistently present in every track.
Regarding the sound: Kevin's and Steve's guitar chords that can be
rousing, haunting or tearing as required; Mik's drum beat that can be brutal, ominous or melodic;
Andy's keyboards and "funny noises" that give the tracks their unique sparkle, and of course,
Steve's voice: at once defiant and vulnerable; at times mournful and sombre, at others brave
and (almost?) humorous! The voice of a human being singing.
Regarding the lyrics: Oblique and unique; alternating between naked emotion and surreal
mystery; brash and bombastic then dreamy and hypnotic. When they're not singing about the
familiar they're conjuring up visions of realms that border on the known, inspired by
mysticism, science fiction, fantasy, daydreams, nightmares.
I've never come across a band that seemed more like it was custom-made just for me!
Not only is their music brilliant in just about every way music can be, but there is also
that strong fantasy element. As a kid, I loved sci-fi shows on TV, and they all had these
dramatic, rousing theme tunes. Not only does the Comsat sound echo that music; their lyrics,
band, album and track names and even sleeve designs evoke all the associations of a
realities beyond this one. In other words, the Comsat experience lifts you right up out of
the mundane and into the strange, new and exciting.
The entries here vary in length from a sentence to several paragraphs, depending on how
articulate I am at putting my impressions into words. Contributions are very welcome, both to
existing tracks and the ones I haven't got round to yet.
If you've never heard of them, you'll have to take my word for it! They're the best!
