THE DAMNED Vinilo y CD

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


You'll have to go a long, long way to find a more important record in the back catalogue of The Damned. Strawberries marked album number five for the New Wave-Goth-punks, arriving in 1982, initially through the now-defunct UK indie label Bronze, established by Gary Bron who - incidentally - also played a pivotal role in helping Uriah Heap realise their sound. Digressions aside, this LP at once marks one of the finest moments in The Damned's history, and one of their most turbulent times.

The band's creative confidence - Captain Sensible especially was enjoying a fair share of the limelight at this time as a solo artist - helped them expand and mutate in both subtle and crystal clear ways, introducing instruments like the sitar and cello to the mix. Fans got their beloved dark room masters, and much more besides. Behind the scenes, though, this was a point in time pockmarked by fallouts and disagreements. Still, who said greatness doesn't come at a price?

Review: Shadowed Tales From Mulhouse by iconic punk group The Damned is a haunting journey into the depths of musical darkness. The album captivates throughout with its eerie melodies, ethereal vocals, and brooding atmosphere. Each track exudes a sense of mystery and intrigue, drawing the audience into a world of shadows and secrets. The band's masterful instrumentation and haunting lyrics create a spine-chilling experience that lingers long after the final note fades away. All of this makes Shadowed Tales From Mulhouse is a testament to The Damned's prowess as musical storytellers, leaving listeners enthralled and eager for more from this enigmatic ensemble.

Review: Shadowed Tales From Mulhouse captures punk's original rebels in live action in 1994, feeling like a return to their rowdy garage punk origins after spending the latter part of the 80s helping to shape goth rock and then take it overground and into the charts. No sign of 'Eloise' or 'Grimy Fiendish' here though - this all about genre-defining hits like 'Love Song', 'Neat Neat Neat', 'New Rose' and 'Smash It Up', with a heap of perfectly suited and totally unlikely cover versions, from 'Pretty Vacant' to 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling' and 'I Walk The Line'. All on nice coloured vinyl, too, it stands as a testament to The Damned's storytelling prowess, leaving audiences enthralled and craving more from this enigmatic ensemble.

Review: 'Neat Neat Neat' might have only been the second single released by The Damned, but its timeless longevity as an essential punk staple has seen it appear in episodes of The Simpsons and The Boys while Edgar Wright would give the track yet another lease on life by using it to score the intense opening chase sequence in 2017's Baby Driver. That's before even mentioning the vastly differing artists it has influenced with everyone from My Chemical Romance to Elvis Costello taking a stab. Pressed to artwork complimenting purple wax, this 7" offers a slice of cuts captured during a set in Mulhouse, France in 1994, with the classic single on the A-side, while the flip boasts a dynamic yet bizarre bevvy of covers, from the likes of iconic pop duo The Righteous Brothers ('You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin') to 60's mods The Craig ('I Must Be Mad') to Johnny Cash's 'I Walk The Line'.

Review: Following 'New Rose' as only the second ever single released by The Damned, 'Neat Neat Neat' has gone on to become, not only one of the band's biggest hits, but a timeless punk anthem used in everything from series like The Boys and The Simpsons, to the epic heist/chase sequence in Edgar Wright's Baby Driver, to even being covered by vastly differing acts from Elvis Costello to My Chemical Romance. This vibrantly coloured 7" captures a handful of cuts from a 1994 live performance in Mulhouse, France, boasting the aforementioned single on the A-side with a curious selection of covers on the flip, ranging from Johnny Cash's 'I Walk The Line' to 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' from The Righteous Brothers and even a rendition of 60s mod originals The Craig's 'I Must Be Mad' lobbed in for good measure.