AboutKerry Echols Expertise All types of questions welcome. Before asking a question, try searching the word "lyrics," along with any lyrics you remember (within quote marks if you are sure of their accuracy), at www.Google.com. Most answers are quickly found this way. You should also try www.allmusic.com. You can also search by song title at amazon.com and www.spun.com.
Experience in the area I have been ardently collecting music of all genres (except classical and heavy metal) for the past 25 years, in both vinyl and CD formats. I have a detailed knowledge of landmark UK indie labels such as Factory, 4AD, Disques du Crepuscule, etc. (and their respective releases by such bands as Joy Division, The Fall, and The Wolfgang Press), as well as most major pop acts. I'm also familiar with early '80s acts such as Gary Numan, OMD, The Human League, Seefeel, Cabaret Voltaire, Coil, Kraftwerk, Mouse on Mars, Brian Eno, Echo and the Bunnymen, Siouxsie/The Creatures, Wire, Talking Heads, The Specials, Public Image Ltd., English Beat, XTC, Japan/David Sylvian, Grace Jones, Devo, Thomas Dolby, New Order, The Damned, Dead Can Dance, Eurythmics, Big Audio Dynamite, The Cramps, Catherine Wheel, David Bowie, The Monochrome Set, etc.
Expert: Kerry Echols Date: 7/23/2008 Subject: Early 80's New Wave instrumental
Question QUESTION: Hi, I remember a New Wave-ish mid-tempo instro from around '82 that featured harmonica, synth, drum machine and a prominent clean, reverbed guitar figure. I can only describe it as moody, yet grand, and I only ever heard it on college radio. The last time I heard it was 2001 and I thought the DJ said it was New Order but I haven't found it in their catalog. I thought it might be post-John Foxx Ultravox but no luck there. Is any of this ringing any bells?
Thanks.
ANSWER: No lyrics at all. What tempo is the rhythm? Are the drums prominent. Do parts of the song ebb and flow, or is it the same all the way through? Is there a spoken word or phrase, perhaps in a mechanical voice. Something like "Don't . . . put . . . your . . . finger . . . on the . . . button"? It probably is new order, but they have several songs that could be contenders.
This probably isn't it, but go here and listen to the sample of "Don't Do It."
QUESTION: Thanks for your efforts, so far, Kerry. There were no lyrics, at all. It was slower than "Don't Do It". I don't remember it having the usual high-register Peter Hook melodic bass, either. It started with a very stately organ-like synth, then the guitar figure (which repeated for most of the song)and, after that, the harmonica. It was sparse, not busy. There weren't alot of dynamics. It was more of a mood thing. I want to say it had a sort of Teutonic feel, especially the synth, but that will probably add more confusion to the mix.
Thanks, again.
Answer So, New Order's out then.
Do you think the song featured an actual harmonica, or a melodica instead. The latter being very similar.
The Melodica was used in Depeche Mode's "Everything Counts." It has a less intense sound than a harmonica. See if you can remember which it is.
Was the harmonica used throughout as a sort of chorus or main melody? Or did it only appear at the end of the song? How long did the organ-like synth beginning last? And was the synth the only thing you heard.
Was 2001 the only year you heard it, or did you first hear it one or two years earlier? What city was the college radio station in, and do you remember the call letters? Can you remember other types of bands the station played. I'm trying to get a fix on how adventurous they were, to gauge how obscure the song might be. Would you say the song was in regular rotation, or perhaps played only on a specialty show?
