URBAN ASPIRINES: And Aso The Trees : And Also The Trees 1984

Thursday, March 22, 2018

And Aso The Trees : And Also The Trees 1984

And Also the Trees is the debut studio album by English gothic rock band And Also the Trees. It was released in February 1984 by record label Reflex.

"So This Is Silence" kicks off the Trees' debut with a semi-tribal drum rhythm sounding not unlike something from the Cure's Pornography, albeit lighter; given that Cure drummer Lol Tolhurst produced the record, such While lacking in immediately catchy songs , partially due to the fact that at this point the band generally favored series of verses or poetry without rhyme to more conventional lyric structures , the album still kicks up some smoke, as with the quite atmospheric "Midnight Garden" and the first gentle, then brawling "The Tease the Tear."

"Shrine" is especially noteworthy, given its intricate guitar work mixed with somewhat flanged effects, which soon would become a key element to the Trees' sound. Add to that some nicely melancholy cover art of a

fog-shrouded forest and the generally rural setting of the lyrics, and a distinctly 'old' English flavor becomes clear, which would also help further set the Trees apart from other similar bands in later years.

They are notable for their poetic lyrics and evocative music which are strongly influenced by the native English countryside.

The band made their live debut on 12 January 1980 at Grieg Memorial Hall in Alcester. A home demo tape was sent to the Cure, who were looking for support bands on their tour, leading to a friendship between the two bands. In 1981, And Also the Trees played several shows in support of the Cure's UK tour. Their second demo tape, From Under the Hill (1982), was partly co-produced by Robert Smith and Mike Hedges. Graham Havas was replaced at this time by Steven Burrows.

"So This Is Silence" kicks off the Trees' debut with a semi-tribal drum rhythm sounding not unlike something from the Cure's Pornography, albeit lighter; given that Cure drummer Lol Tolhurst produced the record, such a connection makes perfect sense. However, the Trees weren't, and have never been, mere clones of the Cure despite Tolhurst's help and Robert Smith's long-term patronage, though at this stage of their careers the band's collective influences certainly hung heavy.

The band's aesthetic sensibility has also been related to British Romanticism and melancholy in poetry and the arts.

MEMBERS :

    Simon Huw Jones – vocals
    Justin Jones – guitar
    Steven Burrows – bass guitar
    Nick Havas – drums

Technical

    Laurence Tolhurst – production
    David Motion – engineering

Side A