Tones On Tail : Pop 1984

Tones on Tail was a British post-punk band formed in 1982, originally as a musical side project of Daniel Ash of the gothic rock group Bauhaus. Their music was described by one critic as "doom-and-dance-pop." 

While still a member of Bauhaus, Ash formed Tones on Tail early in 1982, originally as a duo with art school friend, flatmate and Bauhaus roadie Glenn Campling. The band's name was a reference to the way calibration tones were recorded on the "tail" of reel-to-reel tape.

The pair issued their debut eponymous EP on 4AD in March 1982, followed by the single "There's Only One!", released by Beggars Banquet Records on 24 September.
After the break-up of Bauhaus in 1983, they were joined by drummer Kevin Haskins, and became a full-time concern for all three members. Their first release as a trio was the Burning Skies EP, issued by Situation Two on 6 May 1983.

Their sole studio album, Pop, was released by Beggars Banquet on 6 April 1984 in the UK; featuring the singles "Performance" (released 9 March) and "Lions" (released 11 May). The album was also issued in North America in altered form as The Album Pop. "Go!", the popular B-side of "Lions", was issued on its own as a single in Canada, licensed by Vertigo Records. 

Pop is the only studio album by English post-punk band Tones on Tail, a side project of Bauhaus members Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins (who later went on to form Love and Rockets with David J), and Bauhaus roadie Glenn Campling. It was released on 6 April 1984 by record label Beggars Banquet. 

[ AllMusic Review by Ned Raggett  

The trio's one actual album is an impressive, wide-ranging effort collaging a range of influences into an inspired, often unpredictable experience. With their former band's generally gloomier shadows left behind, what Ash and Haskins draw from their time with Bauhaus is that group's melange of styles -- their most underappreciated strength. 

Ash, with his breathy purrs and slinky all-around singing, works absolute magic on the quieter numbers, while more strident pieces like the nervous tension of "War" benefit from his abilities at more upfront projection as the need arises. Campling isn't quite as strong a bassist as, say, David J, but he is more than fine. In the simple but effective work he does on the opening "Lions," for instance, his deep, fuzzy but not fuzztone effort locks the samba feeling of the song into place perfectly. 

Haskins, meanwhile, is as in form as Ash, offering up everything from minimal tapping and textures to full-bodied slams. Variety is clearly the spice of Pop's life; the goofy, jazzy swing of "Happiness" and catchy, dark shimmer of "Performance" are miles from "Real Life" and its brittle, bitter acoustic/electric sentiments. 

Though one could call the album schizophrenic in form, it's all still clearly the work of one group with a set vision rather than a bunch of musicians chasing after any number of styles. One of the most hilarious, truly trippy songs ever recorded by anyone is right in the album's middle -- "Slender Fungus" -- consisting of Ash's nonsense main lyric, weirdly soothing backing vocals, and an utterly strange percussion loop that sounds like people clicking their tongues more than anything else.

Pop ends on a fine high note with the ambient-into-slow-paced-rock of "Rain." Ash's crooning has rarely been finer, while the sheets of organ and e-bowed guitar that introduce and then continue throughout the song are as atmospheric as it can get. ]

Side A

1. Lions    3:57

2. War    3:18

3. Happiness    3:08

4. The Never Never (Is Forever)    3:21

5. Performance    4:12

Side B

6. Slender Fungus    3:35

7. Movement of Fear    3:51

8. Real Life    5:06

9. Rain    8:27

Personnel

    Daniel Ash — vocals, guitar, production

    Glenn Campling — bass, production

    Kevin Haskins — drums, percussion, production

Additional personnel

    Juan Pedro Diego Ignatius Barraclough y Valls – rhythm guitar on "War"

    Caroline Lavelle – cello on "Performance"

MOVEMENT OF FEAR LYRICS

Your eyes flash bright
But no longer have fire
Everywhere you turn
This world is your shadow
With a pretty face
You burn so many eyes

This is the movement of fear

Weird pop
You can't control
A smashing guy
A sack of gold
Teach me to be happy
Teach me control

This is the movement of fear
This is the movement of fear

Loved the stare
That never cracked
Loved the doors
They were never locked
Loved the fools
At your fingertips

This is the movement of fear
This is the movement of fear

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