The House of Love put together a long-running career built on shiny ringing guitars, dreamily psychedelic melodies, bursts of noise, and Guy Chadwick's dryly observant, sometimes cutting
songs. Their initial incarnation leaned into the noisy side of their sound, recording for Creation and releasing some of the label's early signpost songs like "Christine" and "Shine On." Once the band signed to a major label, their '90s output became more polished, but also more nuanced; 1990's self-titled LP is considered to be a classic alternative album by many. All the elements of their early recordings surfaced on further albums made as the group reunited over the years, though they were a little softer around the edges, and on 2022's State of Grace they explored country-rock and the blues.
The House of Love were formed in 1986 in Camberwell, London, by former Kingdoms singer and guitarist Guy Chadwick: he had been inspired to start a new band after seeing the Jesus and Mary
Chain in concert at London's Electric Ballroom. He wrote a new song called "Christine", which gave him ideas for progress: "The idea of the sound of the group and what kind of musicians to look for... female vocals... a good take on the Velvets' sonics... and of course the image." Chadwick teamed up with an old friend, drummer Pete Evans, and recruited the rest of the initial House of Love lineup via an advert in Melody Maker.
This brought together an international band of London-born lead guitarist Terry Bickers (ex-
Colenso Parade), described as "a genius guitar player," by Creation Records' Alan McGee, German rhythm guitarist/co-singer Andrea Heukamp and her bass guitarist boyfriend Chris Groothuizen (from New Zealand). Chadwick opted to name his new band The House of Love after Anaïs Nin's book A Spy in the House of Love There was a considerable age differential in the band: Chadwick, by now aged 30, was nearly ten years older than Terry Bickers.
The following year, the House of Love moved over to Fontana and released two singles, "Never" and "I Don't Know Why I Love You." By the end of 1989, Bickers left the group; he was replaced by Simon Walker. The House of Love's second untitled album -- often referred to as "The Butterfly Album" -- was
released in early 1990 and saw the band adding production values to their sound, giving it an arena-ready feel without losing the inherent drama found in Chadwick's tales of love and loss. After the group's 1990 tour, Walker left the group and was replaced by Simon Mawby. The House of Love returned in early 1992 with Babe Rainbow, which received favorable reviews that were unmatched by sales figures. The continuing lack of commercial success began to wear on the group, leading to their 1993 disbandment after the release of Audience with the Mind.
Evans, She Paints Words in Red, which was released in April 2013. Chadwick gathered a new crop of musicians -- guitarist Keith Osbourne, drummer Hugo Degenhardt, and bassist Harry Osbourne -- and began recording a new batch of songs. Betraying a heavy blues-rock and C&W troubadour influence, the House of Love's seventh album, State of Grace, was issued in 2022 by Cherry Red, mere months after the label released Burn Down the World, a complete collection of the group's '90s recordings.
ALBUMS ON THIS POST
01. The House of Love 1988
02. The House of Love / Fontana or The Butterfly Album 1990
03. Babe Rainbow 1992
01. THE HOUSE OF LOVE 1988 DELUXE EDITION
For all of the band's later highlights, there's no question that this is where the group shone the best; still
hungry, still focused, and not plagued by the personality conflicts that would cause Terry Bickers' acrimonious departure, the quartet served up a half-hour-long delight. Guy Chadwick's yearning vocals and ear for memorable melodies matched beautifully with Bickers' fantastic guitar, and if the recorded results didn't really show the latter at full strength (Chadwick essentially told him what to play, and he only cut loose in concert), it's still something.
The House Of Love – The House Of Love
Label: Cherry Red – CRCDBOX61
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Deluxe Edition, 30th Anniversary Edition
Country: UK
Released: Sep 28, 2018
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
CD1. THE ALBUM
01. Christine 3:27
02. Hope 2:57
03. Road 3:45
04. Sulphur 3:06
05. Man To Child 2:51
06. Salome 2:30
07. Love In A Car 4:00
08. Happy 2:54
09. Fisherman's Tale 3:45
10. Touch Me 3:04
11. Shine On (Demo - Album Bonus 7") 3:56
12. Christine (Demo - Album Bonus 7") 4:02
Flac Size: 274 MB
CD2. SINGLES, B-SIDES, RARITIES
01. Shine On 3:20
02. Love 2:25
03. Flow 2:36
04. Real Animal 2:59
05. Plastic 2:04
06. Nothing To Me 3:11
07. The Hill 2:58
08. Loneliness Is A Gun 2:25
09. The Hedonist 4:05
10. Welt 3:18
11. Destroy The Heart 2:46
12. Blind 2:39
13. Mr. Jo 3:56
14. Shine On (Guy Chadwick Demo) 3:26
15. Real Animal (Demo) 5:34
16. Touch Me (Demo) 4:34
17. Happy (Demo) 4:47
18. Road (Alternative Version) 4:03
19. Salome (Alternative Version) 2:45
20. Fisherman's Tale (Alternative Version) 3:27
21. Destroy The Heart (Demo) 3:19
22. Shine On (Fuck Version) (Flexidisc) 2:18
Flac Size: 471 MB
CD3. DEMOS
01. Road (Longer Early Mix 2/88) 3:59
02. Sulphur (Early Mix 2/88) 3:01
03. Happy (Early Mix 2/88) 3:07
04. Fisherman's Tale (Early Mix 2/88) 3:47
05. Touch Me (Early Mix #1 2/88) 3:02
06. Salome (Longer Early Mix 2/88) 2:46
07. Shine On (Band Demo) 4:01
08. Real Animal (16 Track Demo) 4:39
09. Christine (16 Track Demo) 4:08
10. Hold On To Me (16 Track Demo) 3:54
11. Hope (Alternative Version 3/88) 2:52
12. Man To Child (Alternative Version 2/88) 2:52
13. Love In A Car (Alternative Version 3/88) 4:24
14. Modern World (Demo - Alias Welt) 3:06
15. Little Girl (Alias Mr Jo) (Alternative Version) 4:25
16. Sulphur (Alternative Version) 2:32
17. Happy (Alternative Version) 2:53
18. Touch Me (Alternative Version) 3:06
19. Shine On (Rehearsal) 3:22
20. Real Animal (Rehearsal) 3:22
21. Destroy The Heart (Rehearsal - No Guitar) 2:50
Flac Size: 469 MB
CD4. BBC SESSIONS 1988 - 89
01. Destroy The Heart 2:46
02. Nothing To Me 3:52
03. Plastic 2:04
04. Blind 2:42
05. The Hedonist 3:06
06. Don't Turn Blue (Alias Soft As Fire) 3:17
07. Safe 5:11
08. Love In A Car 4:47
09. In A Room 3:23
10. The Beatles And The Stones 3:23
11. Christine 3:56
12. Loneliness Is A Gun 2:30
Flac Size: 276 MB
CD5. LIVE
01. Christine (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht) 3:27
02. Man To Child (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht) 3:11
03. Road (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht) 4:21
04. Shine On (Live, Vredenburg, Utrecht) 3:41
05. Plastic (Live, Groningen) 2:07
06. Sulphur (Live, Groningen) 2:55
07. Touch Me (Live, Groningen) 2:57
08. Nothing To Me (Live, Groningen) 3:49
09. I Don't Know Why I Love You But I Do (Live, Groningen) 4:04
10. Never (Live, Top Rank, Brighton) 3:08
11. Se Dest (Live, Top Rank, Brighton) 3:47
12. The Hedonist (Live, Top Rank, Brighton) 2:29
13. Soft As Fire (Live, Top Rank, Brighton) 3:06
14. Fisherman's Tale (Live, Le Cigale, Paris) 3:49
15. Happy (Live, Le Cigale, Paris) 3:12
16. Love In A Car (Live, Le Cigale, Paris) 4:24
17. Destroy The Heart (Live, Le Cigale, Paris) 2:46
18. I Wanna Be Your Dog (Live, Le Cigale, Paris) 3:15
Flac Size: 361 MB
LINE - UP
Guy Chadwick - vocals, guitars
Terry Bickers - lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Groothuizen - bass guitar
Pete Evans - drums
WITH
Andrea Heukamp - guitar and backing vocals on "Christine"
02. THE HOUSE OF LOVE / FONTANA OR THE BUTTERFLY ALBUM 1990
Following the combination of indie success and massive hype leading up to the band's first album proved
to be too much for the original lineup, with Bickers leaving after a series of problems and pressures once the group signed to Fontana. Yet rarely has a fraught series of recording sessions resulted in something so flat-out stunning. The House of Love's second self-titled album in a row -- third counting the German singles comp -- remains something of a high-water mark in what can loosely be termed U.K. post-punk music, acting as an effective final statement before the onslaughts of Madchester, grunge, and Brit-pop.
The House Of Love – Fontana Or The Butterfly Album
Label: Fontana – 842 293-2, PolyGram – 842 293-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
TRACKS
01. Hannah 5:44
02. Shine On 4:00
03. Beatles And The Stones 4:23
04. Shake And Crawl 3:40
05. Hedonist 3:36
06. I Don't Know Why I Love You 3:30
07. Never 3:43
08. Someone's Got To Love You 3:40
09. In A Room 4:05
10. Blind 3:44
11. 32nd Floor 4:05
12. Se Dest 5:02
LINE - UP
Guy Chadwick – vocals, guitars
Terry Bickers – lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Groothuizen – bass guitar
Pete Evans – drums
Flac Size: 574 MB
03. BABE RAINBOW 1992
Babe Rainbow is the only House of Love studio album to feature Simon Walker (ex-Dave Howard Singers
as well as being Chris Groothuizen and Pete Evans’ bandmate in My White Bedroom). Walker had replaced Terry Bickers as lead guitarist in December 1989 and would himself leave the band in mid-1992 (to be replaced by Simon Mawby of The Woodentops). Former House of Love member Andrea Heukamp returned as a guest performer to add extra guitar and backing vocals.
The House Of Love – Babe Rainbow
Label: Fontana – 512 549-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Ethereal
TRACKS
01. You Don't Understand 3:50
02. Crush Me 3:48
03. Cruel 5:47
04. High In Your Face 4:44
05. Fade Away 3:24
06. Feel 3:55
Songwriter – Warne Livesey
07. Girl With The Loneliest Eyes 3:42
Songwriter – Warne Livesey
08. Burn Down The World 5:54
09. Philly Phile 4:23
10. Yer Eyes 4:11
LINE - UP
Guy Chadwick - lead vocals, guitars, bass guitar
Simon Walker - guitars
Chris Groothuizen - bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Evans – drums
WITH
Warne Livesey - guitar, hurdy-gurdy, keyboards, backing vocals
Andrea Heukamp - guitar, backing vocals
Pandit Dinesh – tablas
They are one of my favorite bands from the 80's. I call it romantic nihilism. Guy Chadwick Lazy, Soft & Slow is also highly recommended.
ReplyDeleteThanks! They released a live record from this era for record store day yesterday. Would love to hear that one day.
ReplyDelete