Fatigue / Gothic Rooms / Day To Day / Latin And Greek / It’s All Done By Mirrors
Uploaded tonight is my favorite Astronauts vinyl release. The majestic ‘All Done By Mirrors’ which I feel had more all round quality the the previous release ‘Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs’. Although it must be stated that ‘Peter Pan’ was also a massively fine piece of work . This release was helped on its way by Mick Lugworm and Alistair who had started to help out more at the record label.
A wonderful release and much cherished in my collection.
Text below written by Robin Basak of Zero fanzine fame and ripped with love from his Acid Stings site.
Eternal long-haired losers who also have some of the best tunes this semi-legendary band has only released six albums in its long existence but each of them is a bonafide classic. The Astronauts second album ‘All Done By Mirrors’ judged by those who heard it as among the best albums of all time was a stunning collection of explosive pop songs and traditional folk ballads recorded at a time when all their gigs were with anarchist punk bands. Their fifth album ’In Defence Of Compassion’ experimented with ambient house music years before other conventional bands even thought of doing so.
With so many excellent songs (many never recorded it is probably the Astronauts enthusiasm for drugs and music over career and changing fashions which has stopped them becoming as well known as they should be).
Inspired by the UK punk explosion Mark Astronaut formed the band with a few friends in 1977 and began playing local gigs in their hometown of Welwyn Garden City. By 1979 The Astronauts were regularly appearing at free festivals and gigs in London organised by a hippy collective known as Fuck Off Records and from these began a close friendship with then London based punk bands Zounds and the Mob. That year the first Astronauts EP was released on local label Bugle Records and musically it reflected the hippie drug culture combined with the energy of punk. ‘All Night Party’ still sounds like the paranoid nightmare it did back then. The record established the Astronauts on the local gig scene among the non mainstram hippie/punk/biker crowd. Also in 1979 an EP was released under the assumed name of Restricted Hours on the Stevenage Rock Against Racism label. ‘Getting Things Done’ attacked the political apathy of smalltown life while ‘Still Living Out The Carcrash’ was musically a typically nightmarish theme.
By 1980 gigs throughout England with Zounds had won over an army of fans and the ‘Pranksters In Revolt’ EP sold all its copies within weeks. Musically the four songs were not as adventurous as the first EP although the lyrics were as incisive as ever. Like many great bands from the postpunk era the Astronauts were completely ignored by the UK music press which then as now was only interested in anything trendy, fashionable or middle class. Local fanzine Zero began to champion the band as did the local newspapers.
‘Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs’ album was released in 1981 to widespread acclaim. Incredibly it received great reviews in virtually all the UK music press. The typical Astronauts audience at the time was largely hardcore punks attracted by the energetic gigs and a handful of hippies so the album was something of a surprise. Full of heartfelt folk ballads and featuring legendary jazz saxophonist Lol Coxhill the album was not what fans had expected but appealed to a different audience. The contradiction of heavy chaotic punk performances and structured melodic alternative pop/folk/ambient songs continues to this day.
Throughout 1982-1985 there were hundreds of gigs with the many anarcho punk bands of the era and ‘All Done By Mirrors’ was arguably the finest album to date. The ‘Soon’ album featured great songs but was let down by lifeless production while the ‘Seedy Side Of Paul’ album combined a scathing indictment of the 1980s attitudes of greed with some truly wonderful songs. By 1986 Mark was fed up with constant gigs and decided to slow down. Astronauts songs were always socially aware and ‘In Defence Of Compassion’ album had the usual great tunes but was also very bleak. By contrast the ‘Constitution/Please Don’t Come Around Tonight’ 7″ was an upbeat pop punk gem.
In 1991-92 the Astronauts recorded their finest album for Acid Stings. For once it captured the heaviness of their live sound but due to instability within the band and lack of cash the album has yet to be released. Despite this the Astronauts can still be found playing gigs in forgotten parts of London and Welwyn Garden City.
irishdave
November 19, 2007 at 11:54 pmI won’t bore you with details, but this has sent me on one hell of a nostalgia trip – thanks (I think)
Anok Jon
November 27, 2007 at 8:26 pmTypically English Day and Gothic Rooms, both are classics as is this album. thanks for the upload, many memories brought back!
Andy
November 28, 2007 at 5:47 amAwesome! Just downloading it now – thanks! If only I could find Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs as well – any ideas?
Penguin • Post Author •
November 28, 2007 at 11:00 amPutting it on next week pal!
Andy
December 1, 2007 at 5:47 am!!!! 🙂 Thanks!
Nigel Spencer
February 17, 2008 at 8:03 pmThis was my favourite album from this era. Not heard it in years since my LPs went astray. Thanks for putting it up here!
Cheers
Nigel
Astronauts
April 16, 2010 at 2:12 pmThe Astronauts and Zounds *** Free gig**** April 22, 2010
Following the Proud Galleries fiasco last month (which resulted in Heat Magazine’s favourite smack-addled indie ballbag Pete Doherty and his chums hijacking what should have been a wonderfully eclectic night), it’s been decided to compensate those who paid above the odds to see The Astronauts and Zounds with a free gig at Brixton’s The Grosvenor.
Although the gig will be free collections will be taken- please donate what/if you can!
***TO THOSE WHO CAME TO THE PROUD GIG- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ALONG AND SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT. UNFORTUNATELY WE ALL GOT SCREWED OVER BY THOSE GREEDY FUCKWITS. LET THIS BE A LESSON LEARNED; NEVER TRUST A MAN WHO NAMES A VENUE AFTER HIS SURNAME!***
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 8:00pm
The Grosvenor, London
cheers.x
DavidM
April 20, 2010 at 7:20 pmHoping all those who make this show have a great night. Think I recall Chris making some mention of heading along. Have a good one man. Was lucky enough to catch The Astronauts at the Acton Arms Hackney ’97 with The Living Legends and Cuckooland. Am pleased that I had some part in the choice of benefit that night, a friend inquiring if I could arrange a benefit for the John Perotti Defence Fund.
Penguin • Post Author •
April 25, 2010 at 12:39 amA most excellent night out with both bands giving top performances to a sizeable and energetic crowd. I witnessed Zounds a couple of times 28 years ago and no one danced…Zounds in 2010 now seem to have a mosh pit which lasted throughout the band’s performance!
A fair few older faces at the gig which mean’t a chance to catch up for a little while.
Danny
July 14, 2010 at 10:16 pmThanks….bringing back memories of me as a 14 year old in my bedroom listening to the Astronauts. What a classic !!!!!