In my limited experience, there are tapers in the world who record gigs and then sit on the recordings. They rarely see the light of day outside of their private collection and as an outsider, you might never know they existed. Then there are the kinds who record things and then put them out into the world to find their audience. The Archive's new friend and supplier, Sven, falls into the latter category. He has very generously decided to pass along some more old and new recordings that he's made over the years as a fan in the crowd and oh my goodness, it's good stuff. Huge thanks again to you, sir for making this available. I appreciate it.
This gig is a fantastic opportunity to take another listen to a part of the band's history you may have missed if you're a newcomer to the Editors shindig. The sound is wonderful and the crowd are ready to singalong. And I will say that this version of Bones is superb. Not quite as perfect as the Hultsfred 2006 one, but damn close. For the fans of Editors related comedy, there's a moment after Escape the Nest where it becomes apparent how hard hitting a percussionist Ed is, and how much he throws himself into his playing as he manages to break his drum stool. Powerful Ed Lay!
This gig is a fantastic opportunity to take another listen to a part of the band's history you may have missed if you're a newcomer to the Editors shindig. The sound is wonderful and the crowd are ready to singalong. And I will say that this version of Bones is superb. Not quite as perfect as the Hultsfred 2006 one, but damn close. For the fans of Editors related comedy, there's a moment after Escape the Nest where it becomes apparent how hard hitting a percussionist Ed is, and how much he throws himself into his playing as he manages to break his drum stool. Powerful Ed Lay!
This is the band's appearance at Pier 2 in Bremin, on the 24th of April 2010. This was during the ITLAOTE touring campaign when they were still a 4 piece with Mr Urbanowicz. The setlist is amazing, not least because it contains Last Day. Before I go on, and as a disclaimer, I have no insider knowledge of the band and this is purely speculation on my part.
In my mind there are a trilogy of songs with Chris' involvement, at least that we know of, that could have been a strong indicator of which direction Editors were heading during the preliminary stages of the aborted E4 sessions. They were Last Day, The Sting and Two Hearted Spider. Of course, two of those songs were recorded and redone after he was gone, but Last Day was completed and released as a 7" single for the Record Store Day celebrations on April 17th 2010, exactly a week before this gig. One thing the 3 tracks have in common is that electronic influence which underpins them which really guided the direction of things during ITLAOTE, and this lyrical and atmospheric sense of something really ominous happening. It's easy to say that now, knowing what we know about how things dissolved and fractured from this point until April of 2012 when it was announced that Chris was gone. It's possible that the gradual estrangement between the principal songwriters was beginning to seep into the songwriting earlier than this, which would explain the claustrophobia and tension present on the ITLAOTE album, but there's something unsettling about those three songs in particular that seems now to be a red flag. Perversely, they are also extremely beautiful to listen to.
In my mind there are a trilogy of songs with Chris' involvement, at least that we know of, that could have been a strong indicator of which direction Editors were heading during the preliminary stages of the aborted E4 sessions. They were Last Day, The Sting and Two Hearted Spider. Of course, two of those songs were recorded and redone after he was gone, but Last Day was completed and released as a 7" single for the Record Store Day celebrations on April 17th 2010, exactly a week before this gig. One thing the 3 tracks have in common is that electronic influence which underpins them which really guided the direction of things during ITLAOTE, and this lyrical and atmospheric sense of something really ominous happening. It's easy to say that now, knowing what we know about how things dissolved and fractured from this point until April of 2012 when it was announced that Chris was gone. It's possible that the gradual estrangement between the principal songwriters was beginning to seep into the songwriting earlier than this, which would explain the claustrophobia and tension present on the ITLAOTE album, but there's something unsettling about those three songs in particular that seems now to be a red flag. Perversely, they are also extremely beautiful to listen to.
The Sting - "I see my old friend disappear.....I'm in the corner with the wasp sting in my throat"
2HS - "I'm just a fucking mess for you."
Last Day - "This is my last day alive."
At the time it could have been written off as "Editors just being Editors", with their reputation for being dark and gloomy but with the advantage of distance from the event, it may have been an indicator of some very worrying things going on. I have to agree with Mr Smith, who has said in the past that the "tortured artist" thing is bullshit, but I am a firm believer in dynamic tension and the occasionally great things that can result from it. Chris, Tom, Russell and Ed had undeniable musical talent, chemistry and ability when they played together. Last Day may be the final complete, recorded proof of that before the wheels came off and the creative discord between them proved to be unsustainable. This live version is a fitting sister to the studio counterpart. Enjoy the music ;)
MP3s
ITLAOTE - download here
Lights - download here
An End Has a Start - download here
You Don't Know Love - download here
Bones - download here
A Life as a Ghost - download here
ERM=BD - download here
Blood - download here
Escape the Nest - download here
Last Day - download here
Bullets - download here
The Big Exit - download here
The Racing Rats - download here
Munich - download here
Smokers - download here
No Sound but the Wind - download here
Bricks and Mortar - download here
Papillon - download here
Fingers in the Factories - download here
Everything in a zip - download here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
Everything in a zip - download here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
