Punk-funk pioneers THE HIGSONS release a historic live recording from their 80s heyday.
The hugely influential Norwich five-piece were renowned for their scratchy brass-laden floorfilling funk, signing to 2Tone during the label's second wave of signings in 1982.
June 1, 1984 was recorded, as the title suggests, two years later for a live radio broadcast in Geneva, Switzerland while the band were touring in support of their sole studio album The Curse Of The Higsons. The album is being released as a limited edition CD and download through Sartorial Records, the label founded by the band's multi-instrumentalist Terry Edwards.
"I've been thinking about releasing this long-lost Higsons session broadcast live on Radio Geneva - or was it Radio Suisse? - for some time and finally got round to mastering it during the summer," explains Edwards. "When I checked the transmission date - June 1, 1984 - I thought it looked familiar. It was. Almost! June 1, 1974 was a live album by Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Eno, Nico and guests.
"I even got the opportunity to tell Brian Eno about it just after getting the CD package together and said that we were going to spoof the sleeve of the release on Island Records. He grinned and said 'Isn't that how art gets made? You steal bits from here and there!' A neat paraphrasing of Picasso - apt as we were standing outside the Stolper Gallery where Eno was exhibiting a new collection of neon artwork.
"The ten year anniversary was too good to not capitalise on, so here's June 1, 1984 - 10 punk-funk classics for your listening and dancing pleasure."
June 1, 1984 is available now through Bandcamp.
In further news, Edwards' other band, THE NJE, also featuring Higsons drummer Simon Charterton and Madness bassist Mark 'Bedders' Bedford have their own live release, the 12-track Live In London out also via Bandcamp.
They have a handful of dates lined up in celebration. Catch them at...
26 Oct - Kino Teatr, St Leonards on Sea tickets
27 Oct - Chats Palace, Hackney, London tickets
The trio will also be playing a special daylight show as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival at St John on Bethnal Green on 18 November, where they'll be joined by former Blockhead, Davey Payne tickets