The Durutti Column-LC(1981)(Discussion Thread)

[James]

The Durutti Column-LC

A Post-Punk band with a big career and very experimental sound. I had heard a lot about the band but hadn't listened until I obtained a song of theirs on a compilation last week, got this album straight after that. It's mostly instrumental, with some vocals. Very complex music, dream poppish and with a classical influence as well as Post-Punk. Amazingly unique and overlooked. Named after an important figure in The Spanish Civil War but mispelled, The Durutti Column have some sort of ironic humour about them.

[djchameleon]

I wanted to vote Amazing but that would be like saying it's completely perfect and I don't like to vote that way.

WTF did I just listen to though?

I love this album so much. I'm definitely keeping it.

Does all post-punk sound like this?

I also have another question, why are they trying to hold onto the label "punk"? Maybe I need to venture over into the punk education thread but I completely understand why Jackhammer said he wouldn't consider these guys punk.

[GravitySlips]

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Does all post-punk sound like this?

I also have another question, why are they trying to hold onto the label "punk"? Maybe I need to venture over into the punk education thread but I completely understand why Jackhammer said he wouldn't consider these guys punk.

They don't really sound much like any other post-punk band. The closest I can really think of is Felt - both have the dreamy guitar lines and soft vocals.

I think the only reason The Durutti Column are tied in with punk in any way is that when they emerged in England, it just after the whole "'77 punk" had kinda died out (to my knowledge). That, coupled with the fact that they were a pretty unconventional band for their time, was probably why they were labelled post-punk. Also, they were on Factory Records for a while - which was obviously well known for Joy Division and other post-punk artists.

Whatever you wish to label them - I'm a big fan. The Return of the Durutti Column is my favourite of their records, however this one is also fantastic.

[djchameleon]

Originally Posted by GravitySlips

They don't really sound much like any other post-punk band. The closest I can really think of is Felt - both have the dreamy guitar lines and soft vocals.

I think the only reason The Durutti Column are tied in with punk in any way is that when they emerged in England, it just after the whole "'77 punk" had kinda died out (to my knowledge). That, coupled with the fact that they were a pretty unconventional band for their time, was probably why they were labelled post-punk. Also, they were on Factory Records for a while - which was obviously well known for Joy Division and other post-punk artists.

Whatever you wish to label them - I'm a big fan. The Return of the Durutti Column is my favourite of their records, however this one is also fantastic.

oh ok. Now I understand.

I'm going to check out the return album.

I want to hear some other post punk artists...who would you recommend that I check out?

[GravitySlips]

If you've never heard any post-punk before now, then I'd get these:

Wire - Pink Flag
Television - Marquee Moon
Gang of Four - Entertainment
The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures and Closer

Those 5 bands served as my introduction to this style of music. None of them sound particularly like any of the others, so you might like some and might dislike some. It's a very diverse and rewarding genre, though - so give them all a chance if you're interested! If you find do enjoy these bands, you'll find there are plenty other excellent, lesser-known post-punk bands as well.

Also, get the first Durutti Column album (the one I mentioned as my favourite) too!

[djchameleon]

Originally Posted by GravitySlips

If you've never heard any post-punk before now, then I'd get these:

Wire - Pink Flag
Television - Marquee Moon
Gang of Four - Entertainment
The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures and Closer

Those 5 bands served as my introduction to this style of music. None of them sound particularly like any of the others, so you might like some and might dislike some. It's a very diverse and rewarding genre, though - so give them all a chance if you're interested! If you find do enjoy these bands, you'll find there are plenty other excellent, lesser-known post-punk bands as well.

Also, get the first Durutti Column album (the one I mentioned as my favourite) too!

The only one I have heard of is Joy Division and I didn't particularly like them. I heard them when someone said that they are related to Goth Music.

[GravitySlips]

Originally Posted by djchameleon

The only one I have heard of is Joy Division and I didn't particularly like them. I heard them when someone said that they are related to Goth Music.

I wasn't a big fan of Joy Division when I first heard them, although they gradually grew on me and eventually I loved them. As I say, though... none of those other records really sound like Joy Division. I would recommend giving Joy Division another go, however.

As far as "goth" goes - I dunno, I guess you could say that. I tend to think more of bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bauhaus when that word comes up.

[djchameleon]

Originally Posted by GravitySlips

I wasn't a big fan of Joy Division when I first heard them, although they gradually grew on me and eventually I loved them. As I say, though... none of those other records really sound like Joy Division. I would recommend giving Joy Division another go, however.

As far as "goth" goes - I dunno, I guess you could say that. I tend to think more of bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bauhaus when that word comes up.

Yeah my friend told me about those other two bands as well but she also included Joy division. She also said The Cure as well. I still don't get the big deal behind The Cure.

[dankrsta]

Great stuff!!! How come I didn't know about this band before? These guys have a huge discography and are apparently still active. Actually I just read the line up was always changing and that this band can be seen as one man project. The most interesting thing for me is that Blaine Reininger of Tuxedomoon was at one point a part of the line up.

Anyway I listened to this a few times and I absolutely love it. Well, this doesn't have that much similarities with typical post-punk let alone punk. It's very ambient foreshadowing both post-rock and more dreamy, ambient shoegaze, but without the noise. On the other hand it reminds me of some Brian Eno songs, more specifically from 'Another Green World' and 'Before and After Science'. Obviously The Durutti Column are more guitar driven, it's just the ambient atmosphere and tranquil sprawling sounds that I find very similar. Oh and the vocal too, but it also has that distant, remote quality that is usually found in post-punk bands. So it's art rock actually. I don't use this term very often, only when I can't quite place something, like this band.

Every song here is very good. One of my favorites 'Sketch for Dawn I', the opening track, reminds me of the earlier New Order. Like I said, the vocals and bass lines are elements that connect this album to its time the most. All the other stuff, floating guitar lines, instrumentally oriented tracks, creating of layered textures, ambiance etc, are taking cues from the near past (Eno) and shooting to the future. Favorite song is hands down 'Never Known'. Excellent album! I'm going to check more stuff from this band. I'm really curious to hear how they developed.

Originally Posted by GravitySlips

The Return of the Durutti Column is my favourite of their records, however this one is also fantastic.

I'm gonna get that one next

[TockTockTock]

Oh crap... I forgot about this. I even voted for it.