Aerial FX – Same River Twice

AERIAL FX was founded in Oxford, UK, in 1980 by Andy Melton (bass), Bryan Edge
(keyboards, backing vocals), Chris Hufford (vocals, rhythm guitar, later aka as producer
and manager of Radiohead), Richard Hart (lead guitar) and Simon Bladon (drums), and
arose from the ashes of their earlier efforts as Exit 13. Already in 1980 they released
their first single “So hard” (Square Records, SQS 3) followed by the ”Take it from here/
Somewhere“ 7” in 1981 (Island Records, WIP 6698). Finally, in 1982 they released their
third and last single “Instant Feelings/5.15” (Kamera Records, ERA 012) to accompany
the debut album “Watching the Dance” (Kamera Records, KAM 008), a true masterpiece
of melancholic post punk/new wave, including wonderful tracks such as “Out of the
Window”, “Hold me”, “Instant Feelings” and “Where is tomorrow”. In mid 1983 they
signed to another huge major label and thus unfortunately to their own burial, so that they
eventually disbanded in 1986. “Same Rive twice” was compiled by Chris Hufford himself
and comprises 12 previously unreleased tracks and demos from 1980, and 1984, respectively.
Interesting how some tracks did develop before they went onto the “Watching the Dance”
album, e.g. “Who is down there” which turned from a pretty good upbeat new wave track
into a short experimental all-synth ballad. From the album, also the aforementioned “Out of
the Window”, “Hold me” and “Where is tomorrow” are included in their rougher, but not
necessarily less good demo versions. Musically there lots reminiscences to country mates
A Flock Of Seagulls, e.g. check out “April 5th” and the wonderful “I see Changes”, the
Norwegian Viva!, and as others mentioned in their reviews: The Danse Society, Wire, or
Necropolis Of Love. Definitely wanting us to demand another CD from Other Voices with the
vinyl output compiled.

Aerial FX 'Same River Twice' review in Side-Line

Aerial FX brings us back to the early 80s, but does someone really remember this band. One of the members was Chris Hufford who's now the manager of Radiohead (and other bands) and an active member of Anti Atlas. Back in time Aerial FX released a few singles and the noticeable LP "Watching The Dance" released in 1982 on Kamera Records. After that release, they signed to EMI, but due to artistic disagreements, no further release saw the light of day and Aerial FX finally stopped all activities around 1986. 24 years later, the Russian label Other Voices Records got the idea to revive this project from the dust by releasing a kind of 'the lost and/or secret songs' of Aerial FX. It means that we here get 12 previously unreleased songs including their demos recorded in 1980 and 4 songs meant to be released on EMI. The idea is interesting and will for sure be loved by the 'old' fans of the band. Musically, Aerial FX sounds like a typical 80s band in the pop-wave style. One of my favorite pieces entitled "Heatwave" is a bit comparable to early Prefab Sprout, but I can't say there's any further resemblance. Some of the songs are clearly 'out-dated', but other pieces like "Who Is Down There" and "Where Is Tomorrow" still make sense! The carrying chorus from "Who Is Down There" is pretty cool while "Where Is Tomorrow" vaguely reminds me of Simple Minds. Another noticeable cut is "Make It For You 12"". The pop influences running through this cut are absolutely efficient. Aerial FX for sure wasn't the most famous band from the 80s, but I'm sure this will be a some good souvenir for the 80s lovers while it's also an opportunity for younger pop-heads to get back to the early years of their music style.

Aerial FX 'Same River Twice' review in Grave Jibes

Have you ever felt that sense of something distant and romantic when you heard pop music of the 80’s? And could you ever imagine that this thing can be found in a post-punk band? If these two sentences are not just meaningless words for you, then you certainly should pay attention to the newest release by the Russian label ‘Other Voices’. Aerial FX began to exist in 1980, and in the period of 1980-1982 they released three singles and one LP, which have already become the collectors’ items long time ago. After 1982 the band was signed by EMI, but nothing had been out as the result due to some creative disagreements with the label. Nowadays, this story sounds as lost and forgotten past, since the band is dead long time ago, and its leader Chris Hufford found himself in music industry as the manager of Radiohead, Supergrass and Gamma Hayes, and also started an absolutely different to Aerial FX project called Anti Atlas…. But the past echoes sometimes, doesn’t it? At least, this compilation, called ‘Same River Twice’, produces a pretty loud echo. And moreover, it will surprise even those who’re familiar with this band’s stuff. The tracks 1-8 are actually pre-Aerial FX songs, recorded in 1980, when the band was called Exit 13. Four of them later were re-recorded and released on the band’s only LP “Watching the Dance”, and it’s a disputable issue which versions are better. I’d say these are the ‘Same River Twice’ ones, since after listening to them one can’t help being amazed, say, why on the LP the song ‘Who’s Down There’ was reduced to the intro-like thing, and the arrangements of the super-hit ‘Hold Me’ were changed to the absolutely irrelevant ones. As for the rest of the compilation, - there’re four more 1980 demos (only one of which saw the light of a day before in the band’s early 7”) and four 1984 previously unreleased “EMI-period” recordings (one of which, called “Make it for you”, is represented in 7” and 12” versions). And among them there’s no song which wouldn’t deserve to saw the light in a release or to take a place in a DJ set. They all are fragile, tender, romantic, catchy and may vary from The Danse Society of the “Heaven is Waiting” period which meets Wire’s “154” “soft side” or “Necropolis of Love”-related stuff, to some almost not dark new wave. So, if you’re interested in the British new wave / post-punk, and you’re not one of the fans of its darker side only (i.e. you’re not the one who will listen to the post-pornography Cure stuff only being forced by the gun), then Aerial FX is something that will find a response in your heart.

Grade: 7,5/10

Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy
‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’

Aerial FX 'Same River Twice' review in Chain DLK

Active during the first half of the 80's, Aerial Fx were a band from Oxford that were know before their Island Music deal as Exit 13. They incarnate the story of many indie band of that signed a deal with a major label just to be fired soon after. Aerial Fx after the 7" released on Island released their first album and only album in 1982 on Kamera Records (label that had on their catalog also The Fall, Palais Schaumburg, Allez Allez, etc). After a small line-up change they signed for EMI but because of musical disagreements with the label they never released a record with them. They continued until 1986 to play but at that point with no label, they decided to end their musical adventure under that name. The Aerial Fx's story seemed to end there but nowadays the vocalist/guitarist Chris Hufford (well-known in music industry as the manager of Radiohead, Supergrass and Gamma Hayes and active with his i.d.m., ambient project Anti Atlas) decided to allow the Russian label Other Voices to release some unreleased song from the 1980 and 1984 period. The CD contains twelve tracks ("Make it for you" is here both in the 7" and 12" version) which are in balance from post punk, new wave and pop (try to imagine a blend of China Crisis, Gang Of Four of the third album period and Comsat Angels) and shows a band that should have gained success and that make me curious to listen how sounded their first album. If UK new wave is your cup of tea check Aerial Fx.

Review by: Maurizio Pustianaz