Edward Ka-Spel – Apples (Big!) China Doll

The copy I had was sent from the Audiofile label.

The LEGENDARY PINK DOTS are another band I have so far not heard anything by, but EDWARD KA-SPEL is a well known member of them and this is a document of his appearance supporting SKINNY PUPPY in New York & Boston back in ‘87. I’m not sure of which tracks are from which performance - not that it matters. The cassette opens with “Flesh Parade”, thickened-up harp like sequencers and little else make for a surprisingly effective opening track, They were obviously not using much in the way of equipment, but it sounds bloody great. Next track up is “aa^zhyd China Doll”, minimal drum machine, minimal synth / instruments, yet the sound is more effective and ‘full’ than it ever would have been with a full band playing flat out. “The Qa’Spell” reminds me quite a bit of THE STRANGLERS in a melodic mood circa “European Female” or perhaps even the soundtrack from “Dance Of The Vampires” in a distant sort of way. “Suicide Pact” is next, again not unlike THE STRANGLERS, but this time I couldn’t pin it down to a specific period - again quite minimal & slow, but effective. Side one finishes with "Lilith’s Daughter”, a moody, slow rhythm not unlike TALKING HEADS’ slower, atmospheric stuff, or something from BOURBONESE QUALK’s “My Government Is My Soul”.
Side 2 opens with “Avexgelist”, a more intense piece of music, full of thick keyboards. Next up is “God ln A Cupboard”, a complex-sounding rhythm, dense as jungle drums, full of weight, tension & understated threat. Sounds not unlike those used in the film version of “War Of The Worlds” shriek over the rhythm occasionally, adding to the disquieting atmosphere. Next up crawls “Black Zexe” (!) a simplistic sequencer rhythm, forever reaching out for the blackest stars, over which Edward’s voice soars and swoops with admirable dexterity. The music concludes with “Love In A Plain Brown Envelope” - bassy sequencer throbs while he sings through a haze of echoing madness, over which noise intrudes like a well-aimed cosh to end in an intense, grey-white wall. The tape ends with a tape review which is informative & amusing even though there’s a lot of background noise - although I have never heard EDWARD KA-SPEL before this, I found this interesting. If you’re interested in the ‘DOTS, you’ll probably want to get hold of a copy of this, and if you’re like me and have never heard of them, give it a go - you’d be doing yourself a favour.

Originally reviewed for Soft Watch.

Contains an amazing version of Suicide Pact.