Pink Military – Do Animals Believe In God?

This album belongs to a lineage that started with Deaf School, art school rockers who were as much music hall as anything else. Deaf School held down Eric's Club which is where Big in Japan and later Pink Military were birthed. (Their first EP recorded live from the club.) That scene had little to do with what the new wave was doing elsewhere. Comparisons to Siouxsie are pointless. Jayne can't be contained in that box. More important was the Liverpudlian desire for expressionist outlets, wherever they may be found. Music was only one part of a cultural spectrum that equally included theatre, visual art, and other creative endeavours.

On this record ambition out-scales ability. Each song is trying to be a mini-symphony but the recording and budget simply can't achieve those aims. What remains is compelling for its energy, a sketch of what this pop music might have been. Imagine for a moment if Pink Military had had their own Trevor Horn moment? Recall that early recordings from ABC, Propaganda, etc. sounded nothing like their commercial output.

Instead of Pink Military fulfilling their ambitions we got Pink Industry, which is more than anyone might have expected.

This LP fits right in with the likes of Snatch, Slits, Skeletal Family, Au Pairs, and the like. It's not 100% consistent,
but what's good is really good. Worth grabbing since it's highly undervalued in the arketplace

Incredibly beautiful album, perfect example of what new wave was. Unfortunately one of the few from that period that has never been released on CD.

It's an excellent album, but quite difficult to digest.

The first side is all quality Siouxsie style New Wave, catchy songs. Then you flip it over and it goes all weird.

It's a bit like having fish & chips for dinner and nettles stewed in oyster juice for dessert.