Heartland

Courtesy of myheartland.co.uk, I managed to lay my greasy paws on an mp3 of the brand new track 'Still' last night. It was played a few times last night, and a few more times this morning, and as I type my windows are vibrating to Doctor Avalanche and Chris Catalyst doing their thang!

(One of my neighbours just walked past, looking strangely at the house - now that's volume!)

In short, I like this very much. It really does rock, and I can't help but think that "The New Album" just got ten per cent stronger (presuming it ends up featuring 10 tracks!)

What are your thoughts?

still feels a bit like a fledgling version of the song, but i think its got promise

its short & direct. pretty simple with a nice insistant riff all the way through it, and has what could end up as very groovy lyrics.

huzzah

and as a sign of creative activity it must be applauded!

more please

the dok's intro reminds me of jolene though....

I'm withholding judgement until I get a few recordings of better performances. I agree it needs to mature a bit.

The first couple of listens didn't rock my world really.

I still think it's major league cool 'n' groovy. That's mostly excitement at having something new for the first time in a long time, I suspect. Not that I'll ever not like it, it's a good song, definitely in the top 5 of the "new ones".

Great song with great groove, other than that i agree with Quiffy... as maturity goes, reminds me of those early May -84 Walk Away-versions (which also are great, but not completely finished & polished), except that i like this better already than the finished Walk Away.
Like i said in another thread, in the class of Detonation Boulevard and Dr. Jeep, both of which i like quite a bit.

Hard to really form an opinion. I like it and I'm very excited, but I also would like to hear a more polished version.

I agree with a what of what's been said - it does seem a little unpolished, but it's also very exciting because this is The Sisters of Mercy and it sounds like it, not some sound-a-like knock off. In amidst all the will they, won't they release an album, does Von still have it, this appears, and it's very good and it could be really really really good. When you stop to think about it, when would they get a chance to write or demo on this tour - looking at the schedule, at most they have two or three days off and it doesn't seem likely that they would want to spend that time setting their kit up in a hotelroom somewhere to write a song - I'd guess that this was written on the bus using the doctor, a set of head phones and an acoustic guitar and then played a few times in sound check before presentation - that's really an acheivement. It also demonstrates a willingness on Von's behalf to engage with new material, and we haven't seen that for a while. Not since Slept in fact and that's years ago now.

It's always possible that Still was mostly written in Von's head before the tour started, but he doesn't seem to be interested in writing or releasing music, so I'd guess it wasn't. Perhaps playing with some young and enthusiastic guys has fired his creativity for the first time in a while. Perhaps this is just a crust to throw to the starving masses to keep the tour machine on the road for a bit longer, but perhaps it's not. Either way, it bodes well for the future regardless. I'd guess the new guys will be hassling the s**t out of him to do an album, because it represents the best chance they have to make some mega bucks this side of some very hard work. A sisters album will do well, maybe not very very well, but it will sell and everyone will get paid. Let's hope Von is open to the idea.

Very excited had it on repeat for quite a while yesterday, but I'd agree it still has to go through a couple more gigs before it's truly 'done'

Arrrgh! wrote: I'd guess that this was written on the bus using the doctor, a set of head phones and an acoustic guitar and then played a few times in sound check before presentation

That's exactly the impression I get from listening to it! I bet this was written on tour and not earlier, just after the 2005-tour.

In fact, I agree on -all- points you make...I especially like that with the boys hassling the s**t out of Eldritch in order to finally make that album

Well said, Arrrgh!.

euphoria wrote:

Arrrgh! wrote: I'd guess that this was written on the bus using the doctor, a set of head phones and an acoustic guitar and then played a few times in sound check before presentation

That's exactly the impression I get from listening to it! I bet this was written on tour and not earlier, just after the 2005-tour.

In fact, I agree on -all- points you make...I especially like that with the boys hassling the s**t out of Eldritch in order to finally make that album

about 2 days ago is my guess

the notts soundcheck was certainly the first uk soundcheck to have any new songs...

it reminds me of "summer", which is a good thing in my book.

Where can this song be obtained?

Obviousman wrote:Very excited had it on repeat for quite a while yesterday, but I'd agree it still has to go through a couple more gigs before it's truly 'done'

Yep...same here...

/me curses not downloading said song last night...

Will have to do better tonight!

When I was talking to Ben at Norwich, he was saying that he isn't just a hired hand, but that if Von decided to write/record anything, then him and Chris would both be involved.

Maybe Still is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

CellThree wrote:When I was talking to Ben at Norwich, he was saying that he isn't just a hired hand, but that if Von decided to write/record anything, then him and Chris would both be involved.

Maybe Still is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

here's hoping..

From what I saw of them in London they do appear to be gelling quite well and Ben really looked like he was getting into his new job..

CellThree wrote: Maybe Still is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

Or just a fruitful work relationship. I can't remember who it was, but some HLer was talking to Ben the other day, and he (Ben) said that he didn't "know" Andrew. They work together, they play gigs, sometimes they have a good time, but they don't seem to be friends.
That's just a thought, but maybe doesn't want to get personal with his sidekicks anymore. I'm sure he's clever enough to realize he's not the most easy-going person in the world, and he doesn't want things to get sour.
Again, just a thought.

Obviousman wrote:Very excited had it on repeat for quite a while yesterday, but I'd agree it still has to go through a couple more gigs before it's truly 'done'

silly rabbit.
a Sisters song is never done... untill it is released

I haven't head it yet so I can't commend.
but its nice to see them at least trying some new stuff, and I guess this makes Chris a official member of the band.
@ Badlander: as I remember it never really had a connection to any of the other members, at least not after floodland.

Quiff Boy wrote:

euphoria wrote:

Arrrgh! wrote: I'd guess that this was written on the bus using the doctor, a set of head phones and an acoustic guitar and then played a few times in sound check before presentation

That's exactly the impression I get from listening to it! I bet this was written on tour and not earlier, just after the 2005-tour.

In fact, I agree on -all- points you make...I especially like that with the boys hassling the s**t out of Eldritch in order to finally make that album

about 2 days ago is my guess

the notts soundcheck was certainly the first uk soundcheck to have any new songs...

still was worked on for two days, the lyrics for an afternoon as if you can't tell

still was worked on for two days, the lyrics for an afternoon as if you can't tell

That's kind of my point - it sounds effortlessly cool. At this stage in the sisters discography, I was expecting any new material to sound, well, tired. This doesn't, hence things are looking up. The 'new album' is now looking very strong. Add this song, and you have a track listing that looks like

Crash And Burn
Suzanne (we are the same)
War on Drugs
Slept
Will I dream
Come together
Still
Summer
Romeo Down
Top nite out

This is a good record, and stands easily next to Vision Thing. Anyway, back to the matter at hand - it's a good song and the most exciting thing about it is the speed and nonchalance with which it seems to have come about. If this is a sign of things to come, it's a good sign.

anyway, I hope they never release these songs as a New album
how brilliant they may be they are not new. I rather have them as a B side for the first singels of the new album

I reckon this one will be a grower - have to agree with QB, it's got a very nice but simple riff all the way through that really carries the song.
Now, if Von would stop mumbling long enough for me to hear the words I'd probably be even more impressed.

Also reckon Von must have read my post about skipping the next tour if
there were no new songs.
Guess he couldn't face losing my support!

who on earth voted for turgid crap!

christophe wrote:anyway, I hope they never release these songs as a New album
how brilliant they may be they are not new. I rather have them as a B side for the first singels of the new album

or a nice bonus disc...