Heartland

Obviously, any discussion about a new sisters album is a total cliche, and up until last week everything that could have been said about it had been said - Mr Eldritch obviously had no interest.

In fact, up until the new tracks were premiered, it had been a long time since there was any spark of creativity in the band. So here's a question - does the fact that they've written and performed new music make it more or less likely that they will record that music? A new album made up of all the unreleased tracks would actually be a coherent and self contained record, with b-sides and curios.

On one hand, playing new tracks shows creativity and an interest in driving things forward. There's a new member, and things seem good. Even the song refrain to Better Reptile - Shed Your Skin - implies a willingness to just draw a line under the past and live a more fulfilling present and future. A new album could be listed on Spotify and Apple Music, and while the band would see f**k all royalties from that, those tracks could be playlisted and shared around by people, creating a new audience and driving gig attendance.

On the other, the moment when the Sisters would attract a lot of attention for a new record is passed. The Sisters have been a touring act only for 30 years and Eldritch's implied argument that he doesn't need to record anything so why should he still stands. Also, performing new tracks makes a lot less impact than simply announcing a record with unheard music on it and then using that as a hook to attract people to contribute to a crowdfunded album etc.

Thoughts? Could you see a new sisters record in, say, 2020? Could they? Should they?

Apart from tour rehearsals and soundchecks, I'd be amazed if they've ever had a run through of any unreleased stuff with vocals - never mind recording it.

Could they? Technically yes. Should they? Dunno, it's Von's band, he's welcome to do wtf he likes with it. Long ago my thoughts of a new Sisters album faded into 'if they do, great, if they don't, hey ho'. And if they do, and War On Drugs isn't on it, it'll be s**t anyway

Planet Dave wrote:Could they? Technically yes. Should they? Dunno, it's Von's band, he's welcome to do wtf he likes with it. Long ago my thoughts of a new Sisters album faded into 'if they do, great, if they don't, hey ho'. And if they do, and War On Drugs isn't on it, it'll be s**t anyway

... ... Yeah, that would be like FALAA without Logic.

Being645 wrote:

Planet Dave wrote:Could they? Technically yes. Should they? Dunno, it's Von's band, he's welcome to do wtf he likes with it. Long ago my thoughts of a new Sisters album faded into 'if they do, great, if they don't, hey ho'. And if they do, and War On Drugs isn't on it, it'll be s**t anyway

... ... Yeah, that would be like FALAA without Logic.

Vision Thing without Ribbons. Imagine that, if you will.

Planet Dave wrote:

Being645 wrote:

Planet Dave wrote:Could they? Technically yes. Should they? Dunno, it's Von's band, he's welcome to do wtf he likes with it. Long ago my thoughts of a new Sisters album faded into 'if they do, great, if they don't, hey ho'. And if they do, and War On Drugs isn't on it, it'll be s**t anyway

... ... Yeah, that would be like FALAA without Logic.

Vision Thing without Ribbons. Imagine that, if you will.

... Or Floodland without Never Land... ...

Three albums in and that 'joke' is finished and done now haha. Maybe it's as well they've only knocked three out. Sorry Todashi you can have yer thread back.

I do recall reading a quote from Von along the lines of 'an album would increase gig ticket sales but we sell out so what's the point?'. So if you really want a new album, maybe the answer is for everyone to stop buying tickets for the next tour or two.

Yes, the most compelling argument against recording an album is why bother? Here we are, discussing them, watching bootlegs and attending gigs, 27 years later.

I suppose a bigger question would be how long does Von want to continue working and gigging for? If he'd like to be playing gigs in ten years time, for example, then it would probably help to have new product out there.

I really like the sisters's back catalogue. But I'm bored silly of the same setlist that have been going on for the last ten years or more. They're really dragging the ass out of the released songs.

At this stage, I'd happily go see a gig that ONLY featured the new songs.

Todashi wrote:Yes, the most compelling argument against recording an album is why bother? Here we are, discussing them, watching bootlegs and attending gigs, 27 years later.

I suppose a bigger question would be how long does Von want to continue working and gigging for? If he'd like to be playing gigs in ten years time, for example, then it would probably help to have new product out there.

I really like the sisters's back catalogue. But I'm bored silly of the same setlist that have been going on for the last ten years or more. They're really dragging the ass out of the released songs.

At this stage, I'd happily go see a gig that ONLY featured the new songs.

I know it's not in current spirit of bonhomie but adding new songs to the set means they're unlikely to keep reintroducing a golden oldie each tour. With all their words that need to be sung...

If only new songs will be permanent part of setlist then it's good mark.

New album? Of course, hope dies last but, c'mon, get real.

On the other hand there seems no real reason not to either; it's 2019 and recording and releasing something is utterly trivial by comparison to how it was in 1985 or even in 1998. For sure they don't need to, but if it does take their fancy to do so, they can quite easily and freely do so without undue risk.

Being645 wrote:

Planet Dave wrote:

Being645 wrote: ... ... Yeah, that would be like FALAA without Logic.

Vision Thing without Ribbons. Imagine that, if you will.

... Or Floodland without Never Land... ...

Think I'm the only person that isn't that keen on Never Land...

abridged wrote:Think I'm the only person that isn't that keen on Never Land...

May I be so bold as to suggest ...



(soz mods, please do make that picture a lot smaller, if you wish)

Planet Dave wrote: (soz mods, please do make that picture a lot smaller, if you wish)

Got it

Planet Dave wrote:

abridged wrote:Think I'm the only person that isn't that keen on Never Land...

May I be so bold as to suggest ...



(soz mods, please do make that picture a lot smaller, if you wish)

Ah I know, I tried. And the lyrics are great but just something puts me off it. I am suitably ashamed.

abridged wrote:

Being645 wrote:

Planet Dave wrote: Vision Thing without Ribbons. Imagine that, if you will.

... Or Floodland without Never Land... ...

Think I'm the only person that isn't that keen on Never Land...

Oh no, I think almost everybody else would have chosen any of the other songs ... ... and I also like them all.

Todashi wrote: [...], I'd happily go see a gig that ONLY featured the new songs.

Oh yes, that would be nice ..... ...

Planet Dave wrote:Three albums in and that 'joke' is finished and done now haha. Maybe it's as well they've only knocked three out. Sorry Todashi you can have yer thread back.

I do recall reading a quote from Von along the lines of 'an album would increase gig ticket sales but we sell out so what's the point?'. So if you really want a new album, maybe the answer is for everyone to stop buying tickets for the next tour or two.

To add something to it, AE is reluctant to put down "final" versions of songs, he said so somewhere end-2016... They don't need it.

Jan wrote:To add something to it, AE is reluctant to put down "final" versions of songs, he said so somewhere end-2016... They don't need it.

Was that the interview when he was extolling the virtues of having so much fun with the technology that he was forever tinkering with the tunes? Rings a bell. Bottom line is, if a Sisters album appears in the shops, yaay, if not, ah well.

I've viewed the live shows for a while now as 'Dave Brock Needs A New Tractor', which was a quote from a review of the Manchester Apollo show in 1997, when indeed it did seem as though they were merely going through the motions, even with two new songs in the set. I've no expectation that these new new songs will ever see their names written on a master tape, all I know for sure is I'll be boinging around like a loony in London on Saturday, and many folk around the world will be doing the same between now and November. That's good enough for me. Beyond that, what will be will be.

Doesn't some record company have to stump up $3m and a contract before Von puts on his work clothes?

Jan wrote:To add something to it, AE is reluctant to put down "final" versions of songs, he said so somewhere end-2016... They don't need it.

It's understandable to not want to record a studio version immediately, as often when a band tours with a song it undergoes changes, often for the better... but... some of the unrecorded songs are approaching a quarter of a century old. If he hasn't got them down pat now he never will.

Being645 wrote:

Planet Dave wrote:

Being645 wrote: ... ... Yeah, that would be like FALAA without Logic.

Vision Thing without Ribbons. Imagine that, if you will.

... Or Floodland without Never Land... ...

Or the single of More without the B-side... or a cuppa without a Bourbon to dunk in it.

EvilBastard wrote:Or the single of More without the B-side...

There's a B-side???

Planet Dave wrote:

EvilBastard wrote:Or the single of More without the B-side...

There's a B-side???

I could be (the) one of 'those' people that prefer the B-Side.

abridged wrote:

Planet Dave wrote:

EvilBastard wrote:Or the single of More without the B-side...

There's a B-side???

I could be (the) one of 'those' people that prefer the B-Side.

'Kin 'ell, we're gonna run out of big syringes soon

Save one for me then...

I also heard there was a price ticket for a new album that's uncomfortably high for any record company, sending a pretty clear message I think.

The possibility of a new album crammed with the latest songs would be divine.

The likelihood is equally believable from an atheist's point of view.