The Sisters in Louder: 20 Best Songs

THE place for your Sisters-related comments, questions and snippets of Sisters information. For those who do not know, The Sisters of Mercy are a rock'n'roll band. And a pop band. And an industrial groove machine. Or so they say. They make records. Lots of records, apparently. But not in your galaxy. They play concerts. Lots of concerts, actually. But you still cannot see them. So what's it all about, Alfie? This is one of the few tightly-moderated forums on Heartland, so please keep on-topic. All off-topic posts will either be moved or deleted. Chairman Bux is the editor and the editor's decision is final. Danke.
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I'm glad Chris agrees that Kiss the Carpet should be a setlist staple, best opening -- or encore comeback -- ever
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This is an absolutely incredible article, thank you! Chock full of fascinating snippets - I think I need to read it again!
Chris

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Again and again and again...
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Planet Dave
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MrChris wrote: 06 Dec 2024, 20:26 This is an absolutely incredible article, thank you! Chock full of fascinating snippets - I think I need to read it again!
Exactly this. Just took me over an hour to read and re-read each contribution. And now back to the start for another soak up of this perfect collection of thoughts opinions and memories. Wonderful, my cap is doffed thoroughly in your direction Mark :notworthy:
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Ocean Moves
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Great article : stand out piece of info for me was from Lisa Cuthbert : "I also recorded backing vocals for Arms but it was never released"

Also Duncan Kilburn's comments about wanting to join the Sisters for the soundcheck at the Adelaide gig at the "Gov" in 2022 was interesting to me - I was there, was a tiny venue and intimate show - and yes - the band were late for the soundcheck - staff at the venue said so - audience was queued up in the wind and rain outside the venue for a long time - I also thought its because Andrew had decided they needed barriers erected in front of the (tiny low) stage - and that had taken some additional time to set up.
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This is a great article. I usually avoid these "20/50 Best Songs by Whoever" articles when I see them as they're usually predictable space-fillers. But I think both the format they've used as well as the contributions they've obtained are excellent. As other have said, a lot to digest in one reading. A lot of love in this article too.
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Being645
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What a pleasure to read this article and travel listening through its stations ... :D :D :D ... another lovely job, Mark Andrews ... :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: ...
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I particularly enjoyed Dylan's contribution
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It was nice to see a list that wasn't some lazy hack telling everyone what their favourite songs are.
Made a nice change
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maggieloveshopey
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Great article. The cover of Caligula that Ben mentioned is also really good, well worth a click through if you haven't already
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"I also recorded backing vocals for Arms but it was never released."

:eek:
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Great article, thank you!

I also noted who wasn't included, like Adam Pearson or Mike Varjak. For whatever reason. But I believe that's more relevant for the new book Mark is writing, obviously ...
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Dr. Moody wrote: 08 Dec 2024, 20:25 "I also recorded backing vocals for Arms but it was never released."

:eek:
:eek indeed. What a story that one line tells?

Excellent piece Mark, thank you for doing the hard yards. It's nice to see Dylan interviewed as well, as well as others new and old.

I love the Sisters but get the impression that Von has no problem 'moving on', so to speak. I'd imagine that must be hard on the egos of those 'moved on' from but whether Von is sentimental or nostagic or not, the music has reached far and wide and impacted lots of people. Nice to see that reflected in a piece like this.
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Great stuff… and a nice cast of characters for the book with some intriguing subtext .. we await the book which could tip Andy into releasing some product
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Shadaloo
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Nothing from the 90's live songs, not even Suzanne? Harsh.

And indeed...a recording of Arms? Fascinating...
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Jan wrote: 09 Dec 2024, 08:50 I also noted who wasn't included, like Adam Pearson or Mike Varjak. For whatever reason
Adam Pearson seems today to be aggressively uninterested in his past work as a muso, spending his energy on his self-help technique which apparently solves all problems of human civilisation, and cheerleading the Israeli military.
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Great article. So many top quotes!

Andy that I spent an entire night trying to get the perfect kick drum sound for one of his early records. Something changed in me forever that night. Mostly deciding to never, ever do that again. He made no such decision.
lol no doubt

snippet of this tornado which had ripped through La Croisette uprooting and flattening many of the lovely palm trees. Then more Alan Vega wimpers and cries spaced out overhead like human seagulls
I never noticed these, had to re-listen to Giving Ground.

The missing bass drum of verse 3
Not that I should be arguing with the good Mr Marx, but verse 3 of SKOS clearly has a kick drum in there. Maybe it's just lower down in the mix, or the bass guitar line has been EQ'd over it?

... so many more too
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deirfiur wrote: 09 Dec 2024, 23:33 Great stuff… and a nice cast of characters for the book with some intriguing subtext .. we await the book which could tip Andy into releasing some product
If you're talking about 'here', what has given you that impression?
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It's clear from some of the interviews that studio recordings have taken place and some of the players are keen to hear the end result in the big bad world.. maybe it's a confidence thing as Andy feels he never has the 'right' version of any recorded song... witness the quotes from Mr Fox re Giving Ground which qualify observations re Andy's studio OCD that have been mentioned by everyone from Marx to James

All this stuff about labels etc holding back a new release is an excuse, not a reason

Hopefully, when he see's the collected and undoubted pride and joy in these songs from the collaborators , it might prompt a realization...

What have you got to lose - Don't think Andy...Do !


re
LyanvisAberrant wrote: 13 Dec 2024, 11:35
deirfiur wrote: 09 Dec 2024, 23:33 Great stuff… and a nice cast of characters for the book with some intriguing subtext .. we await the book which could tip Andy into releasing some product
If you're talking about 'here', what has given you that impression?
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alanm wrote: 11 Dec 2024, 07:38
The missing bass drum of verse 3
Not that I should be arguing with the good Mr Marx, but verse 3 of SKOS clearly has a kick drum in there. Maybe it's just lower down in the mix, or the bass guitar line has been EQ'd over it?

... so many more too
When the bass and the drums come back into the song at 3:37, there is clearly a kick drum beat missing. It’s just that one beat, though.
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I think Andrew’s plan is to release the unreleased songs when he can’t tour anymore.
Tours and tees bring in the money.
But new songs already recorded and stored away just might top up the pension in retirement.
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Moderate Mick wrote: 15 Dec 2024, 16:00 I think Andrew’s plan is to release the unreleased songs when he can’t tour anymore.
Tours and tees bring in the money.
But new songs already recorded and stored away just might top up the pension in retirement.
That's not impossible, but I personally wouldn't bank on it.
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It's a silly concept because you can't earn money on recorded music any more. Its only monetary value is as "merch" or promotion for the live shows
"We're Hawkwind and this is a song about love." - :von: , 1993

"We will miss them when they are gone" - M. Andrews, 2024
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In the unlikely event that further recorded material is released, the motivation won’t be money - it will be about legacy. I do retain a small element of hope that one day Von will wake up and realise these songs are too good not to be properly memorialised.
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Husek wrote: 06 Dec 2024, 18:07
I'm glad Chris agrees that Kiss the Carpet should be a setlist staple, best opening -- or encore comeback -- ever
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I love Chris comment about the meaning of the lyrics. 😂
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