Aural Sculptors - The Stranglers Live 1976 to the Present


Welcome to Aural Sculptors, a blog aimed at bringing the music of The Stranglers to as wide an audience as possible. Whilst all of the various members of the band that have passed through the ranks since 1974 are accomplished studio musicians, it is on stage where the band have for me had their biggest impact.

As a collector of their live recordings for many years I want to share some of the better quality material with other fans. By selecting the higher quality recordings I hope to present The Stranglers in the best possible light for the benefit of those less familiar with their material than the hardcore fan.

Needless to say, this site will steer well clear of any officially released material. As well as live gigs, I will post demos, radio interviews and anything else that I feel may be of interest.

In addition, occasionally I will post material by other bands, related or otherwise, that mean a lot to me.

Your comments and/or contributions are most welcome. Please email me at adrianandrews@myyahoo.com.


Friday 27 December 2013

The Wickerman Festival, Dundrennan, 22nd July 2005


Here's an old summer festival set of a 'Norfolk Coast' vintage from north of the border. This is, being a festival the full set played on the day I believe.

MP3: http://we.tl/WqeT8E1cyJ

Artwork: http://we.tl/Ud5uIyGiJW

01. Norfolk Coast
02. Big Thing Coming
03. Peaches
04. Walk On By
05. Duchess
06. Lost Control
07. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
08. Five Minutes
09. No More Heroes

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Rock School Gig At The Half Moon in Bishops Stortford 22nd December 2013


First and foremost, this has nothing to do with the fund raising songs that have been posted on this site. Initially, when I suggested that I would upload a song from this gig, Rudi said that 'Who is going to want to see someone dressed as a geography teacher playing awful songs'. It's a fair point, but I would like to point out that his choice of clothing is his.... how do you rebel against punky parents? Drape yourself in tweed and corduroy (elbow patches optional) that's what! It is true that due to a bout of pneumonia he missed lessons and therefore had no influence over the songs to be played.

Good to see that Rudi has really persevered with the bass and he now plays in a relaxed and confident manner, which is more than I could ever do!!

Super Duper Love by Joss Stone
(Rudi on bass)
Half Moon, Bishops Stortford 22nd December 2013

Good For You Alan!

 

Today we have the news that at the Governments request, Alan Turing has received a Royal Pardon. A somewhat empty gesture, but important nevertheless for those that knew and loved him.

It is to him that many thousands of individuals, on both sides of the conflict, should offer thanks for the survival of fathers, sons, brothers and husbands since as a result of his genius the slaughter of the Second World War was ended at least two years earlier than it would have were it not for his (and all of the other codebreakers) work.

It is probably improper to pass judgement on those within the establishment that meted out such harsh treatment to the man. I still hold the view that given his unique contribution to the war effort, Turing's 'crimes' should have been conveniently overlooked.

Elastica Christmas John Peel Session 17th December 1994



Here's one that can only be posted at this time of year!

A special Christmas themed Peel session from Elastica.

FLAC: http://we.tl/vnsoOXFSku

01. All For Gloria
02. I Want To Be A King Of Orient R
03. Father Christmas
04. Blue

Track 3 sounds awfully familiar, can't put my finger on it though......


Wembley Stadium 18th August 1979

 


Many thanks to yesican and MeAnIe for helping me out with this one!!

A short support slot (for The Who), but I'm sure you'll agree, a land mark gig in their long career. A classic Raven set, featuring no less than eight tracks from the album.

FLAC: http://we.tl/7vdUqVUAb4

MP3: http://we.tl/eAM3PhFdLm

01. Nuclear Device
02. Genetix
03. The Raven
04. Dead Los Angeles
05. Baroque Bordello
06. Tank
07. Threatened
08. Shah Shah A Go Go
09. Ice
10. Down In The Sewer
11. Bring On The Nubiles
12. Duchess
13. Toiler On The Sea


JJ and Jet
Wembley Stadium 18th August 1979

Dave and Hugh (who's just seen the ghost of Keith Moon!)
Wembley Stadium 18th August 1979

Have A Good One, One And All


Sunday 22 December 2013

Wembley Stadium 18th August 1979



Hi, can any kind soul help me out with a lossless version of The Stranglers supporting The Who. Mine is fried!

Thanks.

Monday 9 December 2013

Saturday 7 December 2013

A New Royal Family.......?

 
Messrs Pirroni & Ruffy
Chesterfield
4th December 2013

Ruts DC Cambridge Corn Exchange 5th December 2013


Thanks go to Chatts99 for this recording of the Ruts DC set from Thursday night at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge!!

FLAC: http://we.tl/cCjsg70Kjq

Artwork: http://we.tl/8t8FkmwpMY

01. Mighty Soldier
02. Backbiter
03. It Was Cold
04. Smiling Culture
05. One Step
06. No Time To Kill
07. Love In Vain
08. Staring At The Rudeboys
09. Jah War
10. Babylons Burning
11. In A Rut



Ruts DC at The Cambridge Corn Exchange
5th December 2013
(Photo nicked from Trevor's facebook page!)
 

 

Manna From Punk Heaven! The Damned and Ruts DC At The Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa, 30th November 2013

Ruts DC
The Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa
30th November 2013

As I have stated before, this was a pairing that I never thought it would be my good fortune to witness. It was a joint birthday celebration that brought a coterie of people to Leamington Spa on a Saturday night.

For me, the pressure was on. as since plans were laid down for this gathering several months ago, I have done nothing but crow about how good Ruts DC are and how they were going to give The Damned a run for their money on this tour. Happily, I would say that from the feedback I got from people, post gig my reputation is intact and a few more people have been turned onto/back onto the band.

L-R: Adrian, Paul, Rachel, Bazza, Jacquie, Gunta, Joni & Simon (Owen behind the lens)

The Assembly Rooms is a wonderful venue (visited only once previously when The Stranglers played there), about as big as you can get whilst retaining an intimacy with the action on the stage. As predicted in an earlier post, the Ruts DC set, running as it did to about 40 minutes, comprised the singles from the heyday, but importantly new material from 'Rhythm Collision II'.

Now I know that with every Ruts DC gig that I have commented on, I tend to enthuse that they are getting tighter and tighter, but it is true. I suspect that for these dates in particular there is a strong element of competition between the two bands. It says something about their (Ruts DC) performance that it was only about a third of the way through the set that it dawned on me that they were again, as in Berlin, playing as a four piece, Seamus being absent (from the whole tour as I understand).



The set was precise and was exactly what was needed. 'It Was Cold' was dedicated to The Damned as Captain looked on from the wings. Brilliant stuff!

The Damned for their part were also great on the night. It is refreshing that The Damned feel entirely comfortable to play what the hell they like. Certainly, many of the singles were there, but there's always half a dozen surprises in their set. The band's 'Devil may care!' attitude is exemplified by the fact that there is no representation in the current set from their last album, 'So Who's Paranoid Now?', which far from being a turkey, is one of the finest albums of their career!

Sadly, neither band encroached on each others set . the one one-upmanship now appears to be on a musical footing only, but a great night of great music and great company.











Punk's Prince of Darkness surrenders to the Daleks..... then joins forces!