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The Chemistry Set
(psychedelic)
"The Fanzine and Flexi Disc Kings"
There was a time before the internet when if you wanted to know what was going on in the world of psychedelia you would purchase one of the hundreds of fanzines around the world. Like Bucketful of Brains, Freakbeat, The BOB, Rockerilla, Ruta 66 and Sound Affects, to name just a few.
In the late 1980's the Chemistry Set appeared in fanzines from all around the globe. From the UK to Spain, Italy, Holland, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Japan, USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Some of these fanzines used to give away flexi discs (for younger readers these were 7" floppy plastic records) that used to last for about 5 plays if you were lucky. For a period from 1988 – 1990 it seemed that every other fanzine were giving away a Chemistry Set flexi disc.
Formed in London in 1987, The Chemistry Set comprised of Ashley Wood (Guitars and vocals), Paul Lake (guitars and vocals), Henry Taprell (bass) and David Mclean (drums and vocals).
They came together through a mutual friend and a mutual love of psychedelia. Their influences were: Syd Barrett, Robyn Hitchcock, Tomorrow, UK Psych, the 4 B's (Beatles, Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield & The Byrds), Love, Moby Grape, The Yardbirds & The Misunderstood (particularly the use of the volume pedal, check out the quiet part of "wake up sometimes") and Hendrix.
They spent the first 6 months of their existence in the laboratory (AKA a rehearsal studio in Kensington, London) They played their first gig at the Rock Garden in London in 1988 and their influences were loud and clear for all to hear.
An early stage favourite "Batmutation Overdrive" was the Batman Theme that careered into Interstellar Overdrive and could last anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on the crowd reaction.
Covers that were played at the early gigs were "She Don't Care About Time", "Renaissance Fair" & "Lady Friend" by The Byrds, Dylan's "Tombstone Blues" and The Buffalo's "Mr Soul" (later recorded at the " Wake up sometime" sessions).
During their existence they also covered "See Emily Play" by The Floyd (recorded and released on Imaginary records Syd Barrett tribute "Beyond the Wildwood", "Faintly Blowing" by Kaleidoscope and "A House Is Not A Motel" by Love (recorded and released on Spanish LP "Wake up Sometime").
The first official release was in 1988, a cassette of bedroom demos, released on the "Acid Tapes" label.
This was followed by a flurry of flexi discs, released with fanzines and appearances on compilation LP's (UK, Spain & Germany).
In February 1989 The Chemistry Set entered into Raven Farm Recording Studios to record their first LP; Sound Like Painting.
The LP was finished and ready for release in April 1989. Interviewed at the time by Bucketful of Brains, they had been offered a number of deals from record companies; Voxx (USA), Music Maniac (Germany), Resonance (Holland) & Romilar-d (Spain) but were holding out to see who else would come along.
The band sent out about 200 copies to record companies, fanzines, magazines and radio stations and it was "Sounds Like Painting" that became the main reference point for the band.
Sounds Like Painting was never released. Although 3 of the songs from the sessions were released on flexi-discs.
Jim Mcgarry, Head of the Rainbow Quartz label said " It is one of my favorite albums of all time" http://www.internationalpopoverthrow.com/may2001.htm
In the summer of 1989 The Chemistry Set could be found playing weekly in London (including The Marquee, The Borderline, The Greyhound, Rough Trade Record Shop & regularly at Alice in Wonderland) They played with Robyn Hitchcock, Bevis Frond, The Steppes and even good old Hawkwind.
The band started to pick up mainstream music press interest, particularly "Sounds", who published a number of articles including a half page review of a Marquee gig where David Cavanagh said they played with a blend of jangle pop meets Jeff Beck era Yardbirds.
The bands rehearsal sessions were more like gigs. Every Saturday a trail of about 50 freaks and hippies would make their way to the rehearsal studio, where they would watch a 4 hour freakout and jam session. Greg Shaw once paid a visit with The Steppes and a Chem Set/Steppes jam session ensued.
In September 1989 The Chemistry Set went into De-Brett's 8 track recording studio in London to record a mini-lp for Spanish label, Romilar-d. This was originally intended as a way of releasing some new songs in Europe whilst holding back "Sounds Like Painting" for a UK/USA release.
In October 1989 Imaginary Records paid for them to go into another studio to record a version of "See Emily Play" for a Syd Barret compilation "Beyond the Wildwood". While they were in the studio they also recorded a new song "Wake up Sometimes".
"Wake up Sometimes" was added to the 9 songs recorded the previous month and the "Wake up Sometime[1]" LP was complete. The LP/CD was released in Europe in June 1990.
The LP received good reviews around Europe and got a lot of airplay. In England John Peel played tracks from the LP. Romilar-d also released a Double A side 12" single of (Don't) turn away & Wake Up Sometimes.
The band spent the summer of 1990 in Spain, travelling the country, carrying out interviews and generally plugging the "Wake up Sometime" release, which went into the Spanish top 10 charts.
Spain had seen a huge cultural revolution after the death of Franco and the place was buzzing with the kids enjoying bands, gigs, clubs, fanzines/magazines and tuning in to great radio stations.
The Chemistry Set seriously considered making Spain their permanent laboratory but headed back home after a summer of promotion to sign for Imaginary Records of Manchester (cold) England (Ed's note, I wonder if they made the right decision???).
But being The Chemistry Set, before they departed from Romilar-d they recorded a 4 track 12" single that (you guessed it) was never released (see discography for further details).
When the band signed for Imaginary they went straight into the studio and re-recorded "(Don't) Turn Away " and it was released as a CD/12" single.
The single went into the indie top 20 and the video was played by Tony Wilson (Factory Records Owner) on his BBC2 show.
For the remainder of 1990 the band toured around England and Europe.
In 1991, Jim Mcgarry (Head of the Rainbow Quartz label) became their US manager (This was before he set up the label) and was desperately trying to get the band signed by a US major. He arranged for the band to play at the prestigious CMJ music festival in New York.
The Chemistry Set's last release was a CD/12" single for Imaginary records, "The Candleburns". The band then split up.
3 members of the band continued into "The Set" who were signed by Polydor records. They released 2 singles and then entered into the studio to record an LP with Roger Bechirian (who had worked with The Flaming Groovies, Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, The Undertones, The Jam, Squeeze and Elvis Costello).
Having the luxury of plenty of time in the studio, their psych roots started to come spiralling out.
The usual Chem Set chaos ensued, that saw (c'mon you get the story by now) the LP unreleased and Polydor refusing to release a projected third single "Colossus" because it was too weird!
This was the song that broke the camel (that was Polydor's) back.
A mantra of epic proportions beginning with a very low sub bass, enter a slowed down loop taken from "You SET the scene" (geddit) by Love from "Forever Changes'. Next some drums that are occasionally fed through a "Hammond Organ Leslie Speaker". Then comes a sample of Peter Finch from the film "Network" (I'm as mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore) Next in is a distorted 12 string Rickenbacker.
The song loops and mantras round for the next 6 minutes. Listen out for the gongs (some of them backwards!) Spiralling out of control at the end with lead raga's and "Pete Townsend-esque" slashing of the Rickenbacker. PHEW!....
A decade later something is bubbling in the laboratory……
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