Telescopes - Songs of Love and Revolution

  by Steve Kinrade

published: 8 / 3 / 2021




Telescopes - Songs of Love and Revolution


Label: Tapete Records
Format: CD
Haunting and also surprisingly accessible twelfth album from London-based veteran noise/experimental rockers the Telescopes



Review

The Telescopes have been kicking the tyres in the musical forecourt since 1987, and have enjoyed many a record label collaboration over the years, here and abroad. Headed up by Stephen Lawrie , they are purveyors of noise, experimental and space rock, with a nice pinch of psychedelic thrown into the mix. ‘Songs of Love and Redemption’ - their twelfth album - is heavy stuff, and not one for the faint hearted. For those of us not immediately dwelling in the Telescopes constituency, it is a challenging first listen. All good things must, however, be worked at, and repeated listenings differentiate the Yang from the Ying, the Love from the Revolution. This is a band who inhabit a particular sonic environment, and yet are not artistically constrained by it. Monotone beats, constant feedback avalanches, serrated guitars act as worthy counterpoints to Lawrie’s deadpan vocal drawl. It’s experimental, yet manages to hold the attention. Suffice to say, for the converted ‘Songs Of Love and Revolution’ will be a welcome addition to the canon; to the uninitiated, a surprisingly accessible introduction.



Track Listing:-

1 This is Not a Dream
2 Strange Waves
3 Mesmerised
4 Come Bring Your Love
5 This Train
6 Songs of Love and Revolution
7 You're Never Alone with Despair
8 We See Magic and We Are Neutral, Unnecessary
9 Haul Away The Anchor


Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/thetelescopes
http://www.thetelescopes.com/
https://thetelescopes.bandcamp.com/


Label Links:-

http://www.tapeterecords.de/
https://www.facebook.com/tapeterecords
https://twitter.com/tapete
https://www.youtube.com/user/tapeterec



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Interviews


Interview (2016)
Telescopes - Interview
Anthony Strutt speaks to Stephen Lawrie from experimental/psychedelic act the Telescopes about his band's lengthy history and their recent inclusion on 'Still in a Dream', a new five CD shoegaze box set
Interview (2006)
Interview (2004)

Live Reviews


Mondo Underbelly, London, 17/2/2010
Telescopes - Mondo Underbelly, London, 17/2/2010
Anthony Strutt watches former Creation band the Telescopes play a violent and darkly impressive set of songs from their 1989 debut album, 'Taste'
Marquee, London. 7/10/2005


Digital Downloads




Bandcamp




Soundcloud




Reviews


Exploding Head Syndrome (2019)
Discordant but often riveting and surprising eleventh album from experimental noise rock act the Telecopes
Hidden Fields (2015)
#4 (2005)
Altered Perception (2004)


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