Bedlam Choir - Rupert CDEP (Gerbil Warfare 1993)

[Ernest Thesiger]

Sole CD release from Sheffield HM band. An album was meant to be forthcoming but didn't happen. Four tracks - that children's programme theme & three more satisfying songs. Highest quality VBR MP3 rip. Cover scans included.

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[DaN]

Oh yum! Looking forward to check this out early next week. Thank you!

(In case someone missed out: 2 older tracks by the band can be found on the Corroseum sampler Veterans Of The Various-Wars vol 3:
http://thecorroseum.org/comps/index.php#cdr
)

[bigfootkit]

Many thanks for the upload Ernest, i'm looking forward to hearing this as my curiosity's been piqued by your comments on the title track, the 2 songs on DaN's comp & that youtube 'documentary'.

[bigfootkit]

Now that i've heard it a few times, with the exception of the ill advised & even-worse-than-i'd-imagined 'Rupert' cover, the material, playing & production are all far better than i'd have expected from a UK independent release from that time. The songwriting is strong, and there's some really good guitar playing on there, but i feel the singer's voice, whilst having a decent range & tone, sometimes seems at odds with the material in terms of his delivery. He just sounds far too upbeat or i'm-a-bit-wacky-me for the music he's singing over.
A shame, as the introductory portion of ''Ice Cream And Strait Jackets' is really great, with an atmosphe that's reminicent of Metal Church in the more reflective moments of 'Blessing In Disguise', but once the song properly kicks in the singer immediately kills the mood for me with his style of delivery.
That being said, whilst no lost masterpiece, for a record with that cover, it's a pretty decent listen.

[Ernest Thesiger]

Thanks for the verdict, Bigfeet!

[DaN]

...i feel the singer's voice, whilst having a decent range & tone, sometimes seems at odds with the material in terms of his delivery. He just sounds far too upbeat or i'm-a-bit-wacky-me for the music he's singing over.

Agree with this when it comes to "Ice Cream..". It's a really annoying piece of music - the ballad part is dull, the rocking bits sound like a failed attempt at groove/funk-metal (a failed attempt, imagine that...). The title track is just another catchy/happy pop-rock tune noone asked for ...but the remaining 50% of this EP was bloody brilliant! I love the style of "Prophetic Nightmare", like 90's Running Wild meets 80's Fates Warning, reminding me of cult faves like TEMPEST (Ger) or MASTER MASSIVE. "Hostile Space" = speedy post-NWOBHM at it's best. I'd say both these songs are easily on par with their Monochrome-contribution. Really curious if that debut full-length ever got recorded...?

[Pestkrieg]

Really appreciate the upload of this - thanks. A mixed bag on first listen, but certainly enough to lure me back in, other than the awful Rupert cover. Ruined my childhood memories of the books!