1919 – Citizens Of Nowhere (Album – Manic Depression Records)
Genre/Influences: Post-Punk, Dark-Rock, Cold-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.
Background/Info: Originally set up in the 80s, this UK band from Bradford struck back after a long hiatus and moved on releasing new work. This new album is the fourth full length album to date. Notice by the way there’s also a cassette version released by Cry Wolf Records.
Content: 1919 is mixing different influences together. You for sure and rapidly will notice the 80s influence, which for the hardest cuts of the album are reminding me of good-old Killing Joke. But you next will also discover slower cuts and more Dark-Rock driven compositions. The work features 9 songs, which are all under 4 minutes.
+ + + : I definitely prefer this album to its predecessor (cf. “Futurecide”) and especially both last cuts are cool exposures. Both songs are more evoking the true 80s Cold-Wave and Post-Punk spirit. The guitar playing has something Killing Joke-like, which can’t leave you unmoved. The opening song “Borders” is another song in this 80s vein. In a slower style I also recommend listening to “Singing To The Universe”, which has also something more melancholic-like carried by a carrying chorus achieved with synth arrangements.
– – – : I’m less convinced by the more Dark-Rock driven part of the work.
Conclusion: “Citizens Of Nowhere” is a cool piece of 80s Cold-Wave and Post-Punk nostalgia.
Best songs: “Sweet Blue Murder”, “A Gilded Cage”, “Singing To The Universe”, “Borders”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: https://1919.co.uk / www.facebook.com/1919official
Label: www.manicdepressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/manicdepressionrecords
About 1919
1919 is a post-punk band from Bradford, England, formed in 1980. Founding guitarist Mark Tighe was part of the original line-up. The band split in 1985 and reformed in 2014.
Tighe was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and died in January 2017. Former member Steve Madden died in 2019. The third studio album “Futurecide” was released that same year on Cleopatra Records and included guest performances by Tighe.
“Citizens Of Nowhere” followed in 2021 on Manic Depression Records, with a cassette edition issued by Cry Wolf Records.
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