Name: In The Stone / Where Is Living?'
Brand: Normil Hawaiians

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

UTR134

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2020-09-18

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

8288871131418

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Total Cap

1 / 7" / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Normil Hawaiians

Genre GB

New Wave / Post Punk

Label GB

Upset The Rhythm

Originally formed in 1979 in Orpington, Greater London, England, UK, *Normil Hawaiians* is a band known for their ever-changing collective and unique sound. Led by guitarist/vocalist Guy Smith, the band has had two distinct periods with different members and contributors.

During their first period from 1979-1981, *Normil Hawaiians* featured a diverse lineup including Jim/James Lusted on guitar and vocals, Janet Armstrong on vocals, Kev/Kevin Armstrong on guitar, Colin Donaldson on bass, Chris Westerman on drums, Nick Rose on bass, Sue Leeves and Sarah Harley as backing vocalists. The Famous Delfonso played saxophone while Roger Smith contributed violin. Brian Kealy handled the drums while Stephen Berlin (Bertie) provided vocals.

In their second period from 1981-1986, the band underwent further changes with Simon Marchant joining as guitarist along with Cliff McLenehan on bass and Noel Blanden taking over the drums. Mark Tyler added his expertise with the string synth while Dave Anderson and Alun 'Wilf' Williams both played bass.

Upset The Rhythm is a live music promoter and record label based in London, UK. They are known for their dedication to showcasing innovative and boundary-pushing artists from various genres. With a focus on supporting independent musicians, Upset The Rhythm has built a reputation for curating exciting and diverse lineups at their live events. As a record label, they have released albums by some of the most influential and forward-thinking artists in the industry. Their commitment to promoting unique voices in music has made them an authoritative presence in the e-commerce world.

First new music from the renowned post-punk group Normil Hawaiians since 1985. A pressing of 500 copies only for the world. When Upset The Rhythm released Normil Hawaiians’ lost album Return Of The Ranters back in 2015, the band members got back in touch with each other after a 30 year break and starting playing music together again. Out of this the group played a launch show for the album and followed that up with more concerts, including an appearance at Supernormal, a residency at the Edinburgh Festival, gigs at Cafe OTO and supporting Richard Dawson in London too. They even recently toured Greece in support of having all three of their renowned exploratory post-punk albums finally back in print. Throughout this time, Normil Hawaiians revisited their original songs for these live performances. However for a group always so interested in evolving their sound and seeking nuance, it comes as no surprise that they shirked the idea of a faithful retread of old material in favour of reimagining their songs. The group experimented by pushing their songs into new inventive dimensions, still progressive at heart, but now imbued with a cosmic uncanny. A cinematic, even pastoral approach that was always quietly present has come to the fore. The quaint weirdness of folk song, the humanity of communal practice and the group’s ecological mindedness have all found a place in Normil Hawaiians’ current sound world.

With this conducive atmosphere brewing, the band’s first new songs in decades started to emerge. Being far-flung across the UK, the Family Hawaii encamped to Tayinloan, a small village on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland with the intention of recording new music. They set up their own studio in an isolated, windswept house overlooking the sea and started the tape rolling. Noel Blanden from the band explains how the spirit of the location was such an inspiration to the group during this initial recording session: “Our time immersed in the place and the unique energy it generated in us allowed us to write In The Stone. It goes right back to our first album, this need to document experience before it passes over and eludes us. We were grabbing at the musical ether and letting it shape itself through the band.” From loose, improvised sessions and reflective periods of listening in Tayinloan, Normil Hawaiians captured the moment. In The Stone is a motorik thrill of distorted guitars, locked rhythms and morphic resonance. Guy Smith is joined by Zinta Egle on vocals, skilfully sharing lyrics informed by Alan Garner and Nigel Kneale’s ideas around recurring events being linked to place and historical artefact; a kind of residual haunting known as ‘Stone Tape’ theory. In keeping with the context of the song, sounds from several previous live recordings of the track were woven into its present being. Flipside Where is Living? is a decidedly more delicate affair of questioning lyrics and eerie traces, droning strings and impressions smudged. This resultant 7” is a tantalising glimpse of Normil Hawaiians now, an echo from the past, an echo from the future.

In The Stone / Where Is Living?'

Music GB