Not one to deal with issues passively, in their latest single, Liverpool-based indie stalwarts The Room go head to head with the phantom phenomenon known as internet trolls. ‘Crying Face’, also happens to be the third single from the band’s recently released ‘Restless Fate’ album, the first new recordings in 38 years from these John Peel favourites, formed in 1979 by singer Dave Jackson and bassist Becky Stringer in the golden years of northern English postpunk.
Today, the band is again joined by their original drummer Clive Thomas, along with guitarist Darren Brown, keyboardist Ethan Kyme, while drummer Tom McCabe. contributes drums on the album itself.
“Crying Face concerns that pesky phenomenon – the social media troll. A drunken Travis Bickle of the inter-web, whose inability to socialise without getting in a temper tantrum has reduced him to scrolling through others’ accounts to leave inflammatory comments under assumed names. He might be glowering into his computer screen at something you’ve posted, right now, vein pulsing in a furrowed brow,” says Dave Jackson.
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Recorded and mixed at Ark Studios in Liverpool and released via 9×9 Records, this album was co-produced by Dave Jackson and Steve Powell (Michael Head & the Red Elastic Band, Autour De Lucie, Echo & The Bunnymen).
Earlier, the band introduced two singles – ‘The Drift’ and ‘Sleepless’, a song inspired by the modern-day phenomenon of internet addiction, social media and news junkies. Producer Mark Jordan, who created the videos for all three singles, says, “This new video is a tribute to Facebook trolls. Usually with an over exaggerated opinion of themselves. Whipping up the audience like the angry villagers with their burning torches and pitchforks when in reality the monster is their own reflection.”
‘Restless Fate’ picks up where the band left off. At times shimmering, at times haunting, their melodic blend of progressive, alternative pop and sultry post-punk is just as relevant and captivating now as when they broke up in 1985. An exploration of man’s search for meaning and the dysfunction of the human condition, there is still a relentless optimism at the core of this record.
“It’s great to revisit old stuff, but writing new songs as The Room is where the excitement really lies. New Dreams from an island cursed by Restless Fate,” says Dave Jackson.
The Room recorded four John Peel sessions, appeared on The Whistle Test and worked with Television‘s Tom Verlaine and John Porter (Roxy Music, The Smiths, Billy Bragg) on their ‘In Evil Hour’ LP (1984). Recordings from Janice Long’s BBC Radio One programme and Saturday Live were used for the 1985 release ‘Jackpot Jack’ EP. 2004 brought their ‘No Dream (Best Of)’ compilation, followed by 2005’s ‘Indoor Fireworks’ LP, which was actually recorded in 1982.
Apart from touring the UK and the USA, The Room has also performed with The Fall, The Birthday Party, Bauhaus, Southern Death Cult, Violent Femmes, Tom Verlaine, John Foxx and The Red Guitars.
Following the band’s split, Becky and Dave went on to form several other bands: Benny Profane, Dust and Dead Cowboys. Dave has also recorded under his own name and, most recently, he issued a string of releases as The Room in the Wood (with Paul Cavanagh).
The ‘Restless Fate’ album is out now, available digitally across fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify andAmazon. It can also be obtained on CD and as a vinyl record via Liverpool-based 9×9 Records.
CREDITS
Written by Dave Jackson, Darren Brown, Becky Stringer, Ethan Kyme
Recorded at Ark Studios, Liverpool
Recorded and mixed by Steve Powell
Produced by Steve Powell and The Room
Dave Jackson – vocals
Becky Stringer -bass
Darren Brown – guitar
Ethan Kyme – keyboards
Tom McCabe – drums
Released on Liverpool’s 9×9 Records
Video created by Mark Jordan
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