A few months’ back, we shared some new music from Northern England’s quirky noir-rockers Weimar – the band had finally released their debut album ‘Dancing On a Volcano’ via German Shepherd Records. Well these guys just do not sleep, which you’d know if you ever had a look at their social media pages. Busy busy busy. Now they are back with another sonic delight in the single‘I Smashed The Looking Glass’, which explores such themes of identity crisis and the interrelationship between the artist’s true self and their public persona.
Upon first, upon second and upon third listen, I think it’s fair to say that this track is a great melange of sounds we discovered earlier – mostly in the 80s by bands like Dire Straits, The B-52s and Hoodoo Gurus – but brought together in a way that neither of the aforementioned bands had done so. Well done on that Weimar.
Weimar (pronounced Vy-marr) is a four-piece made up of vocalist/ guitarist / songwriter Aidan Cross (The Bacillus, Black Light Mutants), bassist John Armstrong (The Speed Of Sound), drummer Anthony ‘Eddy’ Edwards (The Deceased) and guitarist Stephen Sarsen (Frank Is Dead, Playground). The 12 tracks comprising their prized album were three years in the making, which take the listener on an unpredictable excursion through the socio-political and personal challenges of our modern age.
“Thematically, this song is a response to Kraftwerk’s classic ‘The Hall Of Mirrors’, which explored how an artist’s true self is distorted and eventually lost in the creation of an ideal persona. ‘I Smashed The Looking Glass’ is it’s spiritual sequel, exploring the artist’s escape from the trappings of such a persona, a significant challenge in an age of cult icons and social media performity,” says frontman Aidan Cross.
Cynical and sardonic, but also optimistic and hopeful, this song features a special guest appearance from the legendary Loop-Aznavour of Adventures of Salvador (Weimar’s German Shepherd Records labelmates) on theremin, enhancing the psychedelic effects that soundtrack the narrator’s identity crisis and subsequent triumph over adversity.
Weimar recentluy previewed lead single ‘Soho Rain’ featuring Leeds artist Finola, dedicated to London’s old seedy Soho district, its dying culture and the many artistic and cultural movements that emerged there. Other themes explored on this album include gentrification and cultural erosion, unsavoury characters masquerading as respectable public figures, the grit beneath the glamour, the contrast between polished façades and the decadence within.
Through a maelstrom of musical styles and influences, this album paints a brutal and honest picture of human nature and culture in the 2020s. Earlier this year, Weimar also released the 2-track single ‘The Girls of LA’ with B-side ‘Transatlantic Confusion’.
Embracing post-punk to no wave, cabaret, psychedelia, alternative folk and gothic rock, all blended in a distinctive fusion, this album was produced by Adam Crossley and Chris Guest of Vibratone Sound Studio. The cover art was created by acclaimed artist and writerBrian Gorman.
Since forming in 2016, Louder Than War named Weimar amongst its 50 Bands To Watch for 2019, the year they debuted the single ‘John Doe / Curse the Songs’, followed by ‘Marvel To The State / Undesirable Master’. Having worked with legendary post-punk producer Simon ‘Ding’ Archer, they’ve also played with Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets) and goth legends Skeletal Family.
‘Dancing On A Volcano’ LP is out now, available everywhere digitally including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. It was also released on CD and can be ordered directly from the artist.
ALBUM CREDITS
Written by John Armstrong, Aidan Cross, Anthony Edwards, Stephen Sarsen, Johann Kloos
Produced, mixed & mastered by Adam Crossley and Chris Guest
Recorded at Vibratone Sound Studio, Manchester
Cover Art by Brian Gorman
John Armstrong – Bass
Aidan Cross – Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Anthony ‘Eddy’ Edwards – Drums
Johann Kloos – Lead Guitar
Bob Dinn – Trumpet and flugelhorn (‘The Sociopath’)
Finola – Saxophone (‘Soho Rain’, ‘Polished Decay’, ‘Hunter’s Moon’)
Chris Guest – Keyboards (‘Soho Rain’, ‘Faded Queen Of The Night’)
Loop-Aznavour – Theremin (‘I Smashed The Looking Glass’)
Susan O’Shea – Keyboards (‘The Hangers-On’)
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