Photographs as Memories

Photographs as Memories is the debut studio album by English band Eyeless in Gaza. It was released on 30 January 1981, through record label Cherry Red.

Photographs as Memories
Studio album by
Released30 January 1981
RecordedW.M.R.S Leamington SDA
StudioWoodbine Street Recording Studios
GenrePost-punk
LabelCherry Red
ProducerJohn Rivers
Eyeless in Gaza chronology
Photographs as Memories
(1981)
Caught in Flux
(1981)

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Eyeless in Gaza (Pete Becker, Martyn Bates)

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Seven Years" 
2."Fixation" 
3."Looking Daggers" 
4."From A. to B." 
5."Clear Cut Apparently" 
6."Speech Rapid Fire" 
7."John of Patmos" 
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Knives Replace Air" 
2."Faceless" 
3."In Your Painting" 
4."A Keepsake" 
5."Whitewash" 
6."No Noise" 

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
Melody Makerfavourable[2]
NMEunfavourable[2]
Record Mirrorunfavourable[2]
Soundsgenerally favourable[3]
Trouser Pressfavourable[4]

Photograps as Memories received mixed reviews on its release, from “An interesting, invigorating listen” (Melody Maker) to “Stinkingly awful” (Record Mirror).[2] Des Moines in Sounds noted "a lot of flaws" and Martyn Bates' "extremely challenging voice", but acknowledged that "'From A to B’, ‘Speech Rapid Fire’ and ‘No Noise’ are three representations of how Becker (£200 Wasp synthesiser, voice, percussion, violin, stylophone, ‘treated tapes’) and Bates (voice, electric guitar, plastic organ, soprano sax) at full flow achieve their thoroughly magic melodies", and that "Becker’s uncanny flair for compelling succinct synthesiser hook lines is the conspicuous characteristic, but Bates’ imperiously evocative vocal is a factor just as crucial." While dismissing "John of Patmos" and "In Your Painting" as "rubbish", the reviewer acknowledged that "the highspots of the album are truly staggering".[5]

Retrospectively, AllMusic described the album's "non-style-over-substance sense of work ethic" as "frustrating".[1] Trouser Press described it as a "better-than-decent stab at hook-filled spareness".[4]

Personnel

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  • Pete Becker – unspecified instrumentation, vocals, production
  • Martyn Bates – unspecified instrumentation, vocals, production
Technical

References

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  1. ^ a b Carlson, Dean. "Photographs as Memories – Eyeless in Gaza : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Eyeless in Gaza – Caught in Flux". eyelessingaza.com. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  3. ^ Sutherland, Steve (14 February 1981). "Futura Optima". Sounds. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  4. ^ a b Carlson, Dean. "trouserpress.com :: Eyeless in Gaza". trouserpress.com. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  5. ^ Moines, Des (14 February 1981). "Future Optima". Sounds.
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