Bristol based The Reaction were formed in the mid 1980s greatly influenced by the music and dress of the 60s, a combination that appealed to many of the Mod Revivalists of the day. With the young Mods enthusiastic support, The Reaction were quickly riding high on a wave of popularity and independent record sales. Everyone that either heard the band or were lucky enough to see their live set, were left with no doubt the band were destined for a brighter future than many of their peers. Even though they managed to gain much coveted Radio 1 airplay from the likes of John Peel and Andy Kershaw, and the backing of the Waterloo Sunset Records, their popularity was never properly harnessed. Within three years they were gone, but not thankfully without leaving behind the tracks that are now available on this album.
For the many fans of 1960s music, we are sure this retrospective album by The Reaction will come as something of a surprise. Very rarely do you come across a band that has managed so successfully to recreate the unique electric 12 string sound of the 60s American West Coast. With seven original well crafted, self penned songs, and four cover versions once performed by the likes of The Yardbirds, The Creation, The Beatles and The Byrds, the new album ‘Shapes of Things To Come’ can sit very confidently along side any other album from that era.
This collection of songs represents the bulk of studio recordings by "New Jersey's Original 80's Retro-mod band," who were among the most popular of the handful of east-cost acts in the early 80's retro-rock movement based in the "NYC cave-stomp" scene; which would eventually come to be known as the "underground garage" sound. Based around the club "The Dive," where MOD FUN gigged monthly, alongside many other gigs at CBGB, SNAFU, Firefly, DIRT and the Peppermint Lounge.
MOD FUN also ventured out to California very early in their career (1984) and absorbed the stylistic influences of the brand new "Paisley Underground" sound within their tight "UK psyche" compositions. Many gigs at San Francisco's The Mab and Berkeley Square; LA's Madame Wongs and Cavern Club, as well as San Diego's Club Zu and Rock Palace.
"90 Wardour Street" (released in 1985) was their debut 12-inch and exhibits MOD FUN's flair for American Garage sounds slammed right up against their infatuation with UK Psyche-Mod-R&B material like The Creation, Syd's Pink Floyd, The Eyes, The Action, Zombies, Kinks and (even) Early Who. You can't listen to these 8 original songs and not get hooked by the depth of the many classic influences in their sound ... 90 Wardour Street plays like a "case history" of 60's retro music...
For "Dorothy's Dream" the band dipped even further into the Californian "Paisley Underground," (after their 2 tours of that state,) and their immersion in the "American Indie" sound, including more influences like Big Star and The Nazz now sitting alongside their continued Anglophilic love of UK psyche and pop like The Move, Syd Barrett, Buzzcocks and their original initial inspiration The Jam. By the time "...Dream" was recorded however it was even harder to pick out individual influences, as the band had jammed so many different retrofied pieces into their musical puzzle.
Also included in this CD collection are 5 "bonus" tracks — 3 songs originally intended to be on the "Dorothy's Dream" album, which ultimately weren't recorded and released on the vinyl LP in 1985. Two of these tracks appear as demo recordings ("Plastic People" and "Sugarcube Boy,") and one as a live version ("Understand Me," recorded in California 10th, April 1985.) Two more songs from that same gig appear here as well: "Movin' N Groovin'" from their debut "Wardour St.," and a live version of the B-side of their debut single "Happy Feeling"
A collection of super-obscure, often private press, outsider psychedelic guitar and folk music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, all with the underlying theme of the Jesus People Movement. The album is a co-release with the eclectic online music magazine Aquarium Drunkard, who have been digging up lost treasures from this obscure musical moment for nearly a decade. The audio has been remastered for vinyl at Infrasonic Mastering, and includes extensive liner notes detailing the Jesus People Movement and its music.
