Tunnelvision Watching The Hydroplanes CD

Following on some years after a single-disc compilation of available Tunnelvision material, LTM returned to the band by offering up two separate discs, generally divided between live and studio cuts. Watching the Hydroplanes was the studio offering, starting with the one item LTM had been unable to license for re-release the first time through -- the actual "Watching the Hydroplanes"/"Morbid Fear" single itself, the one item the band released during its initial lifetime. Given a remix from original demo tracks by Martin Hannett, it bears less of that producer's imprimatur than might be thought -- the feeling is much more one of murk than crispness balanced with echo, say -- but "Watching the Hydroplanes" itself is a hypnotic blend of lost-somewhere vocals, steady rhythm, and a calm but persistent spindly guitar part. The remaining tracks mostly come from two demo sessions -- in an odd compare/contrast offering, one session, the second chronologically, is repeated twice, one in its Peter Hook-remixed form and the other as originally recorded, though taken from a muddy source tape. In both versions the band's performances are quite good, if also betraying signs of picking up on the work of bands like Bauhaus and the Cure (musically if not vocally), with Hook proving to be a more sympathetic producer than Hannett, perhaps unsurprisingly bringing the bass to more prominence and emphasizing a strong band performance all around even while letting the individual players stand out. The other demo, the first chronologically, covers the recordings that produced the eventual single (the difference Hannett made being clearly audible), with "Old Comrades" in particular sounding like it might have been a better choice than "Morbid Fear" for the flip side in the end. A final, extremely rough alternate take of "Watching the Hydroplanes" concludes the disc. The liner notes are up to the usual high standard of LTM-related work, giving a solid history of the group while noting that the band reunited in 2003 to carry out more live and studio work, perhaps in the wake of Crispy Ambulance's own striking re-formation. ~ Ned Raggett

LTM is pleased to announce a second archive CD by the cult band Tunnelvision, who recorded for Factory Records in 1980/81 and were produced by Martin Hannett and Peter Hook. From Blackpool on the North of England, cold wavers Tunnelvision were spotted by Factory at the 2nd even New Order gig in September 1980, and recorded the single Watching the Hydroplanes/Morbid Fear with legendary producer Martin Hannett. Their second demo, recorded the following year, was mixed by Peter Hook of New Order. The youthful band split in early 1982. 'Watching the Hydroplanes' combines both sides of the Factory single with all eight studio demo tracks recorded by the band in 1980-81, carefully remastered from original analogue mastertapes that for many years were thought to have been lost. In addition there is the pre-Hook mix of the second demo and a portastudio demo track. Features a faithful adaption of the original Martyn Atkins 7" sleeve artwork and includes a booklet of detailed band biography and archive photos. 2005.

Audio Mixer: Peter Hook.

Liner Note Author: James Nice.

Recording information: 1981-1982.

Editor: James Nice.