While rose mcdowall is best known for her work with early 80s crossover indie pop act strawberry switchblade, shes made many cult solo recordings over the years. Fantastic pop record from rose mcdowall, member of strawberry switchblade and collaborator with artists like felt, current 93, and death in june. Get strawberry switchblade setlists view them, share them, discuss them with other strawberry switchblade fans for free on. Bryson and mcdowalls growing friendship, having met some years earlier on the punk scene, became a creative partnership. Just close your eyes and then remember the thoughts youve locked away when tomorrow comes youll wish you had today and as we sit here alone looking for a reason. Apr 06, 2018 featuring rose mcdowall guitar, vocals and harmony vocals and jill bryson guitar, vocals and harmony vocals, strawberry switchblade sound like two little girls enraptured and enraged by their first crushes. I assume she interviewed them but i dont have that part. As her band strawberry switchblade began to fall apart in 1985, rose mcdowall was left in limbo.
Strawberry switchblade was jill bryson and rose mcdowall two girls from the opposite ends of the city of glasgow. Its, without a doubt, one of the best synthpop albums i ever happened to put my hands on. Rose mcdowall is the former lead singer of the highly successful strawberry switchblade. A year later, strawberry switchblade s lineup was reduced to mcdowall and guitarist jill bryson. Strawberry switchblade strawberry switchblade 1984.
Rose mcdowall has a long history in music, beginning in postpunk group the poems before finding chart success with strawberry switchblade. Mcdowall formed strawberry switchblade in glasgow, scotland, in 1981. From the ominous shadows of goth suddenly appeared two young girls in polkadot dresses, flaming red lipstick, and hair ribbons. Strawberry switchblade trees and flowers 1983, vinyl. Strawberry switchblade was jill bryson and rose mcdowalltwo girls from the opposite ends of the city of glasgow. The duo of rose mcdowall and jill bryson projected an image that was deceptively bright, all pretty bows and polkadots, but their minds were.
Rose mcdowall s solo debut on vinyl for the first time. Gem is the first track to be released from the forthcoming soundtrack, far from the apple tree. Performances for two radio deejays generated interest from record labels. In the intervening time their cult reputation has only grown, making the appearance of these early recordings particularly tantalising. July 20 jill bryson has been working on some new music. Strawberry switchblades rose mcdowall unveils longlost new. Rose mcdowall and jill bryson gave the impression of two girls exploring the dressingup box and the pretty side of pop. Not sure that she wanted to be part of the music industry she despised, yet not willing to give up on making music, she kept recording songs between and some were meant for a second strawberry switchblade album that never appeared, some were solo efforts, but none of them crystal nights rose mcdowall cut with the cake knife released at the. Small, frail, yet visually striking, the apparent prettiness of their songs belies the harsh reality of the lyrics.
Trees and flowers go away, a single by strawberry switchblade. The complete session recorded by strawberry switchblade on 5 february 1985 for the john peel show on bbc radio 1 and broadcast on 15 april 1985. Strawberry switchblade demo by 4piece band 1982 youtube. Jill was at art school with ambitions to be a painter. Rose mcdowall cut with the cake knife was recorded by rose mcdowall in 1988 and 1989 following the break up of her group strawberry switchblade. Strawberry switchblade strawberry switchblade 1997. Her first venture into music was in the poems, an artpunk trio formed in 1978 with her thenhusband drew mcdowall. Strawberry switchblade strawberry switchblade 1985, vinyl.
By 1982 the band had been reduced to the duo of jill bryson and rose mcdowall, though aztec cameras roddy frame and thenfuture cure drummer boris williams both appeared on some songs. Strawberry switchblade strawberry switchblade songs. Initially consisting of four members, mcdowall named the band after a fanzine devoted to postcard records. Along with jill bryson, in 1981 she formed the new wave band strawberry switchblade.
Strawberry switchblades rose mcdowall unveils longlost new wave gem listen to cut with the cake knife, a track meant for the second s. Strawberry switchblade is the name of the debut album, and sadly only album, of the band of the same name created by rose mcdowall, that was released in 1985 for the korova label. Strawberry switchblade, as the name may suggest, are a walking contradiction. Strawberry switchblade music, videos, stats, and photos. Rose mcdowall cut with the cake knife 2015, cd discogs. Rose mcdowall switches strawberry for sorrow sunderland echo. She formed strawberry switchblade in 1981 with jill bryson. The strawberry switchblade debut album was highly regarded around the time of release and their music was supported and played by the popular djs of the time. Siouxsie sioux susan janet ballion, 27 may 1957, london, england, although she also uses susan dallion was part of the notorious bromley contingent, including her then boyfriend steve severin b. Rose mcdowall since yesterday strawberry switchblade st.
Extracts from the forthcoming album strawberry switchblade wea uk. Half of the polkadotted pop duo strawberry switchblade, then collaborator with bands like current 93, coil, and felt, the singer led an interesting career to say the least. Featuring rose mcdowall guitar, vocals, harmony vocals and jill bryson guitar, vocals, harmony vocals, strawberry switchblade sound like two little girls enraptured and enraged by their first crushes. Like macbeths weird sisters the two seem to have sprung from the dark mists of celtic faery. The platinum collection strawberry switchblade songs. Rose mcdowall since yesterday strawberry switchblade st pancras old church. You can purchase original artwork or high quality prints directly from jill bryson in the artwork page. Browse 10 lyrics and 34 strawberry switchblade albums. More importantly, perhaps, it showcases the honest, direct and lifeaffirming songs of one of the greatest unsung songwriters of the modern pop era at a tumultuous. Rose mcdowall cut with the cake knife full album with. Our image was colourful, but our minds were dark, says mcdowall on the phone from her home in. Night school at the top of their game with firstever issue of rose mcdowell and jill bryson, a. Strawberry switchblade albums, songs, and news pitchfork. With jill bryson and rose mcdowall s gothic lolita thing going on, and the sheer energy of some of the songwriting here there is a lot to love.
Rose and jill were a years ahead of switchblade symphony, but they shared the same musical ideas in an odd, different, and twisted way. Rose mcdowall dont fear the reaper 1988, vinyl discogs. Since yesterday by strawberry switchblade sampled jean sibeliuss symphony no. Feb 04, 2016 you can see muriel gray walking over to them at the end. Brysons art school background and mcdowalls history in avantpunk group the poets meant strawberry switchblade was a band pitted against many established norms. New wave, synthpop, lofi, indie pop web strawberry. Bonded during the glasgow punk scene of the late 1970s, first as friends, then as bandmates. Trees and flowers go away by strawberry switchblade single. Mar 24, 2015 the former strawberry switchblade frontwoman looks to future projects.
Strawberry switchblades rose mcdowall unveils longlost. But im rose mcdowall, and anyway, im not going to think of a better name than strawberry switchblade. Strawberry switchblade since yesterday lyrics genius. Strawberry switchblade performing let her go on the saturday superstore 16th march 1985. There are now three strawberry switchblade photo galleries in the strawberry switchblade section. Strawberry switchblade by strawberry switchblade on amazon. Crystal nights rose mcdowall cut with the cake knife. They debuted on album with strawberry switchblade korova, 1985 that also contains the new singles let her go and who knows what love is. Depending on what mood the listener is in, the lightweight pop of strawberry switchblade s selftitled debut album can be sickeningly coy or irresistibly charming. Bit of a holy grail for postpunks, new wave pop fiends and goths alike 1982 4piece demo is the first official, fullylicensed and unreleased material to be released under the name strawberry switchblade in 30 years. Strawberry switchblade biography, albums, streaming links.
Strawberry switchblade concert setlists sign in to get statistics for your attended concerts. Looking like the brides of robert smith, strawberry switchblade made a brief splash on the u. Hq sound available to buy on cd on the platinum collection and the japanese reissued strawberry. But there was more to strawberry switchblade than met the eye their name was a clue. Find rose mcdowall discography, albums and singles on allmusic. Demo by 4piece band, mid 1982 earliest studio recording when the band were still a 4piece. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from strawberry switchblade at the discogs. Her father had once been hit in the head with an axe in a case of.
Strawberry switchblade jolene bliss, 6th sept 85 youtube. Oct 12, 2009 i have always been a big fan of the beautiful vocals of rose mcdowall. Not sure that she wanted to be part of the music industry she despised, yet not willing to give up on making music, she kept recording songs between 1986 and 1988. If switchblade symphony was a distored mirror, strawberry switchblade would be the twisted reflection. Rose mcdowall and jill bryson, who described themselves as scabby witches from glasgow had released their first single, trees and flowers, on indie label 92 happy customers in the summer of 1983. The duo of rose mcdowall and jill bryson first met in. Music profile for rose mcdowall, born 21 october 1959. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. Listen to both songs on whosampled, the ultimate database of sampled music, cover songs and remixes. Strawberry switchblade let her go saturday superstore. While symphonys music was dark and harrowing in a sinister way, strawberry s was bright and beautiful with dark undertowings.
Virginia astley, together with rose mcdowalls filthy glaswegian vowels almost makes the. Since disbanding amid major record label acrimony and personal differences in 1986, the alreadycult band have since grown in stature and legend. Strawberry switchblade rose mcdowall appreciation thread. The album features songs written for the fabled second strawberry switchblade album. Rose mcdowall from the scottish female new wave duo strawberry switchblade covered the song in 1988. With rose mcdowall s instantly recognizable lead vocal dovetailing with brysons harmonies and lead guitar, its the first glimpse at an alternative history of strawberry switchblade. Strawberry switchblade were a scottish new wavepop duo formed in glasgow in 1981 by jill bryson and rose mcdowall, best known for their song since yesterday from 1985, and their flamboyant. Strawberry switchblade were a scottish new wavepop duo formed in glasgow in 1981 by jill bryson and rose mcdowall, best known for their song since yesterday from 1985, and their flamboyant clothing with bows and polkadots. Rose mcdowall switches strawberry for sorrow the scotsman. Strawberry switchblade was a new wave duo from glasgow, scotland, uk, formed in 1981 by rose mcdowall and jill bryson. I was almost murdered two or three times, says rose mcdowall, formerly one half of strawberry switchblade, spell and sorrow, as well as a recurrent singer with current 93, coil, death in june and psychic tv, and solo performer. Cut with the cake knife was recorded by rose mcdowall in 1988 and 1989 following the break up of her group strawberry switchblade. By any other name beyond strawberry switchblade with.
Strawberry switchblade are two girls, jill bryson and rose mcdowall. Strawberry switchblade by strawberry switchblade album. Rose mcdowall is enshrined in the popular imagination the one that stretches back to the mid80s at any rate as the. Strawberry switchblade strawberry switchblade amazon. Fans of her band from the 1990s, sorrow, will rejoice as a. Ben graham talks to the strawberry switchblade member and current 93psychic tv collaborator about the reissue of her cut with the cake. Although she has released her own albums and eps, shes mostly known as.
She then formed strawberry switchblade in 1981 with jill bryson. Rose mcdowall biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Strawberry switchblade were a glasgowian synthpop duo that consisted of rose mcdowall and jill bryson. Formed in 1980 in glasgow by jill bryson and rose mcdowall, the pairs eyecatching lookgothic geisha in polka dot dresses and black lace gloves. Rose mcdowall 10 photos taken by gilbert blecken in 1989 rose mcdowall 1 rose mcdowall 2 rose mcdowall 3 rose mcdowall 4 rose mcdowall 5 rose mcdowall 6 rose mcdowall 7 rose mcdowall 8 rose mcdowal. By any other name beyond strawberry switchblade with rose. Along with jill bryson, in 1981 she formed the new wave band strawberry switchblade history. Strawberry switchblade and their one and only album are worth checking out, especially for fans of 80s pop as music like this couldnt have been produced in any other era. Strawberry switchblade alchetron, the free social encyclopedia strawberry switchblade see more. Jan 19, 2017 while rose mcdowall is best known for her work with early 80s crossover indie pop act strawberry switchblade, shes made many cult solo recordings over the years. Jul 17, 2003 your turn to run fuzzbox x x sex cosmopolitans how to keep your husband happy lolitas il sen fout anna palm in need nancy sinatra these boots are made for walking strawberry switchblade since yesterday anne clark abuse band lineup. Albums include discriminate 81 97, cut with the cake knife, and dont fear the reaper crystal days. Dont fear the reaper was her first aborted solo release following the break up of strawberry switchblade.
She loved music and dreamt of maybe one day being a singer in a band. Starting out as a standup drummer in glasgow protoavantgarde punk trio the poems taking a leaf out of moe tuckers velvet book she went on to enjoy. Includes songs written for the neverreleased sophomore strawberry switchblade lp. The tape is damaged towards the end, hey at least it exists. With their distinctive style garish colours, polkadots and a slight geisha influence already intact they formed strawberry switchblade named after a neverreleased orange juice song. Record label incorrectly lists cut with the cake knife as track b1. Strawberry switchblade let her go high quality with no. Strawberry switchblade were a beautiful sugarsweet indiepop band from the 80s. Written by rose mcdowall and shawn pinchbeck with help from rose s exhusband and former bandmate, robert lee, this is classic rose.
Rose was from the deprived working class side of the city where violence was endemic. Rose mcdowall is a scottish new wave musician born 1959, and one of the exmembers of gothpop duo strawberry switchblade. Recorded in a studio in a squatted tenement building in glasgow. Originally rushreleased in 1988 by a collaborator and without her consent, reaper quickly vanished and has become a highly sought.
Mcdowall s first venture into music was in the poems, an artpunk trio formed in 1978 with her husband drew mcdowall. Strawberry switchblade let her go into the popvoid. Strawberry switchblade were a scottish female new wave duo formed in glasgow in 1981 by jill bryson and rose mcdowall best known for their song since yester see lene lovich pictures, photo shoots, and listen online to the latest music. Rose mcdowall born 21 october 1959, in glasgow, scotland, uk is a scottish musician, most notably as a vocalist in the synthpop band strawberry switchblade. In addition to being one half of the popular gothpop duo strawberry switchblade, mcdowall is perhaps bestknown as a guest vocalist or floating member of several different alternative bands, particularly neofolk. Strawberry switchblade rose mcdowall, jill bryson, the best girl band of the 80s. Apr 14, 2015 but there was more to strawberry switchblade than met the eye their name was a clue. Rose mcdowall would later appear on countless experimental and industrial. Strawberry switchblade strawberry switchblade album. In 1982 the duo recorded the single trees and flowers happy customers, that was followed in 1984 by since yesterday korova. Strawberry switchblade were a scottish new wavepop duo formed in glasgow in 1981 by jill bryson and rose mcdowall, best known for their song since.
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