Biography
Cult post-punk/gothic rock band from Venice (Italy).
Their name seems to derive from a neo-romantic painting by Eugene Berman, depicting the dark facade of a church at night.
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The band starts to play in 1981 and after the first live concerts produces a demo-tape in 1983 (Deca Dance). The sound in this first self-production is really intensive and shows all the potentiality of the band: emotional goth ballads, pure post-punk rhythms and a scent of dark psychedelia are the recipe of this great debut.
After this first demo, they increase their live activity, arriving to support bands such Sex Gang Children. In the same year, the label Materiali Sonori produces a 7” Ep compilation with a song of the Death in Venice (‘East’). It’s the beginning of a good success in the italian underground circuit. The group plays in different festivals, in many parts of Italy and, in 1985, arrives to play in London. In this year, they sign an important contract with the famous label Contempo Records: the same label of bands such Diaframma, Pankow or Black Rose.
With Contempo Records they realize 2 brilliant albums. The sound of the band in the both realizations becomes more well-groomed and lyrical, the mature voice of Sebastian Russo drives the listeners in obscure lands, where the hopeness is a faded memory. It looks like the beginning of a brilliant (underground) career but, unfortunately, after this considerable production, the group disbands (with another record ready to publish…). Discussions on the new musical direction, distance between the new and old members and other problems ratify the end of the project.
Principal Influences (between the others): Siouxsie and The Banshees, Bauhaus, Iggy Pop and Velvet Underground.
Members :
Sebastian Russo: Voice
Dalibor Laginja: Guitar
Angelo Russo: Bass
Delio Bauduzzi: Synths
Marco Bianchi: Drums
Discography :
1983 - ‘Deca Dance’ (Demo-Tape, self-produced)
Tracklist: Side A 1) Lunar Shell 2) Black Flowers Of Dance 3) Happy Birthday
Side B 1) Pre Existence 2) Insanus Driver 3) Fear Of Shadows
1983 - ‘Rock Garage Vol.2’ (Lp produced by Materiali Sonori, song: ‘East’)
1985 - ‘Presence in Absence’ (12” Ep, Contempo Records)
Tracklist: A1) Pale Flesh A2) China Gurü B) Justine
1986 - ‘Paroxismós’ (7” Single version, Contempo Records)
Tracklist: A) Orgasm Guaranteed AA) Victims
1986 - ‘Paroxismós’ (12” Lp, Contempo Records)
Tracklist: A1) Orgasm Guaranteed A2) Victims B) The Sex Of The Angels
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.