Fiat Lux- Discography
I’ve been enamored with UK synthpop/new wave band Fiat Lux’s killer track “Secrets,” which was lovingly deposited into my collection a few weeks back. Since then, I’ve been trying to track down the band’s complete discography, piecing together extended mixes, 7” recordings, and as many unreleased tracks as I could muster, and I’m finally able to offer what I believe to be the complete discography of Fiat Lux. Though no track is as gloomy and delicious as “Secrets,” there are still quite a few obscure new wave cuts ripe for the discovery.
Fiat Lux, firstly, translates from Latin as “Let There Be Light,” originally a Biblical quotation. The three piece band formed in 1982, releasing a handful of Polydor singles along a three year period before disbanding in 1985. Though a few of these singles were collected as a mini-LP, Fiat Lux never issued a full-length album proper. Upon disbanding, vocalist Steve Wright joined Camera Obscura and formed Hoi Poloi. Meanwhile, multi-instrumentalist Dave Crickmore is currently a member of Durbervilles. Unfortunately however, saxophonist/keyboardist Ian Nelson (member of Tattoo Hosts Vision On! and brother of the infamous Bill Nelson of Be Bop Deluxe), died in his sleep in 2006.
Anyway, according to HiredHistory, a comprehensive fan made page, the following is Fiat Lux’s entire discography collected. There’s a few tracks that overlap, so please forgive the occasional dose of redundancy. Otherwise, I’ve also tracked down a handful of unreleased tracks, demoed over the years but never officially released. I’m on the hunt for more and will keep everyone posted if they turn up. Otherwise, without any further ado, here’s the rundown:
Feels Like Winter Again 7” (1982)
1. Feels Like Winter Again
2. This Illness
Photography 7” (1983)
1. Photography
2. Aqua Vitae
Photography 12” (1983)
1. Photography (Extended)
2. Aqua Vitae (Extended)
Secrets 12”* (1983)
1. Secrets
2. Comfortable Life
3. Aqua Vitae (Extended)
*there exists a 7” of “Secrets,” but the A and B side are the same as the 12”.
Blue Emotion 7” (1984)
1. Blue Emotion
2. Sleepless Nightmare
Blue Emotion 12” (1984)
1. Blue Emotion (Extended)
2. Sleepless Nightmare (Extended)
Hired History Mini-LP (1984)
1. Secrets
2. Photography (Extended)
3. Blue Emotion (Extended)
4. Comfortable Life
5. Sleepless Nightmare (Extended)
6. Aqua Vitae
House of Thorns 7” (1984)
1. House of Thorns
2. Three’s Company
House of Thorns 12” (1984)
1. House of Thorns (Extended)
2. Three’s Company (Extended)
3. Sally Free and Easy
Solitary Lovers 7” (1984)
1. Solitary Lovers
2. No More Proud
Solitary Lovers 12” (1984)
1. Solitary Lovers (Extended)
2. No More Proud (Proud Mix)
3. No More Proud (Dub Mix)
Unreleased Traxx:
1. Breaking the Boundary
2. The Moment
3. Solitary Lovers (Alt.)
4. Splurge
All of these tracks are sorely out of print, but perhaps the remaining members of the band can clean ’em up for a proper reissue. Otherwise, if you catch wind of any of these releases, snap them up! Otherwise, thanks again to HiredHistory for all their dedicated efforts in cataloging this band’s brief stint. Visit for more on the band, including press photos, gigography, and more information than you can shake a stick at! Otherwise, I’ll leave you with one final treat, the video for “Secrets,” my favorite track from the lot!
May 6, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Certainly a great and very underrated band!
Here is the link to the original video of the “Blue Emotion”
http://soundsweep.ning.com/video/fiat-lux-blue-emotion
May 11, 2009 at 6:03 pm
This is a great resource – thanks for all the work. I should note a few things in the interest of completeness.
The last version of “Solitary Lovers” you include does not seem to be the unreleased album version, but rather the single version again. The album version of “Blue Emotion” is missing, as is “Aqua Vitae (Instrumental)”, “No More Proud” (which has a longer intro), “No More Proud (Another Dub Version)” and “Embers”.
I think there is also at least one BBC Session, but I have not heard it.
May 11, 2009 at 6:16 pm
fair enough. all the more unreleased material i haven’t tracked down just yet, but will keep my eyes open. weren’t those tracks all compiled and (un?)officially released?
otherwise, i just received a generous donation of a live fiat lux concert taken from a cassette. will post it up shortly!
April 7, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Hi,
Is the live Fiat Lux you mentioned available somewhere?
Cheers
April 9, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Is the Fiat Lux concert still available?
May 16, 2009 at 1:19 am
This is a real treat. Never heard of this group before. Great sound with that early 1980s new wave romanticism. Thanks for further expandiing my audio pleasures. Excellent video aswell 😀
Hellbishop
May 19, 2009 at 7:25 pm
It happens to be my birthday today and I stumble across this! I still have my rather scratched Hired History and House of Thorns 12” and can’t wait to listen to these. Many thanks.
May 31, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Wonderful!!!!! Thank you!
June 11, 2009 at 9:18 am
Many thanx for your work , I can't wait to listen to this .
Discovered this band on Andy's 80s radio some time ago , but on eMule I found just a few tracks .
I just love Splurge !
September 2, 2010 at 3:05 am
Hallo!
What an awesome blog you've got.
The Fiat Lux file seems to be damaged, Is there any chance it might be fixed? I look forward to listening to it!
February 28, 2012 at 6:44 am
I also want to thank you for this true gem, i keep wondering how is possible that bands like this pass into obscurity and others that are not worth of it blossom, as i always say, the world is upside down!
September 18, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Johnathan here,from South Africa .I was a schoolboy back in the mid-80s when I
heard blue Emotion remix on a radio show, and recorded it on my little portable tape
recorder.This song and New Order,s Power,Corruption and Lies ( and their single
Temptation ) became the soundtrack of my life.Also the single The Unguarded Moment
by Aussie band The Church. All good stuff…
November 4, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Massive thanks for this – I’ve got all the singles (& the VHS!) but never got around to converting to digital.
Great resource – will be scouring my vinyl collection for digital copies on here!
You may also be interested in the following (I notice you’ve got a version of Lucifer’s Friend on a compilation).
http://www.pcjackson.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/secret.html
December 11, 2016 at 1:13 pm
Things are happening please visit and like https://www.facebook.com/Fiatluxofficial/
February 11, 2017 at 5:45 pm
I’m looking for live fiat lux tapes and radio sessions to add to the site of anyone can help
February 28, 2017 at 11:43 pm
The making of Secrets 2017
https://www.facebook.com/Fiatluxofficial/videos/811178229041296/
February 28, 2017 at 11:52 pm
Now also on Spotify: Secrets 2017
https://play.spotify.com/album/3sB2m0M0JK29oOZ6omqQoX/25Djuxo0lzrzYxAO0naKtj