The Passage- Degenerates LP (Reissue)

I just had the pleasure of being turned on to this record at this week’s local Wierd Records party, and I’ve already spun it twice this morning. Why not upload it, n’est-ce pas?

The band in question is The Passage, a UK-based experimental synthpop band that formed in 1978. The band’s first two records are truly dark, minimal records, but for their third, 1982’s Degenerates, the band added a more polished synth shine to their shuffling experimental backdrop, a perfect marriage of both the catchy and the challenging. Some tracks remind me of Public Image Limited or latter-day Scott Walker (which makes sense, given that Tony Friel, founding member of The Fall, was a member), while other tracks are true synthpop masterpieces.

Though Degenerates was originally released by Cherry Red, this particular upload features several 7” bonus tracks added to the limited CD re-release, which dropped via LTM Publishing in 2003. I believe the CD version is also out of print.

There’s more to the Passage story kicking around online, so click here to check out an extensive tribute page to the band, complete with a full discography, lush bio, and a slew of goodies. Otherwise without any further ado, let’s get to the details.

The Passage- Degenerates CD
1. XOYO
2. Fleck
3. Revelation
4. Love Is As
5. Born Every Minute
6. (Ourselves)
7. Go To Seed
8. Armour
9. Time Will Tell
10. Empty Words
11. XOYO (7″)
12. Animal In Me
13. Born Every Minute (Flexi)
14. Taboos
15. Taboodub

*download it here*

Otherwise, I still have a few requests and donations to tackle, sorry for the delay! Otherwise, in case I don’t check back in beforehand, happy Halloween to those who celebrate!

11 Responses to “The Passage- Degenerates LP (Reissue)”

  1. Anonymous Says:

    "she was blue velvet" is, of course, one of my, favourite ones

    It will always be a pleasure for me to send you some voodoo who celebrate their traditions

  2. cool! i have three of the passage re-releases on LTM and didn't have this one. thanks!

    btw – would you like me to up the others i have? (i'm still missing "for all and none" though.)

  3. nary guman Says:

    oh, yes! "born every minute" is a jam! glad to hear this is getting reissued. there aren't enough synth-based concept albums about progressive sexual decadence out there in the world. good work!

  4. It is saying the archive is damaged…

  5. Student Driver Says:

    Hello, thanks for the post!

    Always a nice treat when visiting this blog. Yours I must say is one of my absolute favorites.

    Please check out mine if you ever have the time.

    http://www.Studentdrivers.blogspot.com

    TA!
    -Daniel

  6. Anonymous Says:

    Got it to work now. Very kool. By-the-way, everyone should order the new Xeno and Oaklander cd 'Sentinelle'; it sounds beautifull…

  7. Anonymous Says:

    Hello from Italy!
    Thanks for posting The Passage.
    They're one of the most underrated and unknown bands of the new wave era.

    Of course, they can't be everyone's cup of tea, but at least let people have a listen.

    Dick Witts is a genius.

    http://www.madamesadowsky.com

  8. Dick Witts from The Passage also wrote that definitive book about Nico.
    Regards/

  9. Gah! A shame the link is dead. Any chance of a re-upload?

  10. Ah! been a long time. Nice one 🙂
    Dad gave me a good lecture after I brought this disc home!
    Thanks SOR.

  11. Thankyou, a classic record from the early eighties that I played to death, sang along with, after stints off homeless and many moves, my old record copy is long gone. I’ll be playing this to death again on my mp3 with noise cancelling earphones dug in deep. I thankyou so very much. XXX

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *