Monocled Alchemist

Robbi Millar reports on the latest Liverpudlian Crisis

Article published in Sounds, 6th March, 1982

China Crisis | Expect No Mersey | KIRKLANDS. A club to put to shame the flabby excesses of desperate London chic; hectic spirit and chummy class, a Liverpudlian way of solving the problem.

China Crisis. A band to bring about a sensation of chance to the so-so predictable realms of electro pop pap profusion; minimal fuss and maximum effect, another Liverpudlian way of solving the problem.

Together. China Crisis at Kirklands. A method of recalling the good experiences; hopeful revelations and local celebrations, a Liverpudlian conclusion.

Fortunately, China Crisis are not confined to Liverpool. You might already have spotted them at the Venue, nervously supporting Huang Chung, or during the last ICA Rock Week —according to synth-player Gary Daly, “A strange experience, like walking onto the set of ‘Brideshead Revisited’ ” — on one of their trips to London. You’ll be glad to hear that these trips should now become more frequent.

At the turn of the year, Liverpool’s main independent label Inevitable Records signed a deal with Virgin. Like a number of indie operations, Inevitable felt the pinching demands of finance — situation exacerbated by the departure of mentor Pete Fulwell — which only a huge amount of good fortune or a distribution deal with a major could quell. Inevitable chose Virgin. Their pioneers are China Crisis. Their pioneer single is ‘African And White’.

China Crisis | Expect No Mersey

As far as I know, almost everyone who has heard ‘African And White’ has fallen in love with its stealthy charm, its hypnotic, sensitive power. It creeps with a glowing temptation, dragging the listener in its topical wake — warm and unresisting. It looks likely to drag China Crisis into a position of Liverpool Band, Watch Carefully! They can Cope.

CHINA CRISIS – comprising Gary Daly, guitarist Eddie Lundon and drummer Dave Reilly – found their feet, as often is the case, during the final yea of school.

Any other time or place and they might have settled themselves into full-time jobs and secure normality but in Kirby, along with the UK’s vast numbers of unemployed, they had to view alternatives. Even so, China Crisis wasn’t, they say, planned.

“Often I think that if you grow up in a city then everything is a bit more planned. Like, with a band you might say ‘We’ll wear these type of clothes, play this type of music’.”

Daly stresses the opposite. “Though we were always into keyboards-orientated bands” (Kraftwerk meet with approval and early Ultravox) “we didn’t set off in that way. Eddie bought a synth and we liked it so I bought one too. To be honest, I couldn’t play guitar or anything. It’s too difficult and synths are really easy!”

Nowadays, China Crisis have learned a multitude of tricks and gained themselves a very unusual sound. Sparse and slight in body but strong and genuine in spirit, it’s a natural effect, a human(e) form of electronics.

China Crisis | Expect No Mersey

China Crisis, ever mobile, ever fast and willing during their atmospheric Kirklands appearance, prefer the personal touch. Not for them the Numan facade of grim.

“Yeah,” confirms Eddie, “all those bands, all so pre-fab and glum. That was what was so good about going to see the Plastics, they really gave it some rock!”

The Plastics are, in fact, one of the rare bands that China Crisis have seen in recent times. Gray Daly states quite firmly that he doesn’t like gigs — “From the moment I’m on stage it’s fantastic but I don’t like going to gigs very much, I’ve only been to about two in the past year” — preferring to watch TV, especially Coronation Street (“We do call it ‘Corrie’!”). But shouldn’t they be out checking the Liverpool scene? Or isn’t there one any more?

Gary: “All the old bands, they’re sort of not doing anything any more. ‘It’s like they’ve disassociated themselves from Liverpool! But there’s lots of new bands, millions of groups and performers. There’s a hell of a lot going on.”

STILL, I’D imagine that the field is fairly clear for CC’s progression. I’m surprised when they tell me that, in spite of Virgin and their single release, they’re not so well known on their home ground.

“With us, a lot of people in Liverpool don’t even know we exist! And were being written about, made out to be hip.”

China Crisis | Expect No Mersey

Eddie: “Like at this gig we were much better than the last Kirklands gig, we played far better, but people weren’t as enthusiastic. They were checking us out — and there were a lot of bands checking us out too.”

Gary: “In a way it wouldn’t be surprising if some people were a bit hostile. It’s like, what’s the big idea? We haven’t done nothing yet!”

This from the band who’ve found (finally) an original approach to synth-pop, the band who are about to head road-wards with Orange Juice, the band who’ve awarded us one of the most captivating singles this winter? Expect more. Much more.