1981 saw the release of two songs independent of each other that would share resemblance to the style pioneered by American Music Club and Galaxie 500 that would go on to be known as slowcore: MX-80 Sound's "Promise of Love" and the eternally dreamy, sedative post-punk ballad that is "Turn of the Century" by Beat Rhythm Fashion. Based in New Zealand and forming in 1980, Beat Rhythm Fashion (notably featuring Caroline Easther of the Chills on drums) were a post-punk group which only released some few singles prior to seemingly breaking up in 1982.
Turn of the Century / Song of the Hairless Apes (1981) has gone on to be the most popular of the bands limited releases, entirely due to the retrospective evaluation of the single's A-Side being a clear precedent to both the dream pop and slowcore of the 90s. "Turn of the Century" is a slowly-treading, introspective ballad featuring indifferent singing and reverb-drenched guitars, sounding like the night to the day of New Order - "Age of Consent." Today, "Turn of the Century" stands as both one of the definitive pieces of 80s New Wave and one of the finest pieces of New Zealand indie one can hear.
8/10
See also: MX-80 Sound, Asylum Party, Galaxie 500, Bedhead
Listen Here: YouTube
- stillbeaches
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