Crime & the City Solution are an Australian rock band formed in late 1977 by singer-songwriter and mainstay Simon Bonney. They disbanded in 1979 leaving only bootleg recordings and demos. In late 1983, Bonney travelled to London and in 1985 he formed a new version of the group in the U.K. which included members of the recently disbanded The Birthday Party; later they transferred to Berlin, where they issued four albums – Room of Lights (1986), Shine (1988), The Bride Ship (1989) and Paradise Discotheque (1990) – before disbanding again in 1991. In 2012, Bonney reformed the band in Detroit with two veterans of its Berlin era and a handful of new members.
Critic David Sheridan described the band's music as characterised by slow tempos, dark moods and Bonney's forlorn vocals, all of which can range from "endurance testing" at worst to "hauntingly beautiful" at best.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played the band's debut single in 1985 and would play further material from the group on his shows until the late 80's. After the 80's, he never played any of their material from their 1990 studio album.
Shows Played[]
- 28 April 1985 (BFBS): The Last Day (12" - The Dangling Man E.P.) Mute
- 29 April 1985: Shakin' Chill (12" - The Dangling Man E.P.) Mute
- 13 May 1985: The Last Day (12" - The Dangling Man E.P.) Mute
- 05 June 1985: The Dangling Man (12" EP) Mute
- 16 September 1985: Trouble Come This Morning (LP - Just South Of Heaven) Mute
- 30 September 1985: Trouble Come Tis Morning (mini-album - Just South Of Heaven) Mute
- 20 May 1986: Adventure (12" - The Kentucky Click / Adventure) Mute
- 24 May 1986 (BFBS): Adventure (12" - The Kentucky Click / Adventure) Mute
- 31 May 1986 (BFBS): It Takes Two To Burn (12" EP - The Kentucky Click / Adventure) Mute
- 16 June 1986: Adventure (12" - The Kentucky Click / Adventure) Mute
- 18 June 1986 (VPRO): It Takes Two To Burn (12" - The Kentucky Click / Adventure) Mute
- 25 June 1986: Adventure (12" - The Kentucky Click / Adventure) Mute
- 28 June 1986 (BFBS): It Takes Two To Burn (12" EP - The Kentucky Click / Adventure) Mute
- 12 July 1986 (BFBS): It Takes Two To Burn (12" EP - The Kentucky Click / Adventure) Mute
- 11 November 1986: Right Man, Wrong Man (LP - Room Of Lights) Mute
- 19 November 1986: Hey Sin Killer (Room Of Lights) Mute
- November 1986 (Radio Bremen): Right Man, Wrong Man (album - Room Of Lights) Mute
- 1988
- 18 April 1988: On Every Train (Grain Will Bear Grain) (LP - Shine) Mute
- 09 May 1988: Fray So Slow (CD - Shine) Mute
- 18 May 1988: Hunter (LP - Shine) Mute
- 28 May 1988 (Radio Bremen): Hunter (album - Shine) Mute
- 31 May 1988: Fray So Slow (LP - Shine) Mute
- 31 May 1988 (Radio Bremen): Hunter (album - Shine) Mute
- 1989
- 18 April 1989: The Shadow Of No Man (7") Mute
- 28 April 1989 (BFBS): 'The Shadow Of No Man (7")' (Mute)