MARC AND THE MAMBAS - Three Black Nights Of Little Black Bites
Made available on vinyl for the very first time, this 2xLP set presents the complete recordings of three live performances by Marc And The Mambas (led by Marc Almond of Soft Cell) at The Duke Of York's Theatre in London's West End in 1983.
Restored from original VHS tape recordings made by the late Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson (Throbbing Gristle, Coil), these remain the only recordings that exist of Marc And The Mambas performing live.
Originally released in 2012 on Almond's own Strike Force Entertainment label as a long sold out CD/DVD set, this remastered edition contains all 17 tracks from that CD plus two bonus DVD-only tracks: 'Près Des Ramparts De Séville' and 'Jacky’.
Consisting of chanson and torch songs that Almond still sings today, accompanied by piano, strings and woodwind, Record Collector said of the 2012 edition: "It's quite a spectacle, especially when Almond hits his sweet spot of sinister lyrics, declared pompously over a droned string arrangement. Early signs of the full-on showtune and classical rearrangements that make up his current albums are evident.”
‘Three Black Nights Of Little Black Bites’ is presented on heavyweight double vinyl in a deluxe glossy gatefold sleeve featuring an extensive reminiscence by Almond himself. The package also includes a reproduction of the 16-page programme printed in 1983 for the three concerts. The stunning cover painting by Val Denham is exclusive to this release.
ABOUT MARC AND THE MAMBAS
Marc And The Mambas was a new wave group formed by Marc Almond in 1982 as an offshoot project from Soft Cell. The band's line-up changed frequently and included Matt Johnson from The The, Steve James Sherlock and Annie Hogan, with whom Almond worked later in his solo career.
Marc And The Mambas marked the start of Marc Almond's career outside Soft Cell. In 1983, Almond and Soft Cell were very close to an avant-garde scene centred around Foetus, Psychic TV and Einstürzende Neubauten. Almond's Soft Cell partner David Ball was an associate member for the Mambas' first single, ‘Sleaze', while Matt Johnson (The The) was a member for the two albums issued in the early ‘80s. Jim Foetus was also an associate member, contributing guest vocals and percussion on the songs 'A Million Manias' and 'Love Amongst The Ruined'.
The second Mambas album, 'Torment And Toreros’ (Some Bizzare), included a number of ballads, both with and without dance beats, and is a mix of vaudeville, French chanson and goth sensibility. Utilising guitar noise, piano and string sections, Almond later described this recording as an "attempted suicide put on vinyl."
