Sisters at its best

It was a long way up to this first LP of Sisters Of Mercy: From two-man Dilletanten band and the first self-produced single "Damage Done / Watch / Home of the hit-men" (on the "Some girls wander by mistake "like all Maxi-Singles of the band up to this record here), was of the radio presenter John Peel so shocked that he twice played in the same consignment, over early Dark-Wave / Gothic classics like" Alice ", the" Reptile House "EP or" Temple of Love ", the Sisters had developed into a band. This sent is now preparing to take the first complete LP. "First and Last and Always" became a milestone of the Gothic rock (although Sisters boss Eldritch like is not in the drawer, then at least agree all the ingredients).

In "First and last and always" the Sister Drum Computer Dr. Avalanche is applied to the chain. Unlike many of the early singles he no longer deafened in staccato. The song structures are more complicated, but also more traditional approach rock structures - away from New Wave. Deep bass, less sawing guitars, melodies and more Eldritchs' dark voice shape the sound of the record, on the energetic songs like "Floor Show" or the cover version of "1969" missing. Almost everything adheres more to the mid-tempo range.

"Black Planet", "No Time to Cry", "Marian" and "Some Kind of Stranger" convey seriousness and gloom. This may also come from the drugs that Eldritch has thrown at this time in larger quantities and shine through their action in "Amphetamine Logic".

The energy between Eldritch and the other band members worked - after the recording of the LP and the following tour, however, no longer. Eldritch fell out with everyone, especially with Wayne Hussey, who unceremoniously The Mission then founded. But that's another story. Eldritch built after the band once a quasi-solo project and published by "Floodland", also a milestone, but smoother produces, bombastic, dark but not bleak.

"First and last and always" is the title of arguably the best time that this band had (again, would contradict Eldritch, most fans do not). This atom spherically perfect gloomy album is one of the highlights of this genre and thus takes its place in masterpieces such as "Pornography" The Cure, "In The Flat Field" by Bauhaus, "The Nephilim" and "Elizium" by Fields Of The Nephilim or the both Joy Division albums "Unknown Pleasures" and "Closer".

For enhanced CD version with bonus tracks:
From the 1980 I still have the vinyl version, but know most of the bonus tracks from various Maxis. As so often with bonus material is primarily B-sides from that time, most of which are not to have on CD. In this respect, the publication is to be welcomed, especially for "real" fans. The quality of the songs is very different: While I was in "Poison door" or "Bury me deep" question of why there were only B-sides, kick me "on the wire" or "Blood money" is not quite so, but are Good. Fully redundant: "Some Kind of Stranger (Early)". And pretty badly: "Long Train" that with staccato beat well again should build on the times before "First and Last and Always", but does not reach the level.