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The Bridge - Face Down Everybody Looks The Same [FST 099 DEU 2015 24-Bit FLAC]

As expected, my re-rip of The Bridge's Industrial Love Dance has proved to be one of the biggest Needle Time attractions of recent years - maybe somebody cross-posted it to social media? I mentioned that the band released some of their original demos and sessions via the German indie reissue label, Firestation Records in 2015. No sooner had I mentioned that and I received a generous donation from a blog follower, who wishes to remain anonymous, with the explicit instruction to acquire said album, rip it to high res flac and share for all blog followers. So here you are....

The Bridge's notoriety came from a misperception by many that they were New Order in disguise. This was not the case, as you will hear from these tracks. Rains Run Free, Believe In Love and Light Fades each have a New Order feel to them but they are not mimicking our favourite Mancunian pop-pickers. What is clear that original bassist Johnni Whidett had the ear for a Hook-style bass hook, however everything else is pure indie-pop, marking a change in bass player. Most of this album is sourced from old demo cassette tapes and it shows in places, but what it does confirm is that The Bridge deserved time in a decent studio with a skilled producer and they could have been indie-pop champions.

There was a follow up single to Industrial Love Dance on Norwich's Backs Records which never sold, maybe because they were from Staines in Middlesex, which is nowhere near East Anglia. This single, Shame Is A Girl opens this album.  Please can somebody now log onto Discogs and remove that inaccurate credit to Peter Hook on the (Industrial) Love Dance single. The bearded one isn't short of a bob or two so he doesn't need the royalties.

Blogs like Needle Time survive on the generosity of those who follow & donate, not only do donations go towards the acquisition of records like this, they help finance cloud space and peripherals, replacement hardware and reward hard-working chaps like me, who keep delivering long lost favourites and undiscovered gems to keep you entertained in high resolutions throughout the darkest days of the past year or so. Thanks & enjoy.

A1 Shame Is A Girl

A2 Rain Runs Free

A3 World Of Your Own

A4 Tell Him 2 Go

A5 The Loveless

A6 Problem Child

B1 Maria

B2 Just A Word

B3 Believe In Love

B4 Torn Between 2 Lives

B5 Light Fades