EDSEL Records are proud to announce the release of the first 4 Jesus Jones albums on 17 November, 2014.
Now for the first time the band have collaborated, collated and sifted through their personal tape archive to finally tell the full Jesus Jones story.
Each release has 2 CD’s featuring a fresh remastered version of each album, and a bonus CD of b sides, un-released demos, re-mixes and alternative versions of classic Jesus Jones songs.
There’s also a DVD featuring many of their famous and classic videos as well as extensive sleeve notes as written by Iain Baker providing a unique and personal insight into one of the most successful UK bands of the 1990’s.
Debut album, ‘Liquidizer’ (1989) was the summation of their career up that point and they were inspired by a rich and varied musical range. The Turntable Orchestra were rubbing Napalm death up the wrong way and somewhere in between there was The Kentish Town Bull & Gate, The Shamen, Star Trek, De La Soul, Apocalypse Now and, “the news and views of 1988/1989”. Iain Baker: “Liquidizer” was a chance for us to set out our store, to try and get all of our ideas about the amalgamation of rock music and technology into one place. We’d signed a record deal with Food Records at the end of 1988, and they were extremely keen to get an album out as soon as possible. So, the main objective became not to make a grand artistic statement that might take some time, but rather to strike while the iron was still hot.”
The sophomore album, ‘Doubt’ (1990) wasn’t really about the second album syndrome. After the success of ‘Info Freako’ and the endless touring the band established a loyal fanbase and there seemed to be no doubt that great things were just over the horizon. ‘Doubt’ was about taking advantage of an opportunity: Iain Baker: “The diktat that came down from our record company Food, was quite simple: they’d put their faith in us, lots of people seemed to see the potential, it was now time to deliver. Food wanted hits; they wanted to turn us into a phenomenon.”
‘Perverse’ (1993) proved that the band were also visionaries as the first track, ‘Zeros And Ones’ was about the dawn of digital technology made easily accessible to everybody. The band at this time were also heavily influenced by many new electronic acts like The Aphex Twin, Sven Vath, Richie Hawtin and The Prodigy. The Prodigy did a remix of ‘Zeros And Ones’: Iain Baker: “Of all the remixes done for us - this was the one which made us most excited. The breaks, the buzzing riffs - it was pure Prodigy, and we loved it: we were huge fans. We got the tape whilst on tour in the US, and it became the soundtrack to some catastrophically late nights - volume on full, the rear lounge of the tour-bus absolutely rocking as we crossed the States.”
‘Perverse’ is the album that many long-time Jesus Jones fans rate as their favourite.
‘Already’ (1997) has a complex history as it was written, recorded and released in the maelstrom of Britpop; all jangly guitars, retro fashion and lowest common denominator attitude. Jesus Jones were always more interested in the options and possibilities of DJ culture; of drum ‘n’ bass, techno and hardcore. They were a band who stared into the future amazed at the possibilities: Martyn Phillips (Producer): "Already" was made on the cusp between old analogue and newer computer-based recording. We tried fresh techniques. Pro-tools was painfully slow but promised great things.”
Jesus Jones are:
Mike Edwards - Guitar, Vocals.
Jerry Deborg - Guitar, Backing Vocals.
Iain Baker - Keyboards, Samples.
Alan Doughty - Bass, Backing Vocals.
Gen - Drums, Sequences.
