the wake: harmony

Factory Benelux presents a new double vinyl edition of Harmony, the debut album by influential Scottish group The Wake, originally released by Factory Records in December 1982. Formed in Glasgow in 1981 after singer/guitarist Caesar left Altered Images, The Wake joined Factory the following year. Harmony was recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport with producer Chris Nagle (formerly Martin Hannett’s preferred engineer), by which time the group comprised Caesar (vocals, guitar), Carolyn Allen (keyboards), Steven Allen (drums) and Bobby Gillespie (bass). On release as Fact 60 the original 7 track mini album earned a 5 star review in Sounds magazine, hailed as the missing indiepop link between Factory and Postcard Records. Bonus tracks on this special edition 2xLP include The Wake’s dub-informed Factory Benelux single Something Outside b/w Host, as well as their John Peel session from July 1983 – the last recordings to feature Gillespie before his departure for The Jesus and Mary Chain and Primal Scream. The Wake carried on, releasing several further albums on Factory and Sarah Records, and more recently A Light Far Out in 2012.