A broadcast playlist built around two things ... well, maybe three when I come to think about it. Let's stick with three.
I : The programme begins with Modelbau and their 2026 cassette release for the Japanese Neus-318 label entitled 'Roundabout'. Built of two 14 minute(ish) pieces with numerical titles the whole piece brought to mind the introduction to Cupol's 'Kluba Cupol' track from the 1980 12" 'Like This For Ages'. There is also a Modelbu cassette release called 'Turnaround' released around the same time which continues on this 'theme'. Both cassettes were released in issues of 23 and 25 respectively. Visit http://www.neus318.com for further information about 'Roundabout' and Moonside Tapes at https://moonside.space for information on 'Turnaround'. I am certain digital downloads are available.
Cupol were a one-off project for B.C. Gilbert and Graham Lewis. A topping for their collaborative Dome project (maybe). Originally released in 1980 on the 4AD Records label, the 12" has been recently re-issued by the San Francisco based label Dark Entries. B.C. Gilbert and Graham Lewis's ' Hung To Dry Whilst Building An Arch' follows. This is the B-Side to the 1981 7" single 'Ends With The Sea' also on 4AD Records.
"This 7" single features two unreleased stereo files found on cassette which were recorded at Western Works studio and represent the early stages of Hula's output. Three other tracks were recorded and mixed during that session for Hula's first release, Black Pop Workout, a 12" EP on Red Rhino Records".
I can usually remember where and when I bought my records / tapes / CDs etc ... but I can't quite remember where I bought Hula's "Black Pop Workout" 12". Perhaps I heard a track from it on John Peel's show (?), or maybe I was grabbed by the title (?). "Black Pop Workout" was released in 1982, back then I was buying my stuff from Virgin and Selectadisc in Nottingham, Tracks in Lincoln and the odd jaunt to Rough Trade Records in London. From the first hearing I was hooked on Hula. I love the vocals, the lyrics, the sloganeering with heavy beats and funk bass. It reminds me of my time in Sheffield, of Fon, of the Leadmill and Rare & Racey Records.
I lived in Sheffield for 6 months in 1985, I had friends and acquaintances who lived there from 1983 onwards and used to visit to see gigs at the University and Leadmill, but in a desperate attempt to escape life in Hulme, Manchester I moved to Sheffield, to a house with a garden. Again, I can't remember how but I got to know Simon Crump, probably drinking in the locals of Meersbrook and the Leadmill (?). Simon was a member of Hula, he did the artwork for their sleeves and played saxophone live.
When I left Sheffield to return to Hulme I lost contact with Simon. A shame, a fascinating chap with a great collection of pre-WWII radios and too many jazz records. I did see Hula live on many occasions, down at the Leadmill mainly supporting bands such as Test Department (1984) and Severed Heads (1985) and playing a few times with fellow Sheffield 'funksters' Chakk. I play some live Hula. Tracks from the 1986 double album "1000 Hours". These tracks were recorded at The Milkweg in Amsterdam 24/02/1985.
III : This broadcast ends with songs that were all recorded at Cargo Recording Studio between 1977 and 1985. When I started buying 7" singles in the late 1970's I did notice the regularity of studios such as Cargo in Rochdale, WMRS in Leamington Spa (WMRS stood for Woodbine Mobile Recording Studios, run by John A. Rivers and used a lot by Swell Maps and Eyeless In Gaza). Spaceward Studios in Cambridge (Run by Mike Kemp and used a lot by Bauhaus, Modern English and Tubeway Army). In 2010 I stayed a few days in Cambridge. I was there to see the 'Past Present Future Space-Time' festival at the Wysing Arts Centre in a village just outside Cambridge called Bourn. Disinformation, Preslav Literary School, Astral Social Club and Ashtray Navigations were all performing. T'was a great event. The only time I, as a member of the audience, have been heckled by a performer. Peter Um took a dislike to me because of my Aaron Dilloway 'Mask' T-Shirt and wouldn't stop picking on me. Whatever happened to Peter Um? Anyway, whilst in Cambridge I went on a search for Spaceward Studios but couldn't find it. Another studio that popped up a few times on the back of the 7" sleeve was Studio Playground in Wragby (Lincolnshire). Run by Andy Dransfield and Rick Woolgar and used by bands such as Sinking Ships, Waves O' Shave, Fatal Charm, B Movie and The Cigarettes. I reckon all the Lincoln punk / new wave bands used Studio Playground. I went there with the band Collide to record a 4-track demo. I wasn't a member of the band per se I just went along for support and encouragement. I think the engineer was a guy called 'Tramp' who also worked at Sanctuary Records in Lincoln ... I could be wrong though.
Anyway, back to Cargo. Chris Connell has written an excellent book simply called "Cargo - The Book". it includes the history of the studio and its owner John Brierley. The bulk of the book is an A-Z of all the bands and artists that recorded there with recollections from the users and some great pictures. Bands such as The Fall, Gang of Four, Joy Division, Crispy Ambulance, Frantic Elevators, Visitors, A Certain Ratio and Basczak. One of there bands that do appear in the book are The Defectors (from Hull), they recorded their 1980 7"EP 'Target Baby' at Cargo. A little nugget of information that I did not know is that The Defectors were formed by ex- COUM Transmissions member Tony Menzies. Tony plays on Throbbing Gristle album 'Second Annual Report'. I assume it is on the 'Cease To Exist' soundtrack ... Tony left to form the band My Silent War who I saw open the Futurama 3 Festival at Stafford Bingley Hall in 1981. If only I knew then. I do have a track by them that appears on the compilation album "Household Shocks", a gathering of Humberside / Lincolnshire bands from 1980. (The album also includes Sinking Ships, One Gang Logic, Product Of Reason and Fault 151 amongst others). All tracks on this album were recorded at Studio Playground. I shall play The Defectors 7"EP on next month's broadcast. (and probably some other tracks recorded at Studio Playground). I shall also be playing some more bands / artists that recorded at Cargo.
The book is self published and only available from Chris at : https://www.cargostudios.co.uk/cargo-the-book/. More information via : https://www.cargostudiosbook.com.
The programme is archived at Mixcloud.
https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-broadcast-10-may-2026/
Playlist :
01: Modelbau : "202507187" (Neus-318) 2026.
02: Cupol : "Kluba Cupol" (4AD Records) 1980.
03: B.C. Gilbert & G. Lewis : "Hung To Dry Whilst Building An Arch" (4AD Records) 1981.
04: Hula : "Spiral" (Safety Pin Magazine) 2026.
05: Hula : "Feeding The Animal" (Red Rhino Records) 1982.
06: Hula : "Ignoring The Famine" (Red Rhino Records) 1982.
07: Hula : "That Other Place" (Safety Pin Magazine) 2026.
08: Hula : "Sacred Serials (Circuits On Full Gush)" (Red Rhino Records) 1982.
09: Hula : "Junshi" (Red Rhino Records) 1982.
10: Hula : "Invisible (Live)" (Red Rhino Records) 1986.
11: Hula : "Ambient ◻︎ 2 (Live)" (Red Rhino Records) 1986.
12: Hula : "Tear-Up (Live)" (Red Rhino Records) 1986.
13: Hula : "The Trouble With Benny (Live)" (Red Rhino Records) 1986.
14: The Fall : "Flat Of Angles" (Step Forward Records) 1979.
15: Blue Orchids : "The Flood" (Rough Trade Records) 1980.
16: Joy Division : "Digital" (Factory Records) 1979.
17: Deutsch-Amerikanische-Freundschaft : "Kebabtraüme" (Mute Records) 1980.
18: Crispy Ambulance : "The Presence" (Factory Benelux) 1981.
19: The Durutti Column : "Thin Ice (Unedited Version)" (Les Disques Du Crépuscule/Factory Benelux) 2021.
20: Eric Random : "DOW Chemical Company" (New Hormones) 1981.
21: A Certain Ratio : "Thin Boys" (Factory Records) 1979.
22: Disease : "Psychobin" (Aardvark) 1980.
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