Selected tracks from the CD:
Unreleased web-only downloads, notes by Rico Conning:
Hamilton Park
The earliest existing Lines recording, from around spring/summer '77. Obviously we were basically copying Can, and trying to show our new pal Hywel Philips what kind of music we were into, and you can hear him trying to shed some of his west coast stylings and go along with us. This was recorded in my bedsit room in Hamilton Park, Highbury..
Rituals of the House
This is a compilation of different jams recorded at the "House of Cracks" which was 2 adjoining crumbling houses in Stoke Newington that me and Jo and Mossop roomed in circa 1978-81. Long before the days of crack cocaine, "Cracks" referred to the physical state of the building and the mental state of the occupants. Some of this material was released on a cassette-only compilation called "Hot Club of London" in 1980.
Don't Need Surgery (First Peel Session)
Recorded January 1980 at the BBC studios in Maida Vale. Mick Linehan hadn't been with us long but he was already well up to speed. Also, we got to stick our noses in the Radiophonic Workshop.
On the Air (Alaska Demo)
By the time we recorded the "Alaska" demo we were pretty well rehearsed so we took the opportunity to throw down another version of this song. We were still thinking that "Cool Snap" might be a whole album...
Nerve Pylon (Alaska Demo)
I actually prefer this version to the later one because it's slower and more relaxed. Plus it has that funky jaw harp.
Study #4
A guitar solo with drum machine recorded by me during the Nerve Pylon session at the Barge Studio. Originally part of some incidental music done for a student theatrical production, the details of which I remember nothing.
Radiobass
A compilation of bass guitar solos with drum machine, recorded by Jo on his ghetto blaster circa 1980-82. I still plan to remaster the complete work at some point.
Transit (Second Peel Session)
Recorded at the BBC's Regent Street studio, January 1981. I subsequently rewrote the song for the single release, somewhat controversial at the time amongst the Lines fraternity.
Cat Bug Jeep
This was recorded for a cassette compilation, the details of which I forget, but we took the opportunity to record several tracks that day. At the time we were figuring out how "Ultramarine" was going to sound, and experimenting with some different miking and recording techniques.