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St. Christopher
Golden Blue
(Parasol)
US release date: 9 January 2001
UK release date: 12 December 2000
by David Fufkin
PopMatters Music Critic
Saint Christopher died a martyr in Asia Minor in the third century. The legend that grew up about him in the Middle Ages was that he was a very strong (and not very handsome) man, a "dog-faced" giant in fact, who lived by a fjord in a river. He carried travelers across this river. He became the Patron Saint of Travel, the perfect name for a band that will help you take a trip, a trip inside your mind. Like Barrett, Gabriel, Julian Cope and others, Glenn Melia lets us hop on his back for a sonic trip across the river that flows inside your imagination.
Golden Blue is a skyscraper of sounds with a driving lead guitar at its pinnacle fueling the melody, much like a surfer at Waikiki Beach racing towards the shore. Consider the cowboy-like, psychedelic "North Wind" or "Riverbank" with its claves and handclaps. "Majestic" indeed is that, with low end that challenged my speakers and shook the walls. The reverb-soaked vocals reminded me a bit of Wham!, Heroes-era Bowie and Peter Gabriel, a good thing in my book. The obvious comparison is to Echo and The Bunnymen, but I think St. Christopher is better. St. Christopher appears more about songs than posing. "The First or the Last" is a highlight with Massive Synthesizers. I can see a cocaine-crazed Keith Emerson lunging a knife into his B3, his Arp and his Moog here. Imagine the sound without the twirling stage and the laser light show.
This is '70s FM radio prog rock before it became ridiculous, crossed with '80s British psychedelia. Interesting chord patterns and songs that break out of the box are featured here. Again, Parasol has a winner.
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Discography
Releases:
Golden Blue (CD), Parasol Records, 2000.
Lionness (CD) 1996
on Vinyl Japan - tba
Man, I Could Scream (LP+CD) 17.Feb 1992
on Vinyl Japan - ASK 06
Dig Deep Brother 1984~1990 (CD) 28.Jun 1993
on Vinyl Japan - ASK 26
Love You To Pieces (CD) Feb 1994
on Vinyl Japan - ASK 27
As Far As The Eye Can See (7")
on GM-Records
Crystal Clear (7")
on GM-Records
she looks like you / ecstasy, passion and pain (7") ?
on Elefant - ER-142
Forevermore Starts Here (FLX) 1987
on Veston - VOD 01
The Josephine Why ? EP (FLX) 1988
on Clarity Records
You Deserve More Than A Maybe (7") 27.Feb 1989
on Sarah Records - SARAH 015
All Of A Tremble (7") Aug 1989
on Sarah Records - SARAH 020
Bacharach (10") May 1990
on Sarah Records - SARAH 403
Antoinette (7") Jul 1990
on Sarah Records - SARAH 034
- salvation
All Of A Tremble (7") 1990
on The Bus Stop Label - BUS 3
- All Of A Tremble
- Our Secret
- "Even The Sky Seems Blue
Say Yes To Everything (7") May 1991
on Sarah Records - SARAH 046
- it's snowing on the moon
French Radio Sessions (7") Nov 1993
on Slumberland Records - 19
young nun (7") 1995
on Elefant - ER-122
On compilations:
Something's Burning In Paradise Again... (K7)
on Subtle -
- Our Secret
Audacious (K7)
on Lovely Records - LOCA 01 -
- All Of A Tremble (live)
Corrupt Postman (K7)
on Windmill Records -
- The Summer Of Love
Instants Of Pleasure (K7)
on Blam-A-Bit - BLAM 001
- To The Mountain
Positively Teenage!! (K7)
on -
- Charmelle
Somethings Burning In Paradise (K7)
on Subtle -
- To The Mountain
Turquoise Days (K7)
on -
- On the Death Of My Son
Everlasting - A Tape Compilation (K7)
on Rhythm - BAIT 1 -
- Even The Sky Seems Blue
Heol (K7)
on Heol -
- I Wish I Hadn't Seen Her
Rund Um Die Welt... (K7)
on -
- Remember Me To Her
Diamonds And Porcupines (LP) 22-May-1989
on Beat All The Tambourines / Pastell -
- If Even The Sky Seems Blue
Airspace! (LP) Jul 1989
on Breaking Down Records - BREAK LP 1 -
- To The Mountain
Airspace II - The Sequel (LP) 14.May 1990
on Breaking Down Records - BREAK LP 3 -
- If I Could Capture
Stamp 2 Flexi (FLX) Jun 1990
on Stamp Fanzine - STAMP 2 -
- If I Could Capture
Sunday Flexi No.3 (FLX) Dec 1992
on Sunday Records - SUNDAY 017
- Charmelle
Why Popstars Can't Dance (LP2+CD) Oct 1994
on Slumberland Records - 31
- Snowning On The Moon
- The Last Laugh
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Glenn Melia, founder member of indie band St Christopher, from mid-80's Sarah Records to present day, currently recording 2nd album for Parasol Records (US).....now playing & recording as a solo artist, still under name of St Christopher.
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