Should I have heard of For Against?
I asked myself this question when reviewing their 2010 album Never Been and repeated it for this EP.
The three tracks are taken from the band's debut recording session in 1984.
The mere fact that Minneapolis-based Words On Music record label feel they need to be released twenty seven years after the event suggests that this band from Lincoln, Nebraska has some hitherto unknown historic significance.
Not only that, but it is also touted as the first in a series of releases of rare material.
The tracks on the EP (all previously unreleased) are: Black Soap , Dark Good Friday and Amen Yves (White Circles) and feature the band's original line-up of Jeff Runnings (vocals, bass), Harry Dingman (guitar) and Greg Hill (drums).
The influence/blatant copying of riffs/atmosphere of British bands like The Cure, PIL and Joy Division cannot fail to escape your notice.
Yet the fact that For Against do not merit a single mention in Simon Reynolds' Rip It Up And Start Again, his otherwise definitive guide to post-punk 1978-1984, is surely significant (it also makes me feel a little better about my ignorance of the band).
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Words On Music are surely counting on the fact that there are hardcore shoegaze fans out there somewhere.
Aside from this, even if there were a massive 80s revival, chances are that For Against would be passed by once again. The tracks on this EP are not bad, they just remind you too much of bands that did this kind of thing so much better.
For Against on Myspace
For Against bio on Words On Music label
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