The Wolfgang Press


The Wolfgang Press was an English post-punk band, active from 1983 to 1995, recording for the 4AD label. The core of the band was Michael Allen, Mark Cox, and Andrew Gray.
The group is best known for its 1992 international hit single "A Girl Like You ".

Style and influences

The official 4AD band profile describes them as "post-punk", transforming to "avant-dance groovers" with Queer. The band was frequently labeled "goth," though they denied the charge.
Allen's list of "important records" as of 1995 included De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising, Massive Attack's Blue Lines and "anything from Nick Cave and The Fall." He recalled that the record that "maybe started it all" for him was Public Image Ltd's Metal Box.

History

Rema-Rema, Mass (1978–1981)

Allen started in The Models in 1977. Allen and Cox had both been members of Rema-Rema and Mass, while Gray had been a member of In Camera. All of these bands had also recorded for 4AD.
Rema-Rema was formed in 1978 by schoolmates Allen and Gary Asquith, with Cox, Marco Pirroni and Max Prior. 4AD founder Ivo Watts-Russell said that hearing Rema-Rema's demo tape "was the first point I knew that we were actually doing something serious ." Their sole recording was the Wheel in the Roses 12"EP. The band split when Pirroni left to join Adam and the Ants, and reformed as Mass.
Mass consisted of Allen and Cox with Asquith and Danny Briottet. Mass recorded a single, "You And I"/"Cabbage", and an album, Labour Of Love. Mass split in 1981. Asquith and Briottet later formed Renegade Soundwave.

''The Burden Of Mules'' (1983)

After Mass split, Allen and Cox continued working together. The influence of Metal Box was apparent in their live shows of the time and in their first recording as the Wolfgang Press, the 1983 album The Burden Of Mules. Trouser Press describes it as "dark and cacophonous, an angry, intense slab of post-punk gloom that is best left to its own vices"; the AllMusic Guide to Electronica describes some tracks as "so morose and vehement as to verge on self-parody." ZigZag was more positive, regarding the album as an artistic success and an "emphatic statement." The band's career retrospective compilation, Everything Is Beautiful, contains no tracks from the album.
Guest musicians included Richard Thomas, David Steiner and guitarist and percussionist Andrew Gray, who soon joined the band.

Early EPs

The EPs Scarecrow, Water and Sweatbox followed, produced by Robin Guthrie. These were later compiled as The Legendary Wolfgang Press And Other Tall Stories. The AllMusic Guide to Electronica describes Scarecrow as "a lighter, more streamlined affair", Water as spotlighting "ominously sparse torch songs", and Sweatbox as "deconstructionist pop".

''Standing Up Straight'' (1986)

The 4AD band profile describes Standing Up Straight as "an intense blend of industrial and classical tropes". Trouser Press describes it as "as challenging and inventive as the band's other work, adding industrial and classical instrumentation to the creative arsenal", "dark and thoroughly uncompromising" and "not for the easily intimidated." The AllMusic Guide to Electronica describes it as "a challenging, even punishing album, but a rewarding one as well."

''Bird Wood Cage'' (1988)

The AllMusic Guide to Electronica notes Bird Wood Cage as "one of the most pivotal records in the Wolfgang Press catalog; here, the trio begins to incorporate the dance and funk elements which would ultimately emerge as the dominant facet of their work." Trouser Press describes Bird Wood Cage as "inserting fascinating bits of business into superficially forbidding songs", including female backing vocals, funky wah-wah guitar and elements of dub reggae.
The album was preceded by the EP Big Sex, which presages Bird Wood Cage's musical themes. "King Of Soul", "Kansas" and "Raintime"/"Bottom Drawer" were singles from the album.
Allen later said that Bird Wood Cage was the Wolfgang Press album he was most proud of.

''Queer'' (1991), "A Girl Like You" (1992)

The genesis of the 1991 album Queer was listening to De La Soul's 1989 debut album 3 Feet High and Rising. As Allen put it, this was when they "rediscovered that music could indeed be fun." "It seemed such a joyous record. There was a freshness and ease about the way it was made that inspired us to reassess our working process."
The album's sound includes many samples and funkier, poppier beats than previous albums. The AllMusic Guide to Electronica describes it as "alien funk, a collection of idiosyncratic rhythms, dark textures, and ominous grooves." The band members each play multiple instruments, making the sound fuller than previous work. Bassist Leslie Langston of Throwing Muses guests on most tracks.
The singles from the album were "Time", which included a sample from Pink Floyd's "Time", followed by a cover of Randy Newman's "Mama Told Me Not to Come."
The single "A Girl Like You" was released in May 1992 and became an international hit, scoring No. 2 on the Billboard US Modern Rock chart on 15 August 1992. The song was later covered by Tom Jones, who then asked the band to write "Show Me " for him, both recordings appearing on The Lead and How to Swing It. Jones also joined them on-stage for All Virgos Are Mad, a 4AD anniversary concert in Los Angeles in January 1995.
Due to sample clearance issues, the 1992 US release of Queer needed considerable rerecording and remixing.

''Funky Little Demons'' (1995)

After "A Girl Like You", the band bought their own studio, removing the financial pressure of traditional studio rental. The band spent two years recording Funky Little Demons.
Trouser Press describes the album as "straight-ahead dance music with the correct materials", though "no longer enigmatic risk-takers, the Wolfgang Press have become just another white post-new wave soul band."
The single "Going South" reached No. 117 on the UK singles chart and No. 33 on the US alternative chart. A promotional CD of "Christianity" was also distributed in the US and a video released, directed by Mark Neale, but the band was dropped by 4AD before the single could be released.
The album spent one week in the UK Albums Chart at No. 75 in February 1995.
Cox left the band in February 1995, shortly before the release of the album. Allen and Gray aimed to continue, and toured the US without Cox to promote the album, but later conceded the band had run its course.

Post-Wolfgang Press

A compilation album, Everything Is Beautiful , was released in 2001.
Allen records and plays live periodically with his band Geniuser with Giuseppe De Bellis, whom Allen regards as the driving force. Geniuser released the album Mud Black on the Phisteria label in 2005 and an EP called Press/Delete in 2010 on the same label. Gray played on the album. Allen also played with Gary Asquith's Lavender Pill Mob.
Gray recorded under the name Limehouse Outlaw, and released an album Homegrown on his own label on 27 May 2002, with some songs co-written by Allen. Gray also recorded with the Lavender Pill Mob.
Cox has contributed writing and production to a project entitled U:guru.

Name

Although some sources indicate that they named themselves after German actor Wolfgang Preiss, Spin said the band claimed to have named themselves after a device that Mozart tried to invent to type out his music. No such device is known. Allen has stated elsewhere that the name was chosen to be "meaningless and open to interpretation."

Discography

All releases UK except as noted.

Albums

  • The Burden of Mules
  • * Lisa / Prostitute I / The Burden Of Mules / Complete And Utter / Prostitute II / Slow As A Child // Journalists / Give It Back / On The Hill
  • Standing Up Straight
  • * Dig A Hole / My Life / Hammer The Halo / Bless My Brother / Fire-Fly // Ghost / Rotten Fodder / Forty Days, Thirty Nights / I Am The Crime
  • Bird Wood Cage
  • * King Of Soul / Raintime / Bottom Drawer / Kansas / Swing Like A Baby // See My Wife / The Holey Man / Hang On Me / Shut That Door
  • *1988 CD includes Big Sex EP
  • Queer
  • * Birmingham / Mama Told Me Not To Come / Heavens Gate / Riders On The Heart / Question Of Time // Louis XIV / Fakes & Liars / Honey Tree / Birdie Song / Dreams & Light / Sucker / Mother Valentine
  • * Yellow sleeve with photo of Gray
  • * Initial vinyl copies included 12"EP Sucker of remixes by Martyn Young of Colourbox: Sucker / Sucker // Mama
  • Queer
  • * A Girl Like You / Birmingham / Mama Told Me Not To Come / Heavens Gate / Riders On The Heart / Question Of Time / Louis XIV / Fakes & Liars / Honey Tree / Birdie Song / Dreams & Light / Sucker / Mother Valentine / Angel / Sucker M.F.
  • * Green sleeve with photo of Allen
  • Funky Little Demons
  • * Going South / 11 Years / Blood Satisfaction / Chains / Christianity / Derek The Confessor // So Long Dead / Executioner / She's So Soft / New Glass / Fallen Not Broken / People Say
  • * Initial CD copies with four-track remix bonus disc : Executioner / Christianity / Going South / 11 Years

    EPs and singles

  • Scarecrow 12"EP
  • * Ecstasy // Deserve / Respect
  • Water 12"EP
  • * Tremble / My Way // The Deep Briny / Fire-eater
  • Sweatbox 12"EP
  • * Heart Of Stone / I'm Coming Home // Sweatbox / Muted
  • Big Sex 12"EP
  • * The Wedding / The Great Leveller // That Heat / God's Number
  • "King Of Soul" 12"
  • * King Of Soul // De-Throned Mix / K.O.S
  • * despite the name of the third track, no 7" version is known to exist
  • "Kansas" 12"
  • * Assassination K./Kanserous // Kansas / Scratch / Twister
  • "Raintime/Bottom Drawer"
  • * 12" : Raintime // Bottom Drawer / Slowtime
  • * CD : Longtime / Bottom Drawer / Assassination K./Kanserous / Slowtime
  • "Time" 12" , CD
  • * Time / Time Less / Dark Time
  • "Mama Told Me Not To Come"
  • * 7" : Mama Told Me Not To Come / Summer Time
  • * 12" : Mama Told Me Not To Come // Mama Told Me Not To Come / Summer Time
  • * CD : Mama Told Me Not To Come / Mama Told Me Not To Come / Summer Time
  • * US 12" : Mama Told Me Not To Come / Mama Told Me Not To Come // Mama Told Me Not To Come / Birmingham To Jerusalem
  • * US CD : Mama Told Me Not To Come / Mama Told Me Not To Come / Birmingham / Birmingham To Jerusalem / Mama Told Me Not To Come
  • "A Girl Like You"
  • * 7" : A Girl Like You / Angel
  • * 12" : A Girl Like You / A Girl Like You // Angel / A Girl Like You
  • * CD : A Girl Like You / Angel / A Girl Like You / A Girl Like You
  • * US CD : A Girl Like You / A Girl Like You / Mama Told Me Not To Come / A Girl Like You / Louis XIV / A Girl Like You 3:33
  • "Going South"
  • * 7" : Going South / Going South
  • * 12" : Going South // 11 Years / Christianity
  • * CD : Going South / Going South / Chains / Going South
  • * US 7" : Going South / She's So Soft
  • * US CD : Going South / Going South / Chains / Going South / 11 Years

    Compilations

  • The Legendary Wolfgang Press and Other Tall Stories
  • * Tremble / Heart Of Stone / Respect / My Way / I'm Coming Home // Deserve / Sweatbox / Fire Eater / Ecstasy
  • * compilation of EPs Scarecrow, Water and Sweatbox with some different versions
  • * CD includes two bonus tracks: The Deep Briny, Muted
  • Everything Is Beautiful
  • * Birdie Song / Dreams And Light / Going South / Sweatbox / Chains / Heavens Gate / Kansas / Honey Tree / Sucker / Executioner / Slowtime / A Girl Like You / Respect / Mama Told Me Not To Come / Shut That Door / I Am The Crime / People Say

    Various Artists compilation appearances

  • State Of Affairs : Prostitute
  • Dreams and Desires : Ecstasy
  • Document: Pleasantly Surprised : Prostitute
  • Abstract 5 : Fire Eater
  • Lonely Is an Eyesore : Cut the Tree
  • Unbelievable - The Indie Dance Album : Time
  • Volume One : Sucker
  • Rough Trade: Music For The 90's Vol. 3 : Louis XIV
  • NME Viva 8 - Live at the Town and Country Club 8-1-92 : Dreams and Light
  • Lilliput 1 & 2 : A Girl Like You, Birmingham
  • 4AD Presents The 13 Year Itch CD : Peace On Fire
  • 4AD Presents The 13 Year Itch VHS : Kansas
  • All Virgos Are Mad : One
  • All Virgos Are Mad : Kansas
  • Facing The Wrong Way : Christianity