Positive Noise

Positive Noise were a new wave and synthpop band from Scotland who had a number of indie hits in the 1980s. They released three albums and several singles and were together for over five years.[1]

Positive Noise
L-R: Graham Middleton, Fraser Middleton, Les Gaff, Russell Blackstock (circa 1982)
L-R: Graham Middleton, Fraser Middleton, Les Gaff, Russell Blackstock (circa 1982)
Background information
OriginGlasgow, Scotland
GenresNew wave
Years active1979–1985
LabelsStatik
Past membersRoss Middleton
Graham Middleton
Russell Blackstock
Fraser Middleton
Les Gaff
John Telford
John Coletta

History

The band was formed in 1979 by Ross Middleton (vocals), his brothers Graham Middleton (keyboards, vocals) and Fraser Middleton (bass guitar, vocals), Russell Blackstock (guitar, vocals), and Les Gaff (drums).[2] Their first released material were two tracks ("Refugees" and "The Long March") on the Statik label compilation EP Second City Statik in 1980, and they followed this with two singles on Statik in 1981, both of which were top-ten hits on the UK Independent Chart.[3] Début album Heart of Darkness was released in May 1981, after which Ross left to form the short-lived Leisure Process, with Blackstock taking over on lead vocals.[2] Heart of Darkness peaked at number four on the independent chart, and the band's second album, Change of Heart (1982), also charted, reaching number 21.[3] They released a third and final album, Distant Fires, in 1985, now with John Telford on drums and John Coletta on guitar, but their earlier success was not repeated and they split up shortly afterwards.[4]

Ross Middleton had earlier worked as a music journalist, writing for Sounds under the pen name Maxwell Park.[2]

Discography

All releases on Statik Records.[5]

Albums
  • Heart of Darkness (1981) - came with a bonus 7-inch single: "Love Like Property"
  • Change of Heart (1982)
  • Distant Fires (1985)

Singles
  • "Give Me Passion" (1981)
  • "Charm" (1981)
  • "Positive Negative" (1981)
  • "Waiting for the Seventh Man" (1982)
  • "Get Up and Go" (1982)
  • "When Lightning Strikes" (1983)
  • "A Million Miles Away" (1984)
  • "Distant Fires" (1985)

Compilation appearances
  • Second City Statik (1980), Statik: "Refugees", "The Long March"
  • Cabaret Futura - Fools Rush in Where Angels Dare to Tread (1981), Martyrwell Music: "Love Like Property (Live)", "Treachery (Live)"

References
  1. "Song of the Week 200". New Wave Outpost. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008.
  2. Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography. Canongate. p. 461. ISBN 1-84195-335-0.
  3. Lazell, Barry (1998). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. p. 177. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
  4. Robbins, Ira. "Positive Noise". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  5. Positive Noise at AllMusic. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
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