A ‘century’ celebrated as Autumn 1904 go back to the future
The past, as the saying goes, is a foreign country. But in the 1980s it was Britain which looked very different to before.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was in conflict with the trade unions and miners as well as Argentina in the Falklands, while the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union meant that most people were trying to not think about the real possibility of a nuclear conflict, accidental or intentional.
This meant that music of that time was either escapist ‘new’ pop, or grimly pessimistic alternative and indie.
Navigating these choppy waters were a bunch of new young bands in the Edinburgh area, determined to harness the heart and soul of post-punk to the groove and lust-for-life of pop.
However, while the city would later spawn diverse acts such as Shirley Manson and The Proclaimers, in the early 1980s there was little chance of success,
“I discovered the original tapes during lockdown – as soon as I played them I decided to release a single” Autumn 1904 founder member Allan Dumbreck
even if the likes of Josef K and Fire Engines at least made their mark on a cult level.
One great ‘lost’ band were Autumn 1904, formed in 1982 in Edinburgh, Scotland by Allan Dumbreck and Ross Thom and growing to a five-piece with Billy Bowie, Keith Falconer, and Billy Leslie. Backing vocalists Indira Sharma and Lisa Cameron were added in 1983 and the septet became part of the local DIY indie movement of the early ’80s.
They recorded a BBC Radio 1 session in 1984 after playing the John Peel Roadshow at Edinburgh University, those tracks being broadcast three times on the Peel Show.
The band split in 1985 but reunited in 2021 to re-master and re-record their original material for release, the final versions including Tippi from The Hedrons on vocals and mastered by Chemikal Underground recording wizard Paul Savage.
As with many reborn acts, this generation’s own Cold War – Covid – was a major player in Autumn 1904’s renaissance. Founder member and keyboard player Allan Dumbreck: “I discovered the original tapes during lockdown – as soon as I played them I decided to release a single.
“It’s taken me two years to locate the band, get the new recordings done and work out the promo plan,” he adds.
But it could all be worth it in the end with the band now looking at re-recording other old material as well as some new ideas. And there will be a live show, in May. After all, as Dumbreck says, “Who else could celebrate their 120th anniversary ?”