Karl Blake

born: December 5th,1956 in Reading,UK is a Vocalist,Bassist,Guitarist and Multi-Instrumentalist most noted for his work with The Lemon Kittens, Danielle Dax, Shock Headed Peters, Sol Invictus and Current 93. Other past projects include Alternative TV, The Underneath, Evil Twin, British Racing Green, Blake Sabbath and solo work. Most of his work can be described as progressive-experimental and sometimes psychedelic


Mandibles:

En-Route To Toothless (1995)

1 Reversal 39: Safe No Happy (0:49)
2 Below Indigo (0:45)
3 Sworn On Oath (Again) (1:12)
4 Reversal 29: On Route (1:07)
5 The Red Fisherman (1:04)
6 Bottomless, Pitiless (0:52)
7 Blindo Chromo (0:50)
8 Quality Of Love (1:02)
9 Help Now? I'm In Love And No-One Can (0:45)
10 Page 5b.: Smalls (0:24)
11 Toothy Grin (0:59)
12 Reversal 43: Familiar Hostile Landscape (0:38)
13 English Culture For Real (0:39)
14 Blight On The Bloody Tower (1:12)
15 New Men Of Old England (0:46)
16 Queens English (1:03)
17 Bleu Royale (1:17)
18 Reversal 51: Dark Banner (0:50)
19 More Than An Understanding (0:59)
20 Reversal 7: Who Wins, Ever? (1:17)
21 Reversal 13: Index Of Impossibility (1:09)
22 I Yearn And I Burn (1:19)
23 Hank Scar (1:53)
24 Reversal 27: Victimiser (1:28)
25 Reversal 37: Pistol-Packing Parson (0:56)
26 Man Stuff (1:31)
27 Junior Prig Star (1:10)
28 Reversal 16: Breakfast Only Seen (1:05)
29 Lord Of The Land (0:50)
30 My Little Plots Avail Me Not (1:10)
31 Exit The Harpy (1:06)
32 Qs & As (0:40)
33 Page 1b.: The Last Green Bottle (0:27)
34 Reversal 19: She Who Must Be... (1:37)
35 Reversal 49: Eightball CYA (1:18)
36 Reversal 54: Want Me To You Your Future? (1:08)
37 Fly Cage Rage (0:52)
38 Archetypical Archetype (0:50)
39 Signifying Nothing: Of Sound And Fury Full (0:47)
40 One Heaven In Her? (1:10)
41 Not A Mirror To A Blindman (1:11)
42 The Tray (0:44)
43 Sandbag (0:59)
44 Cabbage White (0:45)
45 Again, Whom Do I Have To Ask? (1:24)
46 Stationary Waltz (0:44)
47 Paul Pry: The San Man (0:34)
48 Reaching Over (0:39)
49 Reversal 22: A Removal Prayer (0:38)
50 Reversal 21: Night Is A Cloak For Sinners (1:12)
51 Full Head Start (0:39)
52 Considering Pan (0:39)
53 Never Alone At Night (0:59)
54 Golden Spires (0:54)
55 Re-Appropriated: Not Soon Enough (1:14)
56 Reversal 17: Scissors: A Poem (1:06)
57 "A Katamaran Is Not Just A Boat..." (0:34)
58 "Lets Get Wed And Conceive In Bed" (1:03)
59 Riddle Of The Sounds: Reversal 2 (1:34)
60 Reversal 20: When Lying Is Killing Those Who Only Want To Love You (1:27)

hivehead, May 13, 2009
I searched a good 3 years for this record & when I finally came across it I wasn't in the least bit disappointed. Each track is centered on a short sample with Karl Blake performing spoken word over it. The bleakness & beauty of this album will suck you in on repeated listens. Despair has never sounded so enticing. This is one of the more obscure World Serpent releases so good luck finding it. If you are at all a fan of poetry & spoken word make sure to check this album out.

Paper-Thin Religion

(Solo Archives 1977-1981)

1 Me - In A Single Skull (1:55)
2 Lullaby Of Knives (1:06)
3 Weatherman (1:53)
4 Sweeper Of Leaves (3:30)
5 Lamentation Blues (3:44)
6 Fifty Shilling Gun (1:25)
7 This Intimacy (4:03)
8 Church Of Latter-Day Taint (4:08)
9 Dreams Of Sweet Rain (1:34)
10 Drogulus (1:47)
11 The Sky Is False (4:07)
12 Like Flies To Wanton Boys (3:18)
13 Rosette (0:43)
14 Saul (3:53)
15 The White Worm (4:24)
16 As Electric Poison (3:20)
17 Slugabed (3:42)
18 Characteristics Of A Rainy Day (3:26)
19 The Malfunction House (2:03)
20 Private Reserved Prohibited Locked (2:36)
21 Green Fuse (3:55)
22 Negative Essay (3:50)
23 Life In Despair And Afterwards (5:49)

Tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15 & 16 recorded and produced between 1977 and 1979 at Kidmore End Rd, Reading, Berkshire, on Akai 4000 DS [sound on sound] by Blake.
Track 6 was recorded 1980/81 at Gatestone Rd., Gypsy Hill, London (also on Akai 4000 DS).
Track 22 was recorded in a 16 track in Denmark St., London, November, 1981.
Tracks 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 23 were recorded on a Teac 4 track in Stanmore Rd., Richmond, Surrey and at Tanglewood, Welwyn, Herts in 1981.


The Prehensile Tales

(Solo Archives 1977-1981)

1 Babies In Grey (2:40)
2 Switchback (4:52)
3 Whistle And Weep (9:19)
4 Blast The Human Flower (4:57)
5 The Waiting List (3:18)
6 Limits (2:53)
7 People With No Shoulders (3:47)
8 Dreams Of The Lichen Tester (3:57)
9 A Misogyny Of Song (2:33)
10 Love So Much Like Violent Death (5:27)

Tracks 1 - 10 were originally released on Karl Blake`s " The Prehensile Tales" LP on Normal Records, Germany in 1983.

11 Underground Aeroplane (1:37)
12 None O'Clock (0:10)
13 Stonebaby Chapelbass (4:00)
14 Jay Day (2:49)
15 Chiaroscuro (2:57)
16 The Loud Man Of Berkshire (1:38)
17 The Person On The Bonnet (Is The Body In The Boot) (1:39)
18 Conditional Discharge (2:11)
19 A Grimmer Hoard (2:35)
20 Gimme Little Sign (2:26)
Written-By - A. Smith* , Winn* , Hooven*
21 Not Flying But Falling (2:28)

2-11,14,15,20 recorded and produced between 1977 and 1979 at Kidmore End Rd, Reading, Berkshire, on Akai 4000 DS [sound on sound] by Blake.

17,21 were recorded 1980/81 at Gatestone Rd., Gypsy Hill, London
(also on Akai 4000 DS).

13 was recorded in a 16 track in Denmark St., London, November, 1981.

12,18,19 were recorded on a Teac 4 track in Stanmore Rd., Richmond, Surrey and at Tanglewood, Welwyn, Herts in 1981.

1 was recorded at Guildford, Surrey and was co-produced by David Mellor, who mastered and, where necessary, 'stereofied' the tracks.



The Reflections

Slugs And Toads (1981)

A1 Tightrope Walker
A2 Zigzagging
A3 Keep It Easy
A4 Toy Dog Ripped By Cat
A5 Demon Of My Desires
Vocals - Michele Bonett
A6 The Human Touch
B1 The Interpreter
B2 Oh Baby, Look Out ( It`s The New Dance)
B3 I Had Love In My Hands
Guitar - Steve Tannett
B4 Clamming Up
B5 Nag Takes A Ride
Guitar - Michele Bonett
B6 The Parting

All songs written and arranged by Perry / Lee / Burns (The Reflections) except
" The Interpreter " which is by Roky Erickson.
Loose band concept around Mark Perry, Dennis Burns, Nag and Karl Blake.
With Justin, Michele Bonett, Grant Showbiz, Steve Tannett and Vicki Bonnett.

Karl Blake appears courtesy of Lemon Kittens.

Recorded May / June / July 1981.
Cover design and graphics by Danielle Dax of Lemon Kittens.





The Underneath

Imp Of The Perverse 12" (1986)

A1 Fire
A2 Have I The Right?
B1 Black Roots: A Tribute To Black Sabbath
B2 Short Term Agreement


The Underneath

Lunatic Dawn Of The Dismantler 1987

1 Positive Force For Good Or Evil (4:45)
2 Thick, Black, Angular (2:35)
3 Black England / White Bomb [Part 1] (2:34)
4 Black England / White Bomb [Part 2] (0:56)
5 No (3:11)
6 Tragedy Boys And Girls (4:32)
7 Zophia (2:37)
8 Bayonet (3:03)
9 Smear Ghosts (3:14)
10 Another Death In The Family (2:58)
11 Parenticide (3:04)
12 Partyclens Plus (1:02)
13 This Lady Devoid (2:49)
14 The Hanging Judge (2:30)
15 Letter From An Institution (3:05)