Love/Action remix

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During lockdown in 2020, Paul was able to do something he'd long wanted to do, and remix Sniff'n'the Tear’s third album Love/Action. The album is available to order from today.

The remixed album also includes new bonus tracks, one of which is only available on this album.

Hear a couple of tracks and read the full story behind the album on the Love/Action album page.

The Ace Records write up explains it well:

"1981’s “Love/Action” had Paul Roberts leading a largely new band of musicians and Mike Howlett at the helm producing. This new edition is completely remixed by Paul to remove some the 80s patina and expose the rawer, more immediate sound of the original performances. The songs can now breathe a little easier and gain in strength as presented here. That splashy drum sound, beloved in the 80s, is now replaced by an altogether more robust rhythm and the guitars bite like they should. A much tougher record is here for all to hear. There are three bonus tracks, including ‘Say What You Mean’ which makes its debut here in any form. A very successful and welcome reappraisal that should garner more attention for a record that was lost in the sound of its time."

We hope you enjoy this new remix of the album - we think it's sounding better than ever.

Upcoming events

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Love/Action remixed.

Our third album Love/Action was produced by Mike Howlett, who gave it the Pop sound of the times. I have remixed it thanks to Roger Armstrong at Chiswick Records giving me the stems. The remix is very different, certainly more in keeping with the rest of our albums.

Mike did what was required at the time to give us the sound that was fashionable and that he was known for. I always felt there was another album in there. Not in the playing but in the mix. Anyway the result will be available in January 2021.

Following this in March will be a new vinyl release of Fickle Heart. A lot of people have asked about the albums coming out on vinyl. Well, here we are starting at the beginning, Fickle Heart on vinyl.

Acoustic project gigs in full swing

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Thanks to the Little Rabbit Barn, we had a great night being part of an eclectic evening of music, with Danni Nicholls and Tamara Stewart on the bill too. Very hospitable hosts and a real music loving venue. They’ve written a blog about the evening.

Next up - a return to The Slaughtered Lamb in London, with support from Lettie. She’s an alt folk singer songwriter who has toured with Peter Murphy and sung with John Cooper Clarke, check out her music here: https://soundcloud.com/lettiemusic

And here’s the gig details:

Thursday 16th May, Sniff'n'the Tears Acoustic + Lettie at The Slaughtered Lamb, London
Tickets available here: https://billetto.co.uk/e/sniff-n-the-tears-acoustic-at-the-slaughtered-lamb-tickets-340888
More info on the Facebook event page.

Here’s a track from the Little Rabbit Barn gig.

Sniff'n'the Tears Acoustic - a new live project

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Les Davidson and Paul Roberts had been thinking for some time about getting the band together to do a few gigs. The last proper tour was in 1991 in Holland and Germany and had been great fun. This was when "Driver's Seat" got to number one in Holland after an ad campaign for a car stereo. Since then, and four albums later... nothing.

Finally Les came up with a solution. Why not go out as an acoustic duo? This would circumvent the time and expense of getting a band rehearsed and out on the road and it would test the waters. After all, will anybody still be interested?

"The Slaughtered Lamb" in London's Clerkenwell was the choice for their first performance as Sniff'n'The Tears in twenty seven years. Organised by Paul's musician daughter Caitlin, it was a great evening. We’ll be organising more gigs so watch this space.

These two are up next:

Saturday 6th April, double headliner with Danni Nicholls,
Little Rabbit Barn, Ardleigh, near Colchester, UK.
More info here: http://www.littlerabbitbarn.com/gigs?event_id=60

Thursday 16th May, Sniff'n'the Tears Acoustic at The Slaughtered Lamb, London
Tickets available here: https://billetto.co.uk/e/sniff-n-the-tears-acoustic-at-the-slaughtered-lamb-tickets-340888
More info on the Facebook event page.

And in the meantime, here’s a video from October’s Slaughtered Lamb gig.

R.I.P. Mick Dyche, 1951 - 2018

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Sad news. Mick Dyche guitarist with Sniff'n'the Tears from 1978 to 1980 has died.

Guitarist with the band for "Fickle Heart" and "The Game's Up" from 1978 to 1980. Mick was a distinctive and thoughtful guitarist, who with Loz Netto provided the guitar interplay on those albums. He also came up with the riff that powered "Driver's Seat". Always searching for the parts that would best enhance the mood of the song the two quite different styles complimented each other to great effect.

Mick Dyche US tour.jpg

It's good to be back - Sniff'n'the Tears (Acoustic) launch gig

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After a 27 year break from live performance, Paul Roberts (singer-songwriter) and Les Davidson (guitarist) played a stripped back Sniff’n’the Tears acoustic set to a packed room at the Slaughtered Lamb in London last Thursday.

We were thrilled to get such a positive reaction after the long break, so thanks to everyone who turned up and made us feel welcome. Thanks also to Caitlin Roberts (accordion) and Richard Moore (violin) from Lost Revellers who joined us for a couple of songs.

We’ve now got the taste for more, so watch this space. (Follow us on Facebook or sign up to the newsletter below for news of future gigs.)

Here’s a couple of videos and pics from the evening.

Rodeo Drive

The Refugee

Random Elements.

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Random Elements album cover 1000_mini.jpg

Random Elements is the eighth album from Sniff'n'the Tears. After an accident in 2012 and several months recovery, Paul Roberts got into a songwriting spree. This was partly due to keyboardist Robin Langridge sending inspirational sonic sketches to him. Thus started a collaborative process that led to some rather interesting song structures. In Paul's words, "some of the new songs reflect the times in terms of the dilemmas we face in the twenty first century, some are more personal but then the personal and the political can be connected." Themes that Sniff fans are all too familar with. "But" he explains with a shrug of acceptance, "humanity is what it is and this shit won't stop any time soon."

Hence Random Elements. "A conflagration of the events that throw everything into flux which in turn makes for unlikely and sometimes unwelcome outcomes." It should be added that these songs were written before either Brexit or Donald Trump. The album was recorded over four years with long time collaborator keyboard player Robin Langridge and Sniff'n'The Tears guitarist Les Davidson who both contribute to the songwriting. Joining them, old "Sniff" alumni, bass player Nick South and drummer Paul Robinson. Seven years since the last album, 'Downstream' a new chapter begins with Random Elements.

Random Elements is available from the distributor, ace records as well as amazon.

Alphaville - Karel Fialka. ft. Tilda Swinton & Paul Roberts

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Old friend and sometimes collaborator Karel Fialka has just put out his new album 'Film Noir' a collection of moody existential musings on the dark side of life. I feature as a guest vocalist on two or three of the songs.

My favourite song is probably 'Alphaville and not just because I get to do a duet with esteemed actress Tilda Swinton. Alright I didn't meet her, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology you'd never know. Using Godard's dystopian metropolis as inspiration, Karel conjures up a vivid picture of a man alone with his regrets in the city. It's a great track. Tilda Swinton's spoken narration is electrifying. This and many more treats can be found on 'Film Noir' check it out via the link. http://www.karelfialka.com