David Bowie, Ultravox!, Patti Smith, Skeletal Family, Virgin Prunes, Bauhaus, Xmal Deutschland, Earth Calling Angela, Monica's Last Prayer, All About Eve, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Specimen, Danse Society, Christian Death, Switchblade Symphony, Sex Gang Children, Mephisto Walz, Ghost Dance, The Breath of Life, Screams for Tina, The Very Things, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, Screaming Dead, The Birthday Party, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nico, Gitane Demone, Dead Can Dance, Corpus Delicti, Fields of the Nephilim, Dead Souls Rising, Rosetta Stone, Play Dead, Faith and the Muse, March Violets, Nosferatu, The Marionettes, The Mission, Penetration, Magazine, XTC, Killing Joke, New Model Army, Blondie, Inkubus Sukkubus, and you
Sounds Like
Pale Heather. But that means a big helping of goth, death rock, new wave and punk, with the occasional bit of acoustica and avant garde experimentation - mix it together, add a bit of blood, sweat and fears (never mind the tears) and you're still not quite there...
Pale Heather is the solo post-punk/goth/alternative project of Heather Slater (one half of alternative duo The Monikers, former guitarist for UK goth band Phantasmagoria and occasional backing vocalist for Earth Calling Angela. Heather also has a solo acoustic project for her quieter, more reflective moments.). This project has been conceived to allow Heather's darker influences and roots to resurface.
Heather's interest in music began at the age of eight, when she started playing the piano. By the age of 14 she fell in love with her first (and currently only) electric guitar, which still serves her well to this day. Soon after this she began to take an interest in goth and was particularly inspired by bands at the punkier end of the genre, such as Bauhaus and Skeletal Family.
In 1995 Heather played her first gig as guitarist for Phantasmagoria, supporting The Marionettes, at Birmingham's Mercat. In February 1996, Phantasmagoria recorded a three-track demo tape, the Darkfall EP, in London. Then in May, Heather was asked to sing backing vocals on a number of Earth Calling Angela tracks for their album Reverence in Kind. Sadly the album was not released due to technical difficulties but Heather realised how much she enjoyed taking on singing duties. UPDATE:An Earth Calling Angela best-of album, Hope Springs Eternal, featuring some of those "lost" tracks - including one with Pale Heather on backing vocals - is available now from CD Baby. Please click on the banner below.
Several more Phantasmagoria gigs followed, with Heather chugging away on guitar, supporting a host of bands including the Dream Disciples, Screaming Dead, All Living Fear and Waterglass. There was even a slot with the likes of Alien Sex Fiend at an all-day goth fest in Nottingham Rock City in 1997. This proved to be Heather's swansong, although Phantasmagoria continued for a few years without her.
In 2002, Heather began writing songs with her friend Alex and formed The Monikers - a mostly acoustic band who have recorded a wealth of material, none of which has yet been released. Meanwhile Heather's solo acoustic/alternative project, under her own name, can be found at www.myspace.com/heatherslaterproject
Pale Heather is the latest chapter in Heather's musical outings and at present is a studio-based project. Its aim is to allow Heather to get right down to the serious business of making spiky, horror-tinged guitar music with claustrophobic vocals and a primal punk heart.
REVIEWS FOR IN THE WENDY HOUSE (debut 11-track CDR album)
"Tight little songs assume looming presence through their basic strengths and delivery .... a fascinating record." - Mick Mercer
"This album is wonderful and Slater is a real talent." - Anna Maria Stjärnell
"Pale Heather creates a darkly articulated world." - Planet Sound
Greetings from Phoenixx Rising! It's February already! This means that our Music Jukebox is now up and running, with this month's great selection of upcoming and unsigned talent.
Featured this month we have: *Flesh Eating Foundation *Leading The Charge *Danse Of The Dead & *The Offering
To view the jukebox visit www.phoenixxrising.com and click on "Extras" at the top of the page. If you are in an unsigned Alternative band, you can also find details on the page for submitting your tracks for the March jukebox.
Midnight Configuration street team (AKA down with the kids!)
Hi all, I have set up yet another web music profile (I know I know it's getting boring now) but this one works a bit different. It's part of an organisation called ReverbNation and I can set up a "street team" who get missions etc, its all a bit of a laugh but seems quite interesting.
Sooooo
Can you all follow the link below and sign up as both a fan of Midnight Configuration AND that you want to join the street team.
Anyway, please go and check it out.
http://www.reverbnation.com/midnightconfiguration
Oh yeah, can you also sign up for the email mailing list
AND SO THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS. ONLY FIVE MORE DAYS 'TIL THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD WALK THE EARTH ONCE AGAIN. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CAN OF ANTI-DEAD GHOUL REPELLANT HANDY WHEN OCTOBER 31st COMES AROUND.
