Soul Merchants were once described as a mix of The Doors and Sisters of Mercy. This observation is true, but it describes only a portion of their sound. In two short years (1985-87) they wrote and recorded over one hundred songs. The band blended eclectic musical favorites, life experiences, and friendships into a volatile brew.
Soul Merchants began in March ’85 as a noisy three-piece influenced by Einstürzende Neubauten, Joy Division and ’60s pop and rock. Malcom Black and Michael Moore bonded as soon as they began playing and writing together. Black coined the name and they quickly recruited Paul Ciciora for drumming duties. A set list and image were established, and within just three weeks the band was playing live dates.
Several shows in the Denver-Boulder area brought the attention of Bob Ferbrache. He recorded “God’s Hand Touched Him, and He Slept,” the first chapter of Soul Merchants recordings. He then joined the band, playing keyboards and second guitar. Jerry Cuba replaced Ciciora in October ’85 and the band began writing for their next release, Before the Gates.
Before the Gates was released in May ’86, and it quickly became clear that the time was right for the leap to vinyl. Gates of Heaven was released in September ’86.
Soul Merchants also recorded Let It Brood which went unreleased at the time. It featured their strongest material yet, and demonstrated that greater success may have been close at hand had they reached a wider audience. Soul Merchants disbanded in March ’87 after playing the inaugural South By Southwest in Austin.
Smooch Records released the forty song compilation, 1985-1987, on October 23rd 2007. Vintage four-track cassette recordings exhumed from the vault. Listen now to Soul Merchants: Denver’s premier purveyors of psychedelic doom.
Happy St.Patricks Day to the Merchants! Drinking here with my wife and was showing her how to play "The Sea" on bass. - So used to hearing the "The Meek" before it! Drinkin' in the Jersey woods listening to the Lords of Psychedelic Deathrock! You guys should have been in the soundtrack to Salem's Lot! We'll raise one to you tonight; and two to you tomorrow!
Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys: The Negative Heart Society Jay Munly: The Denver Boot Ilya E. Monosov: Winter Lullaby Clare Fader: Wedding Day Lament Voodoo Organist: Worship Hymn Slim Cessna's Auto Club: Jesus is in My Body Nichols Family Gospel Hour: The Angels Would Have Wept Firewater: Knock 'em Down Flatfoot 56: Knuckles Up Midnight Serenaders: Everybody Loves My Baby Flaming Stars: The Last Picture Show Magnificent 7: The Last Waltz 16 Horsepower: American Wheeze Orion Rigel Dommisse: A Giver Der Bekannte Post-Industrielle Trumpeter: Gift Ex Reverie: Days Away Denver Gentlemen: Blue Parrot Stranglers: Golden Brown Jo Gabriel: Fade to Black Joe Black: The Tragic Tale of Peter Scarecrow Testing Vault: Charlotte's Glass Eye Soul Merchants: Johanna Orchards: Each Night a Pilgrimage Lisps: Compromise Jerri Rossi: I Left My Heart but I Don't Know Where Split Lip Rayfield: Promise Not to Tell A Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band: Built then Burnt (Hurrah! Hurrah!) This Bike is a Pipe Bomb: Trains and Cops Unwoman: Witch-Wife
Hey, Michael Moore -- I saw "Control" last night and it inspired me to dig out an old box and find my copies of der modern times. I've got 9 or 10 issues. Hadn't looked at them in years. You did a great job with that thing. Are you still in the publishing biz?
I foIund this weRbsiPte that shoKws who has a cru9sh on you and thYought i'd le3t you know that one of my friFends had oPne on you. You goLtta tPry its!
It features a Small Brown Bike retrospective, Akimbo, Brent Eyestone (Magic Bullet/Forensics), Will Killingsworth (Ampere/Orchid), Ryan Ferguson (No Knife) and much more.
You can download a copy by clicking on the cover below:
You can also order a paper copy of the new issue, or download past issues by visiting: www.thenewscheme.com
Choir Practice: I See Things Ed Harcourt: Farewell Nancy Slim Cessna's Auto Club: Angel Belle & Sebastian: Take Your Carriage Clock and Shove It Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys: Missed Me Dropkick Murphys: The Warrior's Code Carolyn Mark: The 1 that Got Away with It Bryan Ferry: Lowlands Low Zoe Boekbinder: Typewriter Girl Abandonded Toys: Within a Lilac Clutch Loudon Wainwright III: Good Ship Venus Corey Harris: Monkey on my Mind Sixteen Horsepower: Flutter Black Sabbath: Changes Isobell Cambell & Mark Lanegan: Black Mountain Leon Redbone: Haunted House Holiday & Adventure Pop Collective: Start All Over Again John C Reilly: Fathom the Bowl Tiger Lillies: Sailors Munly & Lee Lewis Harlots: Jacob Dumb Tallyman's Dark OMNIBUS: ... no longer so lonely Nick Cave: Pinery Boy Unwoman: Caught Her AKACOD: Happiness Mad Tea Party: Whistle Pig Ralph Steadman: Little Boy Billie Painted Saints: Paladin Whine Stan Ridgeway: Hanging Johnny Replacements: Here Comes a Regular Katzenjammer Kabarett: Balmanekinow Tallboys: Paddy Won't you Drink Some Cider Soul Merchants: Joanna
Great release! Too much to comment on! Hearing the slightly different versions of songs I already knew and diggin' the "new" material as well. Well done!
The track listing is up on Smooch and there are 20 songs that I never heard before! And my wife thanks you for putting on "Speedboat" - it's her favorite!
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