Micro-Chips & Fish (single)
Track listing
Background
Rough Trade press release
Did you hear the one about The Red Crayola, Radar Records, WEA, Red Records and Rough Trade? It seems that the band's latest single, 'Micro Chips And Fish' c/w 'The Story So Far', was recorded a full three months back. It was a test. WEA money went into it via Radar but WEA didn't want to know so Radar was going to let the Crayola put it out on their own label, Red. But, 'Red' was already a record company and Radar weren't 'in a position to manufacture', i.e. no money was available for such projects. (Enter Rough Trade) The record had been produced by Geoff Travis and Mayo Thompson and Rough Trade offered to put it out. After much ado over the details of the release of the single and the band from Radar, Rough Trade announces the release of this dogged record. Therefore, the press release which previously announced this release has been rescinded and is replaced by this one. In conclusion: 'Micro Chips & Fish'/'The Story So Far' is released this week on Rough Trade Records, a happy ending to a pathetic shuffle.
Personnel
Reviews
John Peel
Slash
October 1979[1]
Kick
I keep playing this rather regularly. It doesn't hurt one bit, convincing structure, nice sound, modern feel, all that. But I'm waiting to feel something, anything in me once it's over. There is a lot of that sax/funk bass combination that is usually so lethal, but here it is more toyed with than slung across (as with the Contortions) and all you end up is a few minutes of sophisticated hip doodlings. These people have decided that in the future the form will be the content and act accordingly. And the couple of abrupt changes in style and tempo that are scattered about don’t seem to erupt from necessity but from restless impatience with their own approach. The front and back cover of the record are rather obsessed with tourism for some unclear reason: a bunch of postcards are used for the lettering on the front, and the back is a picture of typical tourists aimlessly wandering amidst some antique ruins. Does that mean Mayo Thompson feels like a tourist in today’s music world? Looking for artifacts and clues that will enable him to relate to his surroundings??
Smash Hits
November 10, 1979[2]
Better things from the special one-off line up of Red Crayola and their intense experimental 12 incher "Micro Chips and Fish"/"The Story So Far"--well worth checking out.