(c’79-’83) – Stewart Home (guitar), Sally Alderman (vocal), Andrea James (bass), and Dave King (drums / synth).

This four-piece were formed by Andrea James and managed by David Tiffen, who also wrote some lyrics. A pre-gigging incarnation included Steve ? (guitar) with King, who was the guitarist with The Sleep. Home was in White Colours prior (with a slight overlap) to Basic Essentials and The Molotovs. King worked as a recording engineer at Theatre Projects in Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden and the band were able to use the place at the weekends to rehearse and record for free. Debuting at The Cricketers, Westfield on 20 June 1980, they played mostly their own material, with the odd cover, which despite the pretty traditional band construct was rather “experimental”. We also know that they appeared at The Star, Guildford.

Arctic Explorer demo cassette from 1980
The “11 To 13” demo cassette from 1981.

Two cassette EPs: The five track “Artic Explorer” which sold for 75p from Bonepartes, Guildford and Recordscene, Woking; and “11 to 13” were produced and released on the bands own These Silences label, generating some record company interest, with Rough Trade records distributing the cassettes. “Artic Explorer” [TST1] came out in late ’80 and carried 5 tracks: “Arctic Explorer”, “Woking”, “Little Boy”, “The Voyeur” and “No One Is There”. It sold well locally and received some coverage in the weekly music press, leading to sales in Switzerland, France and Germany. The “11 to 13” [TST2] cassette EP had all new, but one less track: “Hat Boxes”, “Kerouac”, “Traveler”, and “House of Usher” and was released in shortly before Christmas ’81.

Promo pic

Home left the band prior to the recording of their third cassette, with King taking on guitar and drums duties. But all was not well and the band dissolved while the cassette was in the works. Then, from the ashes of Basic Essentials, Somewhere In Europe formed in ’83.

Gallery:

Advert for Basic Essentials “Arctic Explorer” cassette EP from page 8 of the Bitch Bitch fanzine Issue No 1. Picture courtesy of John Hudson
Basic Essentials get a mention in the Bitch Bitch fanzine Issue No 1 Pg3. Picture courtesy of John Hudson
Cover image for Basic Essentials’ “Artic Explorer” cassette EP released in 1980
Article from local paper (to be identified) on Basic Essentials’ cassette sales success…
1981: Stewart Home on guitar with Basic Essentials at The Wooden Bridge , Guildford.
Some ‘weirdery’ from guitarist Home in the 10th May ’84 Soundscene
Jon Harlow stirs it up a bit for Basic Essentials. Soundscene 1981 (date TBC). Picture courtesy of Chris Turner.
Basic Essentials at The Star, Guildford 1980. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes
Basic Essentials at The Star, Guildford 1980. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes
Basic Essentials at The Star, Guildford 1980. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes
Basic Essentials at The Star, Guildford 1980. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes
Basic Essentials at The Star, Guildford 1980. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes