Somewhere In Europe

(c’83-’92) Andrea James (?) and David Tiffen (?).

Shortly after the demise of Basic Essentials, James and Tiffen began to formulate Aldershot based Somewhere in Europe. This groups tracks were often initiated with a piece of “found” sound or TV audio clip, then other elements layered on and around it, using synth.

1986 “Somewhere In Europe” cassette [TST3]

Recorded from ’83 to ’86 the tracks for the eponymous “Somewhere in Europe” cassette came together in mid ’86 and released on the duo’s own These Silences [TST3] label. At times they’d take existing songs, strip them down and reassemble. “Blood of Martyrs” for example was based on Death in June‘s “Rule Again” and used Aleister Crowley slogans. This appeared on their second cassette “Dark Days” which was released in ’88. Tiffin and James did collaborate quite a bit with Death in June and particularly Douglas Pearce. They were both credited on Death in June’s 1989 LP, “The Corn Years”.

1990 “Know Your Enemy” cassette [TSR5] sleeve.

On their 1990 cassette release “Know Your Enemy” – again on These Silences [TST5] – Somewhere In Europe identified with the European avant garde tradition: the “anti-art” of Dadaism, the beauty of the unexpected and unconventional within Surrealism, and the Situationist’s belief that behavior is determined by set of circumstances in which one finds oneself.

“Liturgy Of Anguish” [TST6] followed in ’91 continuing the bands industrial/experimental electronica. A reviewer for the EST Fanzine described it as ‘Tasty’, continuing their neo-surrealist musical fragments style; portraying an absinthe-scarred view of the world. In theory, the music stopped for Somewhere in Europe in 1992. This coincided with the release of the compilation CD “Gestures” on Douglas Pearce’s New European Recordings ‎label [BAD VC CD 45] with tracks from each of the previous cassette releases and “To Cross The Bridge At Dusk” which first appeared on the “Realidade Virtual” compilation CD in ’91.

1994 “The Iron Trees Are In Full Bloom” CD [TSCD1]

Experimental noise-rockers, Splintered sampled Somewhere In Europe for their track “The First Threat” released on “The Judas Cradle” LP in ’93. The following year they did it again on “S.H.C.” which was on the B-side of the 7″ “Comparatively Mainstream” EP. “S.H.C.” was also included on 2015’s compilation of out of print Splintered pieces titled “Turned Inside Out”.

In ’95, the CD, “The Iron Trees Are In Full Bloom” on These Silences [TSCD1] appeared and was distributed by World Serpent. This was a precursor to ’96’s “Savage Dreams” [TSCD2] which presented a more ambient sound in places. Again distributed by World Serpent; on this releases track 8, which was titled “Assault”, the voice on Basic Essentials colleague Stewart Home appeared.

Tracks by the band have also appeared on numerous compilations cassettes: Smile Smile Smile Smile (Canada, ’85), Mail Art Manifest (Norway, ’87), Leiv Traumas (France, ’89), Dreams From Within (Britain, ’89), Moto Perpetuo (Italy, ’89), Partners in Music (Italy, ’89), Neither Good Nor Evil (Germany, ’90), Goodbye Forever Annie Wilkes (Italy, ’90), Mjölnir (Germany, ’90), Iberico (Portugal, ’90), Eat Your Pets (Germany, ’90), Shake the Foundations (Britain, ’91) and the aforementioned Realidade Virtual (Portugal, ’91).

Both James and Tiffen were featured on Death In June’s “Brown Book” released on 19 December 2007, after which we lose track.

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