Search - Comsat Angels :: Waiting for a Miracle

Overlooked Band Finally Gets Recognition

directions | Space Time Foam | 04/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With today's post punk revival, many unknown albums of the 80's are being reissued and reevaluated. The Comsat Angels are more than worthy of this recognition. Its hard to describe Waiting for a Miracle in exact terms. It is obviously inspired by Joy Division or early Echo and the Bunnymen but more slowed down and atmospheric. Think "17 Seconds" era Cure but depressing rather than nihilistic. The band, the Sound has also garnered some attention but the Comsats were more subtle and unnerving. The Comsat Angels were a cult favorite of the time and often toured with U2, who picked up some of their ideas. However, unlike U2, the Comsat Angels are not political. Their world is that of existential dread. Their second album Sleep No More is also worth picking up but eventually they became a derivative new wave band. However, when their ideas were focused as on Waiting for a Miracle, they captured the climate of the times as successfully as other, more famous bands. Get this album before it goes out of print again."

Probably My Favorite Band of All Time, Too

Jay P. Francis | Houston, Texas United States | 08/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the pleasure to wander into a concert by the Comsats about the time that Waiting for a Miracle came out. I was working in Greece and visiting a friend in London. It was an afternoon concert at the Lyceum with about 6 groups on the bill. When the Comsats came on, both of us looked at each other with that "these guys are really good, I mean really good" look on our faces. Miracle was sparse and wonderful, followed by the amazing Sleep No More, which is the one I play for friends who have never heard of the Comsats first. Living in Europe I got to see them a few times and socialize with them when they did a (honest) July 4 gig in an outdoor venue in Holland. This is the band that U2 was the opening act for when they were just getting going, and I do hear a lot of the Comsats in U2. Though to my mind, Stephen Fellows has a superior voice. Pity that the band didn't get the kind of success that U2 got, as that would mean they would still be together and turning out amazing music.



As I said, Miracle is very sparse and in this day and age may be a bit of an acquired taste. But, I always thought how incredible On The Beach would sound in the hands of a great soul singer with a full wall of sound production.



As Stephen Fellows would have said:



"See You in the Future"



Jay"

Some Of The Best Music From The Post-Punk Era

L. Mitchell | Brooklyn, NY, USA | 10/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the most overlooked bands of all time, the Comsat Angels, made their brilliant debut with the album Waiting For A Miracle. Listening to it takes me back to the fresh spontaneity of live bands of the late 1970s, before music evolved into being over-polished and over-synthesized. It is pure and sparse and (for me) quite enjoyable in 2006. There are some amazing tunes here, especially Missing In Action, Real Story and the Comsats' best known song, Independence Day. As with all of the Renascent re-releases, this one has a number of bonus tracks and slick little booklet which gives the early history of the band and album synopsis. They don't make albums like this anymore. Luckily, they re-release them. Don't pass it up!"