Draft:The Cleaners From Venus
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Last edited by 45.37.64.192 (talk | contribs) 18 hours ago. (Update) |
The Cleaners From Venus | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Wivenhoe, England |
| Years active | 1980-1988, 1990, 2010-present |
| Labels | Modell, Captured Tracks |
| Members | Martin Newell |
| Past members |
|
| Website | cleanersfromvenus |
The Cleaners from Venus are a British Lo-Fi band formed in Wivenhoe, England in 1980 by Martin Newell and Lawrence Elliot. They are known for their unique musical style, inspired by "mid-1960s pop influences, driven by punk energy".[1] Initially falling into relative obscurity after their 1988 breakup, renewed interest in the late 2000's led to a return in 2010. They have since been recognized as an influential figure in the early Cassette Culture and Home Recording movements, influencing artists such as Mac DeMarco and Cults, [2][3] as well as receiving accolades from figures such as R. Stevie Moore[2].
History
[edit]Initial run (1980-85)
[edit]The Cleaners From Venus were founded in November 1980 by Martin Newell and Lawrence "Lol" Elliot. Disillusioned by their experiences in the music industry, they began creating home recordings on a 4-track Tascam Portastudio.[1] Inspired by Anarchist ideals, they distributed cassette tapes via mail as opposed to distribution deals, writing pieces in zines in exchange for reviews and promotion.[4] Despite the band's rudimentary recording process, they were well-received for their sound and songwriting, producing five albums (Blow Your Troubles Away, Midnight Cleaners, On Any Normal Monday, In The Golden Autumn independently. In 1984, shortly after completing their fifth album (Under Wartime Conditions) Elliot departed the band, marking the end of the "original" Cleaners run. Under Wartime Conditions received a vinyl release on independent German label Modell in 1985.
"Cleaners Mk. II" and Breakup (1986-88)
[edit]The Second Cleaners run began in 1986 with the joining of keyboardist Giles Smith, recording the cassette album Living With Victoria Grey. Following the advice of friend and collaborator Captain Sensible, the Cleaners signed to independent label Ammunition Communications, releasing Going to England in 1987, a re-recorded version of Victoria Grey. The same year, they received a two-record deal from RCA Deutschland, recording Town And Country in late 1987. Tensions began to rise, with Newell feeling unsatisfied with the album and uncomfortable with the band's direction. In Spring 1988, Newell left the band weeks before a Town And Country promotional tour through Germany, forcing Smith to take over as frontman. The band's lackluster performance on tour combined with poor album sales led to RCA cancelling their deal later that year. The bankruptcy of Ammunition Communications later the same year marked the effective end of the Cleaners as a band. Newell continued making music in The Brotherhood of Lizards, and Smith took a reporting job for The Times.[5]
In 1990 Newell released Number 13 on cassette, some songs being later re-recorded for his 1993 solo studio album The Greatest Living Englishman.
Obscurity and Rediscovery (1988-2009)
[edit]In the years following the Cleaner's breakup, their music quickly fell into obscurity. Their albums on cassette, with copies rarely exceeding 200, became near-lost media, since becoming highly-coveted collectors items. In 1999, independent German label Jarmusic re-released all cleaners albums up to Living With Victoria Grey on CD, in limited quantities of 75 each. Over the following decade, pirated copies of these re-releases would find their way onto the internet, slowly but steadily gaining the Cleaners an international cult following.
In 2010, after learning of the attention the Cleaners had found online, Newell returned to making music as The Cleaners From Venus, releasing English Electric in 2011.
With the exception of their three studio albums- which were popular enough to occasionally be included on compilation albums and collections- the majority of the Cleaner's music [1]
Following their breakup in 1988, the Cleaners From Venus lay mostly dormant, occasionally re-appearing as a solo project of Newell's.
In 1990 Newell released Number 13 on cassette, some songs being later re-recorded for his 1993 solo studio album The Greatest Living Englishman.
Newell's 2000 solo album In Spirit World is alternately credited to "Martin Newell & The Cleaners From Venus" on the Vinyl Special Edition; the reason for this is unknown, as Newell does not consider it a Cleaners album.[6][1]
In 2002, Live In Osaka was released under the Cleaners name, though it consists of recordings from Newell's 1994 The Greatest Living Englishman solo tour.[5]
Return (2010-Present)
[edit]Despite the band's positive reception, the majority of the Cleaner's music quickly fell into obscurity after the band's breakup,
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "About | The Cleaners From Venus". Cleaners From Venus. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ a b CapturedTracks (15 September 2022). The Jangling Man (Official Trailer). Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Cults draw inspiration from Cleaners From Venus and R Stevie Moore for new single "Right Words"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Martin Newell Interview". www.richieunterberger.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ a b Smith, Giles (1996). Lost in music : a pop odyssey. Internet Archive. London : Picador. ISBN 978-0-330-33917-9.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link) - ^ Martin Newell & The Cleaners From Venus - The Spirit Cage, retrieved 28 June 2025