Killed By Volume: Three

Photo courtesy of the Mod-Punk Archives

Amongst the tiny cadre of people who care, opinions on the Invaders are divided. The pseudonymous Alan Fleagle (the infamous Shake Some Action compiler) calls their first single a "classic" (it's the first song on the first volume of the series). Then the Trouser Press said, "Take pomp-rock, shorten its sights (unpump the pomp a bit), inject a bit of youth, alternate male and female vocals and what have you got? The Invaders, who still manage to have all the snap and appeal of week-old pastry." More recently someone (...err...that was me, yesterday) labeled them "quirky not-quite-new-wave and not-quite-Deaf-School pop".

The Invaders - Best Thing I Ever Did

Now it's up to you to asses the lasting value of this bunch. Here are their four single from 1979-80 (the last two lack picture sleeves - because sometime life is sleeveless) all bundled together. Look out for "The Best Thing I Ever Did" which is a great song but perhaps as a title for a very first single it merely tempted fate.

Download Invaders Singles

For their sole album, 1980's Test Card the Invaders recycled some single tracks and added their final originals.

Download Test Card

P.S. The Invader are, alas, not related to any of the cultural phenomenon that bear their name including the kitschy-cool 70's comic book about American superheroes (Human Torch, Captain America, Sub-Mariner) fighting WWII in Britain.

Nor the New Zealand novelty rocker, "She's a Mod" by Ray Columbus and the Invaders



Though perhaps their name was partially inspired by the ultra-cool 60's TV show, The Invaders.

Killed By Volume: Two

Made in Britain was a various artists compilation from 1980 that Polydor Records released only in the United States, a fact made clear in the crude, leering panoply of cartoon stereotypes that adorn the cover and the Masterpiece Theatre-ish spoken introductions each band is given.

The packaging aside, this is an excellent little four-way-split of an LP. Excel ended their career with this quartet of songs, which includes a re-recorded "Rock Show" from their 1st single, plus "Summerof '42" from their Lost Album and two more glam-pop rockers, "I Want To Meet You" and "Tonight in the Park". West Yorkshire's The Invaders offer four tracks from their (coming soon!) album to show off show their quirky not-quite-new-wave and not-quite-Deaf-School brand of pop. Sheffield's Comsat Angles represent the droning atmospherics of post-punk for those who enjoy such things. Finally, Belfast's Protex (soon!) cherry pick the highlights of their exuberant singles, including their bubblepunk classic, "A Place in Your Heart" which sounds like the Buzzcocks shitkicking the Bay City Rollers and is, quite possibly, the greatest "unknown" song of this amazing era.


(Here's Protex with "A Place in Your Heart")




Download Made in Britain




Thanks to Dereck Von for the cover scan.