Press and Interviews

Marc Riley and Paul Hanley share more than just their common status as Fall escapees. They also share a band, since Kiss The Blade consists of Hanley on drums, plus two members of The Creepers - guitarist and vocalist Paul Fletcher, and bassist Pete Keough.

The sound of Kiss The Blade is very Mancunian, with lots of Peter Hook bass and kindred sombre tones. Hanley is an exceptionally skilful drummer - he demonstrated this during KTB's short set without dominating the proceedings - but the band was all too obviously in an early stage of development.

Marc Riley began his set with what is probably his finest song to date - 'Shadow Figure', a sour, sly narrative set to gentle piano melody. 'Fly the Nest' which followed was similarly subdued - but then it was time for the boot to go in.

And go in it did - with Riley's words lashing out at ignorami of all kinds. But his loudest sneers are reserved for those who lurk behind the scenery of the music-biz.

'Location Bangladesh' - an inspired piece of black humour concerning the efforts of a party of pop aristocrats to make a video in the least glamorous location imaginable - is an example of Riley's caustic talent at its best.

At other times, though, he just seems petty and irritable. The great weakness in Riley's music is its lack of emotional range; he seems incapable of expressing affection or enthusiasm for anyone or anything.

With his determination to face up to the ugliness of the world around him and to force his audience to do the same, Marc Riley could be a valuable treatment for those suffering from an overdose of sugary pop. But the antidote should be taken in small doses.

Too much of Riley's bitter medicine, and you can soon find yourself feeling numb, depressed and cynical.

(Dave Jennings, NME: 23rd March 1985, p36)