On 25 April, Beggars Banquet are re-issuing the first three Gene Loves Jezebel albums in de-luxe, expanded editions.
Fronted by androgynous twins Jay and Michael Aston and featuring an evolving cast of musicians (including All About Eve's Julianne Regan), the early recordings had an experimental edge that has kept the music fresh today. The Jezebels didn't follow the shiny, neutered pop yearnings of their contemporaries but were always attuned to the darker side of romance and sex. Like most early 80's bands, they had been weened on 'Glam rock', but it was the underground that was receptive to their punk-funk undertones and vision. They're a reminder of a time when musical explorations were encouraged, indie was actually alternative, maverick wasn't marketed and Gene Loves Jezebel just might have been contenders.
Long unavailable (even on CD), these editions are mid price, double CD sets which feature all the recordings released between 1982 and 1986. Disc one of each set is the original UK album remastered from studio analog tapes and disc two collects singles, mixes, rareties and unreleased tracks. As expected from a Beggars Banquet re-issue, the packaging is comprehensive, with full track details, lyrics, unseen photos and new sleeve notes.
