Fire Engines Compilation Expanded for U.S. Release

David Nadelle reports:
Tomorrow, Codex Teenage Premonition, a compilation of sloppy-sweet proto-indie-pop tunes by the influential Scottish band the Fire Engines, will hit American record stores. But the U.S. arm of Domino Records is treating us Yanks to a few extra Premonitions. In addition to the tracks on the UK version (which came out in September), the U.S. disc will feature three additional songs: two Peel session cuts (including a version of their most "known" song, "Candyskin") and a cover of Franz Ferdinand's "Jacqueline".

As previously reported, Codex Teenage Premonition collects rough, rugged and raw unreleased live and studio recordings, including songs from the Fire Engines' first-ever live performance. The "Jacqueline" cover comes from a Fire Engines/Franz Ferdinand split 7" single issued in conjunction with a show last December in Glasgow, which saw the reunited legends opening for the imitators...ahem...admiring upstarts.

No more reunion shows are planned...yet. There is, however, a strong rumor that the Fire Engines may get together to play next year's South By Southwest, but we'll let that remain a nice, warm wish until a formal announcement is made.

Codex Teenage Premonition:

01 Sympathetic Anaesthetic *
02 Get Up and Use Me *
03 Hungry Beat *
04 Everything's Roses *
05 The Untitled One *
06 12.01.81 (Clip) #
07 Meat Whiplash #
08 Discord #
09 Get Up and Use Me #
10 New Things in Cartons #
11 Plastic Gift #
12 Hungry Beat #
13 The Untitled One +
14 Everything's Nothing +
15 Discord +
16 Discord $
17 Candyskin $
18 Jacqueline

* Codex sessions recorded by Wilf Smarties
# Live at Valentino's, Edinburgh, September 9, 1981
+ Debut gig at Leith Town Hall, Edinburgh
$ Peel session

A video for "Get Up and Use Me" is currently viewable on the Domino UK website, and a single for "Discord" will be released over there on December 5.

* Pitchfork News: Fire Engines Compilation in the Works
* Domino UK: http://www.dominorecordco.com/
* Domino USA: http://www.dominorecordco.us/

Haven't heard any Fire Engines since I was in college. I wonder if they hold up. Probably do.

Just from that tracklist I see where Meat Whiplash and The Candyskins got their names, probably.

RIYL I have heard of them somewhere (most likely from one of you UberBoarders.

RIYL

1) The premier league of Scottish post punk bands (Orange Juice, Josef K, Aztec Camera and of course Fire Engines!)

2) Any of Davy Hendersons later bands (Win, Nectarine No.9)

3) Post punk era in general

4) Period Revivalists (say, oh, Franz Ferdinand)

Beware though, this album is mainly unreleased demos (probably recorded on cassette) and live recordings. You might be better advised to start with 'Lubricate Your Living Room' which was re-released recently (oooh aliteration at this time in the morning!).