Signs of Change [Import]

After the Fire | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 11, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Avalon
• ASIN: B000786JI2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #799,197 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dance Of The Marionette

2. Back To The Light

3. Now That I've Found

4. Signs Of Change

5. Jigs

6. Pilgrim

7. Samaritan Woman (Bonus Track)

8. Dreamaway (Bonus Track)

9. Hallelujah (Bonus Track)

10. Back To The Light (Demo) (Bonus Track)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the 1978 debut album from the British quartet including bonus tracks. Initially a Christian Progressive Rock band, After The Fire released this debut album on their own Rapid label, selling 4,000 copies before signing to a major label and streamlining their sound and becoming the commercially successful band that '80s fans know and love. This release will appeal to fans of the band as well as lovers of Prog Rock. Angel Air. 2011. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New wavers doing prog rock!, December 18, 2006

By 

BENJAMIN MILER (Veneta, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Signs of Change (Audio CD)

I, for years, ignored After the Fire, after all, the band inflicted us with their English language hit version of Falco's "Der Kommisar". The other reason is I'm not into New Wave. I grew up in the 1980s and I was exposed to my fair share of New Wave, MTV pushed a lot of that. It wasn't my kind of music. I was rather shocked to find ATF in an entry of the Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock, and it stated they were once a prog rock band, and this 1978 debut, Signs of Change was that album. I knew right away not to bother finding the LP, it's quite rare, but I have now acquired a CD reissue, which also includes four cuts, recorded in 1974 and 1976. Signs of Change was released by the band themselves on their own Rapid Records label. The band wanted the album out before the Christmas of 1977, but for some reason didn't get released until April 1978. This was 1978, when prog rock was starting to get into serious trouble, the rock press was seriously turning their backs on this kind of music (punk was now the music the press and many music fans were now embracing), and many great bands started releasing what many regard as their weakest albums of their careers (Yes' Tormato, ELP's Love Beach, Gentle Giant's Giant for a Day, etc.). Strangely the British press was more kind to Signs of Change, and even John Peel played some of their material on BBC Radio 1.

If you're a fan of the New Wave ATF, be prepared for a shock with Signs of Change. Keyboardist Peter Banks (not to be confused with the ex-Yes guitarist, that's why the ATF Peter Banks changed his name to "Memory" Banks) really lays it on thick with Hammond organ and Mini Moog in true prog fashion (in the Yes/ELP/Genesis/Greenslade variety). He really steals the show here, but then you also have bassist Nick Battle, guitarist Andy Piercy, and drummer Ivor Twidell, most members handling vocal duties. The band was Methodist, so the music has a strong Christian theme, of the born-again variety. Most of the lyrics seem to have the theme of "my life had no meaning, until I found religion". While most of this album sticks to a Yes/Genesis/ELP/Greenslade vein, "Jigs" finds the band exploring English folk music, complete with fiddling, and fife-like sounds played on Banks' Moog. And the first part of "Pilgrim" finds the band strangely much more in Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span territory, even Andy Piercy sounds like Martin Carthy (who was an on and off-again member of Steeleye Span), but then suddenly the music gets much more complex, the Moog kicks in and it's back to prog territory. Don't expect dark or sinister music (you'll never mistake these guys for Univers Zero, that's for sure), they wanted to create a more uplifting album for the Christian market. But it's still miles better than your typical CCM artist you can think of. If you're a prog rock fan, and not into New Wave, Signs of Change is the only album you need from ATF. On the other hand, if you like New Wave, then go for their following albums.

Unfortunately the band knew in 1978 they could no longer continue on playing prog rock, so once they got signed to CBS, they turned to New Wave, which served them quite well, after all, it was during this phase they gave us "Der Kommissar". But it's this debut recording that I recommend to prog rock fans, I am amazed a band not associated with prog rock would start their career doing full-blown prog!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Early material From After The Fire, April 22, 2005

By 

M. J. Rimmer "Mike Rimmer" (Halesowen, West Midlands United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Signs of Change (Audio CD)

This is the perfect companion to the recently released double disc Der Kommissar compilation of all their CBS material. To complete the set and get everything the band released, it's worth checking out this little curio.

Originally it was released back in April 1978. In the middle of the English punk and new wave explosion, it was a very brave move for a band to self finance the release of an album rather than a single. It sold 2000 copies in the first month of its release and the success of the album contributed to CBS deciding to sign them.

However it is markedly different to the material that appeared on their CBS releases. It features singer Andy Piercy playing guitar, drummer Ivor Twidell who would stay with the band until after the release of their first CBS album Laser Love and Nick Battle on bass who would depart from the band almost immediately Signs Of Change was recorded. The album really belongs to keyboard player Pete Banks whose virtuosity drives Signs Of Change along.

Comparisons have to be made with prog Rock bands like ELP and Genesis when describing the material on Signs Of Change. The album features lengthy tracks that are strong on melody but feature some of the most amazing keyboard playing you're likely to hear anywhere.

OK, I have to admit that the years have not been overly kind to the album because Prog Rock is seen as being unfashionable these days but if you're a fan of the band's other music, this is an essential purchase to get the whole picture. For four years from 1978 (when I discovered the band) until their final concert at the Dominion Theatre in London at Christmas 1982, I would stand in audiences listening to die hard fans shouting out for the closing track of this album, the epic Pilgrim. Always a fan favourite, it sounds great here on CD. the story of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress in eleven stunning minutes!

After The Fire were an amazing band and this is an amazing album! These days, a new line up of the band has formed and are beginning to gig again! I can't wait. Not sure whether any of this material will make it into the set list but I bet when I stand and watch them, some wag will shout out for Pilgrim. Check out www.afterthefire.co.uk for more details.