The Freeze was an Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

 punk band that lasted from 1976–1981. Wanting to do something darker and noisier, Gordon Sharp

Gordon Sharp

Gordon Sharp is a Scottish singer, musician and producer who has led several music projects over the last 33 years.-Biography:...

 and David Clancy took ideas from The Freeze to a greater extreme; the result was the formation of Cindytalk

Cindytalk

Cindytalk is an experimental music group fronted by Gordon Sharp, a Scottish performer who has been the only constant member since its inception in 1982.-History:...

 in 1982.

History

The Freeze were formed in 1976 by Gordon Sharp, David Clancy and Keith Grant, all pupils together at school in Linlithgow

Linlithgow

Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....

, West Lothian

West Lothian

West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....

. By 1977 and after linking up with drummer Graeme Radin, the band started gigging around Scotland (managed by Alastair Allison,their English teacher at Linlithgow Academy

Linlithgow Academy

Linlithgow Academy is the only secondary school in Linlithgow, West Lothian. The Academy was founded in 1894 and replaced an earlier kirk institution known as "Sang Schule"...

, who also contributed lyrics in the early years); they often played support to many of the main punk and new wave bands of the day. The group, never one to stick too closely to the script, were experimenting with longer format songs, live improvisation and, in Sharp's case at least, playing with gender-blurring imagery. Two self-financed 7 inches were released on the A1 label (Alastair Allison), 1979's In Colour EP followed by 1980's "Celebration/Crossover" single. Noticed by John Peel

John Peel

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...

, they were to record two sessions at Maida Vale

Maida Vale

Maida Vale is a residential district in West London between St John's Wood and Kilburn. It is part of the City of Westminster. The area is mostly residential, and mainly affluent, consisting of many large late Victorian and Edwardian blocks of mansion flats...

 for his show. By 1982 the band had decided on a name change to Cindytalk and also subsequently moved to London. In 1983, Gordon Sharp joined central Scotland chums Cocteau Twins

Cocteau Twins

Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...

 in the BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 studios to add vocals to their second Peel session. 1984 saw the release of the first and critically acclaimed Cindytalk album Camouflage Heart

Camouflage Heart

Camouflage Heart is the 1984 album from Cindytalk released by Midnight Music. There are two versions of the LP: the first copy has the "figure in the woods" image on the cover and comes with a lyric sheet; the other version has a picture sleeve and the originally intended cover of Gordon Sharp...

, as well as the release of It'll End in Tears

It'll End in Tears

It'll End in Tears was an album released in 1984 by 4AD using the name This Mortal Coil as an umbrella title for a loose grouping of guest musicians and vocalists brought together by label boss Ivo Watts-Russell. When released in late 1984, the album reached #38 on the UK Albums Chart...

 by This Mortal Coil

This Mortal Coil

This Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom...

, on which Sharp provided vocals for three tracks, including indie chart-topper "Kangaroo" (which is also one of Peel's Festive 50's from 1984). Cindytalk have continued to release recordings over the years and are still active today.

Members

• Gordon Sharp - Vocals
• David Clancy - Guitars,Keyboards & Saxophone
• Keith Grant - Bass
• Graeme Radin - Drums
• Neil Braidwood - Drums & Keyboards
• Mike Moran - Bass

Discography

• In Colour (7 inch 1979, A.1, A.1.1.A1)

1. A1. Paranoia
2. A2. For J.P.S. (With Love & Loathing)
3. B1. Psychodalek Nightmares

Written by Clancy,Sharp,Grant,Radin,Allison.
Roy Jack played violin on Psychodalek Nightmares.

• Celebration (7 inch 1980, A.1, A.1.1.S.1)

1. A. Celebration
2. B. Cross-Over

Written by Clancy,Sharp,Grant,Radin.
Sandy Cruikshanks played saxophone on Cross-over.

Record is dedicated to (and featuring a cover of) silent screen actress Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks

Mary Louise Brooks , generally known by her stage name Louise Brooks, was an American dancer, model, showgirl and silent film actress, noted for popularizing the bobbed haircut. Brooks is best known for her three feature roles including two G. W...

.

Peel Sessions

• 20 November 1980

1. Quietly Burning
2. Sunday
3. And Then We Danced
4. Lullaby In Black

Gordon Sharp - vocals

David Clancy - guitar, keyboards

Keith Grant - bass

Graeme Radin - drums

• 19 August 1981

1. From The Bizarre
2. Building On Holes
3. Location

Gordon Sharp - vocals

David Clancy - guitar, keyboards, saxophone

Neil Braidwood - drums, keyboards

Mike Moran - bass