AN IMAGINARY COMPILATION ALBUM : #348: THE LEATHER NUN

Hi JC,

I hope all is well around the Towers. It’s been a while now, sorry of that, I have for a long time been working on two different ICA’s, both with Swedish artists, I feel some responsibility here, and now as my three weeks of vacation comes to an end I took the chance of another rainy day to complete at least one of them.

So let me introduce The Leather Nun, at times in their Swedish form Lädernunnan, a band formed in Gothenburg 1979 around the singer Jonas Almqvist as he should record a b-side to a single on Industrial Records.

Recruiting three guys from the disbanded punk outfit Straitjackets they started playing live, blending punk, industrial noise and garage rock. They recorded an early single for Industrial Records, Slow Death, in 1979 and in 1982 a punk single in Swedish for small label Sista Bussen (The Last Bus) called Ensam I Natt (Lonely Tonight). At the same time, bassist Freddie Wadling (a legend in Swedish punk/alternative music scene) left the band to start Blue For Two – actually Freddie was involved in so many things I might have to come back to him another time. They kept on as a trio adding different bass players over the years, moving their sound to a more grinding garage rock style, with singer Jonas heavily influenced by Lou Reed‘s singing/talking style (Allmusic describes them as Lou Reed fronting The Cramps or Sisters Of Mercy…).

The name came from a stripper in London and rumours later said they used to have a girl in nun’s clothes stripping on stage in the beginning of their career. As so often, this is a myth, likely based on one A&R gig in London when their label unknown to the band sent in two strippers during the band’s first song. The band afterwards have said they hated it and had felt extremely embarrassed on stage.

Albeit touring and playing live a lot the first half of the 80’s they didn’t record much, the first full length album was a live recording, called Alive, in 1985. They had by now signed with Wire Records and studio recordings became more regular, first a few 12″ EP’s and a mini-LP prior their first full length studio album, Steel Construction, in 1987 – and by then the sound had again changed incorporating synthesizers and the occasional flirt with dance floor rhythms. By 1991 Wire went bankrupt and recording seized, the band kept on touring until 1995 but then disbanded. In 2013 Jonas reformed the band as they finally got the publishing rights to their old material, 3 albums (2 of them being live recordings) have been released since then by Jonas and a host of guest musicians, among others some of the old band members.

This compilation, with three exceptions, concentrate on the material preceding the Steel Construction album. So here we go;

Can You Make Me A Star? An Imaginary Compilation Album by The Leather Nun.

A1. Prime Mover

Released as a stand alone 7″/12″ in 1983 this is pretty well standing up that Allmusic description…

A2. Pink House

From the In Lust Mini-LP released 1986. Recorded as a parody on the John Cougar Mellancamp single Pink Houses, a lyric that feels even more current today.

A3. Jesus Came Driving Along

From Lust Games. The title of this ICA is taken from this track.

A4. Lollipop (suckers version)

B-side to the Gimme 12″ (see B2). Quality Leather Nun with the guitar to the front. Regularly played live in the early years, and is on the Alive album as well. Lyrics not so sublime…

A5. Demolition Love (Tyson mix)

Another stand alone 7″/12″ released in 1988. This is their best flirt with dance floor rhythms (in my eyes), with some guitars kept in the background. Could have been an early Billy Idol release.

B1. I Can Smell Your Thoughts (Aron remix)

Originally from the Lust Games mini-LP, the track was remixed by the guitarist Aron and released as a 7″/12″ in 1987. A clear improvement to the track in this not revolutionary remix, but it adds some air and clarity to the song.

B2. Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) (Chopper mix)

Released as (you guessed it, a stand alone) 7″/12″ single in 1986, in two different versions offering a few different mixes of the classic ABBA track. Pretty much what you expect The Leather Nun to do with it.

B3. Desperation Drive

From the last Wire album, Nun Permanent, released in 1991. Classic rock’n’roll.

B4. Lost And Found

From the Steel Construction album. A track I see a bit as a bridge between the earlier grinding garage rock and the slightly more commercial tracks on the album. There are horns, there are keyboards, but the roots are still heard.

B5. Desolation Avenue

Released as yet another stand alone 7″/12″ single in 1985. This was the obvious choice to close the ICA with, classic Leather Nun extended a bit over 7 minutes.

Potentially not the most varying 49 minutes you have listened to, but when in the mood for some dark and moody music with what could almost have been Lou Reed at the mic – well, then you’re in for a treat.

Enjoy.