Quintessential – The Chameleons
One band distilled into just five songs.
Previously The Blue Nile
The Chameleons are one of those bands you either already adore or you don’t know, simply. There isn’t much middle ground. For those who do not already know them or maybe only heard the name, these five songs will seal the deal. Consisting of Mark Burgess (voice, lyrics and bass) Dave Fielding (guitars, eBow +), Reg Smithies (guitars +) and John Lever (drums) The Chameleons existed at the same time as The Smiths and New Order were dominating the UK independent scene. However The Chameleons never achieved the same critical or commercial breakthroughs as their famous fellow Mancunians. The reasons for that are myriad. They were not signed to one of the fashionable indie labels of the day such as Factory, 4AD or Rough Trade. Neither did they trouble the radio waves in an era of heavily controlled playlists. They never had a hit, in other words. In a musical landscape dominated by singles, radio play and the caprices of the written press The Chameleons never caught the public’s attention. Instead The Chameleons delivered three almost flawless albums and in favouring the longer format they were arguably a decade ahead of their time.
Today the music of The Chameleons sits easily alongside the likes of Cocteau Twins, the heartfelt duel guitar assault of Big Country or melodic post-punk compatriots The Sound. Their influence can be heard in bands as wide ranging as Kitchens Of Distinction, Puressence and Interpol. They were also a formidable live act.
1. Second Skin.
Second Skin was, and remains, the bands signature song – a concert ever-present that takes on a life of its own during its euphoric final phase. You can find it on debut album Script Of The Bridge.
“Is this the stuff dreams are made of?”, singer Mark Burgess enquires.
Yes Mark, it is.
2. Perfume(d) Garden.
The Chameleons second LP, What Does Anything Mean, Basically quickly followed the debut and is loaded with alt-rock anthems. You cannot go wrong. I have selected Perfumed Garden for this article. Perfumed Garden is a nice example of the gentler, almost feminine side of The Chameleons. Pay particular attention to the duel guitarists Dave Fielding (dreamy lead) and Reg Smithies (staccato rhythm). The two best friends had an almost telepathic understanding.
3. Tears.
For their third album, Strange Times, The Chameleons found themselves signed to renowned label, Geffen Records. There’s a nice story about A&R teams being sent over to Manchester to check out the nascent Stone Roses only to return recommending The Chameleons. This should have opened doors for them but alas did not. Now, we cannot say The Chameleons ‘refused to provide’ a single for Geffen. The track I’ve selected here was itself, exactly that, a single. However the band will admit they were their own worst enemies at times and didn’t write anything shorter than the 3 minute mark which was a pre-requisite to garnering radio play at that time. Put simply, they wouldn’t play the industry game.
‘Can you write us a short, catchy tune for radio promotion?’
‘No.’
You get a sense from this article that they didn’t really go in for videos either. Tensions also began arising within the band around this time and The Chameleons would subsequently split after Strange Times. The album itself is a tense, brooding affair that takes a few spins to really unfold. We put it in our Hall of Fame – (see Classics Revisited) Strange Times also contains some of the late, John Levers most iconic drumming. (See Soul In Isolation and/or Caution for terrific examples)
As to Tears itself it is worth noting that this song, like many Chameleons tracks, exists in several versions. I’ve selected the melancholic album version here as it is the first one people tend to hear. There’s also a ‘full’ arrangement that’s a bit rockier and a lovely acoustic take which some fans say is the definitive version for them.
4. Is it Any Wonder
During the bands traumatic first breakup an EP was released containing four, previously unreleased, songs. Not everyone was happy about this, as is often the case during a breakup. Nevertheless, as a fan I am extremely thankful to own the Tony Fletcher Walked On Water EP, (that title a tribute to their late manager). It gave us four more terrific songs. I have picked the achingly beautiful Is It Any Wonder. Burgess’ great skill in turning an everyday phrase into something poetic is in full evidence.
5. PS Goodbye.
Let us not end on the squabbling and bitterness. The Chameleons didn’t. Well, they did, but they got back together…..and then ended in acrimony again, sadly. It is rocks oldest story isn’t it – band disputes. Lots of factors play their part – different work ethics, different musical direction, different… recreational drugs even, – jealously, mistrust….you name it. No need to go over it all again. Personally I believe these guys love each other but just can’t work together. It’s like a bad marriage where you can no longer function in the same household yet the love itself never really goes away. They are the Richard Burton and Liz Taylor of dreamy post-punk. (Let’s have a third marriage)
The bands subsequent comeback album Why Call It Anything was probably a little bit rushed if we are being fair. It’s quite a different sounding record too but still contained some fantastic songs which often revealed themselves better in a live setting. For my fifth and final quintessential choice I’ve gone back to album two. I want to showcase The Chameleons skill at albums and I think a hallmark of any good long player is a quality closing track. In this respect all four of The Chameleons studio LPs played out with something wondrous. I’ve chosen PS Goodbye, a song so simple, so fleeting, yet devastatingly gorgeous I think it encapsulates the band themselves.
It’s how I choose to remember them anyway.
Footnote.
Mark continued after The Chameleons with Sun And The Moon, Invincible and more recently with Black Swan Lane. He is now touring the old Chameleons material to a younger, new audience.
After Chams version 1.0 Reg and Dave founded The Reegs. (No Chameleons fan should be without their brilliant compilation Definitive Collection.) Daves solo album, Northern Star was released in 2022 see link and Reg has recently re-joined Mark in the new lineup. John Lever released music as Beefpig as well as his excellent collaborative project Red Sided Garter Snakes (which also featured Dave), see link.Main Photo is by Chris C. Courtesy Manchester Digital Music Archive.
John passed away in 2017. I still miss him.
The Red Sided Garter Snakes – Endless Sea