The Chameleons - Paradiso

From Wikipedia:

"The Chameleons (called The Chameleons UK on some American releases) were a dream pop/post-punk band that formed in Middleton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England in 1981 (see 1981 in music). They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, drummer John Lever as well as keyboardists Alistair Lewthwaite and Andy Clegg. Their body of work is still critically acclaimed within the music press and influenced bands as diverse as The Smiths, Protokoll, The Comsat Angels, Puressence, Interpol, Editors.[1] Through Mark Burgess' penetrating vocals and dark and ironic lyrics, their songs often dealt with personal themes of childlike innocence and a reverence for nostalgia. Musically, perhaps most notable in their work was the band's innovative and distinctive use of dual guitar melodies, courtesy of Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding, as opposed to the traditional rhythm-and-lead guitarist format prevalent in rock music even to this day. These arrangements were often characterized by the use of delay and choral effects. The Chameleons' unique sound is quite often compared to U2's The Edge."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• chameleons
• uk
• burgess
• smithies
• lever
• fielding
• pop
• rock
• post
• punk
• strange
• times

[rocknrollunlimited]

There are so many fantastic Chameleons songs I'd temporarily forgotten just how wonderful this band was. In my humble opinion they are the best band this country has produced, for me nothing comes even remotely close.

[LeftHandOfDarkness]

I don't understand why they didn't have any big mainstream hits. They are very melodic & you'd think at least one or two songs would've charted.

[Wilkinizov]

That's exactly how I feel about them. There's nothing that gets under my skin quite as much as a Chameleons song.  It just moves me in a completely spiritual way. I start to physically feel changed by listening to them, you know? Does that sound crazy?

[yesterdayknows]

@rocknrollunlimited I hear so many bands today totally rip-off the Chameleons but I dont hear a lot of the bands give them prop's! hopefully they do and I just dont know of it! Anyway I agree with you totally! I know you posted that a long time ago but i guess im always late!

[yesterdayknows]

@rocknrollunlimited I grew up listening to the Chameleons and they have always been my favorite band! I saw them play live at fender's ball in 1987 crazy! I haven't listened to them in a few years and I just started to go back and listen to them again from youtube. Not to sound like a pussy but I got all teary eyed! because I forgot how great this band was!

[willyj51]

This incredible record is the crowning achievement for British 1980s (and 1990s while we're at it).

[c0bbl3rs]

How much does the Killers song smile like you mean it sound like this song? It's those synths and the yearning vocal delivery both bands use...IMO!

[TheDark0utsider]

love this so so much , amazing lyrics too <3<3<3<3<3

[purehead]

@rocknrollunlimited 100% agree

[Nuttnik]

It's simply great! Thank you guys!

[bernadotete]

@LeftHandOfDarkness Read the book Burgess has published, "View From A Hill". There are lots of details about that matter, amongst many other precious information.

[ChameleonsFan]

@LeftHandOfDarkness Well, Mark's autobiography gives some hints. I would put it that way: It was a combination of bad luck and a couple of mistakes they made themselves. It certainly had nothing to do with the quality of their music.

[SohnJini]

@Wilkinizov It's not crazy at all. The Cham music reach us in a deeper way that is hard to explain with words. It creates vibrations that seems to reach us in soul and spirit. It's an EXPERIENCE!

Jini