A-Z Artist Index Compilations Record Labels Media
Help Us! Contact Us Resources Timeline
Bio:
Colin Woods (guitar), Peter Todd (bass) and Ken Hosick (drums) had been in the
original lineup of L-OX. They formed the short-lived
Traitor with singer Stephen
Swailes. When Colin left to form
Music For The Deaf,
the remaining trio became The Allotropes.
The band had the unusual lineup of just bass and drums over which
Swailes improvised vocals. This lineup imploded, with Swailes eventually
replacing the others with guitarist Karen Aitken and Ben Allen of Cabaret
fanzine.
I haven't heard the cassettes, but judging by the samples on the website
offering CDs of the bands material, The Allotropes were part of the early
industrial scene. Their recordings are lo-fi DIY bedroom-level electronica,
feature electronic percussion, repetitive synths, some random/white noise
and occasional guitar, typical of early 80s cassette culture. "More Throbbing
Gristle than Spandau Ballet" maybe, but equally more Depeche Mode than Cabaret
Voltaire. Check out the samples at http://www.allotropes.plus.com
The lineup in 1980 was Stephen Swailes (vocals), Peter Todd (bass) and Ken Hosick (drums).
From 1981 it became Stephen Swailes (vocals), Karen Aitken (guitar) and Ben Allen (synth?).
We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.