1992 Dutch Radio Session

by Paul Roland

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of 'Hello Fred' the Thin Youth Said (Home demo), 1992 Dutch Radio Session, A Grimm Fantasy For Orchestra (demo), Nosferatu (Gothic ballet music only), (My Dog Is Hooked On) Cocaine with Andy Ellison, Candyman (bandcamp exclusive EP), In Memory of a Time Traveller (unreleased early mix), Lair of the White Worm (unreleased version), and 26 more. , and , .

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1.	Alice's House 03:05	buy track
2.	The Great Edwardian Air-Raid 02:30	buy track
3.	Candy Says 03:21	buy track
4.	I Dreamt I Stood Upon The Scaffold 04:30	buy track

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A recently discovered live radio session for 'Stampa' broadcast on VPRO Netherlands presenter Bert Van Der Kamp. Thank you to Roland P Linderbergh for the translation and Bastiaan for unearthing this prehistoric relic!
Introduction in Dutch by Gerard J. Walhof (VPRO-radio DJ): In the colourful world of pop everything is possible. We know gothic rock from bands like The Cult, The Sisters Of Mercy and The Mission. But do gothic singer-songwriters also exist? Yes indeed. Tonight we pulled one by his 19th century jacket; Paul Roland. {‘to pull someone by his jacket’ = a Dutch expression which cannot be translated into English}
Cult hero from England. Hardly well known, but already with some 15 LP’s/CD’s to his name. Especially for La Stampa he went into the studio for an acoustic session, and Bert van der Kamp interviewed him.
Here is Paul Roland with the first song he recorded for us ‘The Great Edwardian Air Raid’.
Music: The Great Edwardian Air Raid.
VPRO Radio-DJ speaks (in English & Dutch): The old world died, a new age had begun. This song with the title ‘The Great Edwardian Air Raid’ is dated around the last turn of the century, but still relevant at the eve of the next one and can only be coming from a young man called Paul Roland. 32 years old, living in the south of England. Part time journalist, part time singer songwriter with an obsession for the 19th century. The era of David Copperfield, Jack the Ripper, Alice in Wonderland or Doctor Jeckyll and mister Hyde. Romantic songs from days gone by. Songs that stimulate our imagination and take us away from the harsh reality of everyday life.
A mystery man also, with some 15 albums to his name, including mini-albums and compilations. Who is this Paul Roland and what drives him? We meet him on vacation in Amsterdam. The first question we asked him was why an Englishman releases his albums on German and French labels.
Paul answers the question.
VPRO Radio DJ (in Dutch): After releasing records on English labels at first like Armageddon and Bam Caruso Paul Roland felt the need to divert to continental labels to release his records. ’Because you are less cynical and blasé, and more open minded to alternative music’, was his answer.
Next question; what was your first record?
Paul answers the question.
VPRO Radio-DJ (in Dutch): Our hero released his first record in 1980 under the name Midnight Rags, while David Enthoven from E.G. Records and June Bolan - wife of Marc - as his manager tried to get him a deal with a large record company. When this wasn’t successful he stopped making music for a couple of years. He then became the manager of a small record company were he released records of Radio Stars and model Bebe Buell. In 1985 he picked up the thread again and released the mini-album ‘Burned Orchids’. Since then he releases at least one LP/CD every year and seems to be satisfied with his cult-hero status.
Paul speaks.
VPRO Radio-DJ (in English & Dutch): ’When I was 19 I wanted to be a star, not anymore’, thus says Paul Roland. My cult status allows me to work on my music my own way - and that is the most important thing for me.
Here is the second song of this especially for La Stampa recorded session. An ode to one of his favourite 19th century writers Lewis Carroll titled “Alice’s House’.’
Music: Alice’s House.
VPRO Radio-DJ (in Dutch): Roland is a man who honours the old and bygone. He dates his songs in past centuries and sometimes uses a language that has become completely obsolete.
Paul speaks.
VPRO Radio-DJ (in Dutch): Lightweight songs with a large amount of authenticity, that’s what it’s about for Paul Roland. And he’s not afraid to sing a song in a forgotten dialect. Formerly the language of common people contained poetry, more than today. Fielding, Wells, M.R. James are his favourite authors. Next to Dostojevski and Hesse. And the music he likes is not necessarily the music he tries to make himself.
My next question was: What if people accuse you of fleeing in the past to escape the present? Or in other words; how much of an escapist is Paul Roland?
Paul answers.
VPRO Radio-DJ (in Dutch): There is nothing wrong with escapism to relieve the burden of the daily reality, thus says Roland. Music should stimulate the mind. What people think of my music does not worry me. I’ll keep doing what I like to do.
This was La Stampa annual 4 - episode 47.

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released February 29, 2024

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Paul Roland England, UK

Formerly managed by June Bolan, Paul has been spinning supernatural and historical-themed tales against a backdrop of gothic rock, psych-pop and baroque strings, earning him the sobriquet, ‘The Male Kate Bush' (attributed to former label mate Robyn Hitchcock) ... more

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