A debut self-financed single, Red Planet, was released in 1979, and this led to a contract with Polydor Records. Their debut Polydor single, Independence Day, arrived in 1980 and, though it didn't chart, its sparse, urgent tone helped it become a minor classic. This was closely followed by a debut album, Waiting For A Miracle, which received good reviews but didn't sell well. Nonetheless, the label kept faith with the band, and in 1981 they delivered a fierce, uncompromising sophomore LP, Sleep No More. This second album is widely regarded as a masterpiece that had a major influence on bands such as U2 (who toured with the band) and latterly Editors and Interpol. The album was reissued on CD twice, in 1995 by RPM Records and in 2006 by Renaiscent, with different track listings (see below). Sleep No More produced no singles, but it had the highest UK chart ranking for any Comsat album, peaking at #51. A third album, Fiction, followed in 1982, and this featured a more commercial sound, but it only clipped the UK top 100. It would become the band's final Polydor LP.
Nonetheless, the band signed a contract with Jive, which had released pop hits by Tight Fit and A Flock Of Seagulls. Jive promised to promote the band more actively than Polydor, but they required the band to tone down their trademark sound, and use synthesisers and electronic drums prominently in the mix. Their first Jive single, Will You Stay Tonight, was a lively, commercial affair, and achieved significant radio airplay. Yet it couldn't make the Top 40, and their first Jive album, a polished affair entitled Land, sold no better than the Polydor albums. Almost as an act of desperation, a re-recorded version of Independence Day was released as a single in 1984, but again the band's luck was out. They remained on Jive for one more album, 1985's 7 Day Weekend, but relationships between band and label were faltering, and they left the label soon afterwards.
Then a strange twist occurred - the band learned they had a surprise celebrity fan in smooth AOR singer Robert Palmer. Furthermore, Palmer used his influence at his label Island Records, to get them a deal for a new album. And so, their sixth album, Chasing Shadows, appeared on Island in 1987, though it was neither a critical or commercial success. Meanwhile, the band's streak of bad luck was continuing - they ended up being sued by an American company who manufactured satellites. By coincidence, they had marketed a model called the Comsat Angel, and owned a copyright on the name. As a result, the band had to rename themselves The CS Angels for the US market.
As it happened, they decided to change their name anyway to Dream Command, after Kevin Bacon left. This three-piece line-up released one album, Fire On The Moon, in 1990, to little acclaim. Yet Bacon returned in 1992, and the band reverted to their original name. Signing independent deals, the rejuvenated band released two bracing albums, My Mind's Eye (1992) and The Glamour (1995) (both made with Terry Todd on bass and Simon Anderson on guitars) before finally splitting up.
Ironically, two of the band members have had more tangible success since the band broke up for good. Steve Fellows managed blues-rock group Gomez, and his stewardship helped them win a Mercury Music Prize for their debut album. Meanwhile, Kevin Bacon is now one-half of production duo Bacon & Quarmby, whose credits include Ian Brown and Finlay Quaye. Bacon & Quarmby also have a lucrative sideline in producing music for television commercials.
Postcard
The Comsat Angels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inside the house is a room
Once round it is a short circuit
When times are hard I think about you
Four walls, one has a window
One has a door, which I go out of
I just thought you'd like to know
I don't think you're listening
I think I'll tell you again
This clock shows only mythical hours
These books show only fictional days
One system is only as good as another
I don't think you're listening
I think I'll tell you again
I just thought you'd like to know
The Comsat Angels' Postcard is a song that paints a vivid picture of a bleak and desolate world. The lyrics are introspective, evoking feelings of isolation and desperation. The picture in the house and the room inside represent the limited view of the world the persona has. The room is a short circuit meaning that the persona’s life is like a loop, with no escape from feeling down.
The second stanza of the song is the persona's argument against his or her own isolation. The four walls in the room are not present to keep the persona in, but to keep the rest of the world out. Despite the window and a door, the persona feels trapped and alone. The chorus of the song comes in twice, with the line "I don't think you're listening, I think I'll tell you again." suggesting the persona's desperate need for someone to hear them out.
The last stanza uses metaphors to describe the hopelessness the persona feels. The mythical hours on the clock symbolise the how time doesn't provide relief for the persona. The fictional days in the books signify the broken reality of the persona's life. The line "one system is only as good as another" suggests that no matter what the persona does or where they go, their life will never be any different. The song's ending repeats the chorus for the last time, with the same feeling of desperation as if the persona is fading into the void they feel trapped in.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a house in the picture
The singer sees a house in a picture.
Inside the house is a room
The house being referred to has at least one room.
Once round it is a short circuit
When going around the room/house, it doesn't take long to make a full circle.
When times are hard I think about you
When the artist is going through a tough time, they think about someone in particular.
Four walls, one has a window
The room has four walls, and there is a window on one of them.
One has a door, which I go out of
One of the walls has a door, which the singer exits from.
I just thought you'd like to know
The singer wanted the person they are addressing to know something important.
I don't think you're listening
The artist believes the person they are addressing is not paying attention.
I think I'll tell you again
The artist is going to repeat their previous statement to ensure that they are heard.
This clock shows only mythical hours
The clock being referred to doesn't accurately represent the time of day.
These books show only fictional days
The books being referred to don't depict real events.
One system is only as good as another
All systems are only as good as each other.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN EDGARD THOMAS ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@YooTuba
One of the greatest songs of its era. Glad I was young then and not now.
@TheEman440
The most underrated album I ever had the pleasure of listening to. Im so upset I missed this in my youth- so happy to find it now. Nothing takes me back to my youth like this...thank u
@chrisbarlow2131
Just love the arrangements - the stabbing keyboards - the ominous bass synth - the wonderfully restrained yet titanic drums - the driven bass - the haunting lyrics melded to that so soulful Fellows voice - and one of the best non guitar breaks to be heard anywhere. SUCH a good band. Loved them.
@TheArrow1987
that part from 2:20 on is really breathtaking and I completely feel the atmosphere there.
@MrRadius03
This is really good stuff
@kenissjefferson9593
The Interpol of 30 years ago
@jonolonie125
This song caused me to form my band 'stuffed husbands ' everything I wrote was probably pivoted on this song the desperation isolation but what I love more than anything about this band is the iciness of the sound and their lyrics
@petegilgan8909
The Comsat Angels are one of the greatest bands ever to come out of the UK. Easily superior to U2 and the like, it is a sad state of affairs that a band this great is all but forgotten these days. Fantastic atmospheric music with a beautiful melodic touch.
@chrisbarlow2131
I saw them support U2 in Bham in the early 80s. Awesome. So much more integrity than U2. The greatest unknown band ever.
@kathycastillo505
Such a great build up