Midnight Cleaners

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Midnight Cleaners
Studio album by
the Cleaners from Venus
ReleasedDecember 1982
RecordedJuly - October, 1982
Genre
  • Indie pop
  • Neo-psychedelia[1]
Length35:37
LabelMan at the Off License, Calypso Now
Cleaners from Venus chronology
On Any Normal Monday
(1982) 		Midnight Cleaners
(1982) 		In the Golden Autumn
(1983)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Pitchfork8.0/10[2]

Midnight Cleaners is the third album by Indie pop artist The Cleaners from Venus, self-released in December 1982. The album was reissued and remastered by Captured Tracks in 2012,[3] although the album was given a small reissue on CD-r in 2001 on JARMusic.[4][5]

Background[edit]

After releasing two albums, drummer Lol Elliott moved 200 miles away to live with his girlfriend at the time, effectively leaving the band. Newell continued recording music around this obstacle, which resulted in a heavier use of drum machines and home-made percussion instruments.[6] The album was recorded entirely onto a 4-track tape in Newell's bedroom. The album cover was drawn and coloured by Newell as well.[7][8]

Reception[edit]

In a retrospective review for the album, Pitchfork writer Ned Raggett praised how the album jumps from "polished and straightforward power-pop efforts" to "the slightly cryptic spoken word, sax, and beat mix of the title track".[2]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Martin Newell

"Pop Side"
No.TitleLength
1."This Rainy Decade"2:17
2."Time in Vain"3:02
3."Only a Shadow"3:31
4."Corridor of Dreams"5:10
5."Wivenhoe Bells II"4:22
"Art Side"
No.TitleLength
1."Midnight Cleaners"5:16
2."Factory Boy"3:29
3."A Wretched Street"3:40
4."Don't You Worry About the Ads"4:50
Total length:35:37
2001 JARMusic CD-r bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Ilya Kuryakin Looked at Me (Electric Version)" 
2."Wunderbarmaid" 
3."Bus Stop" 

Personnel[edit]

Adapted from 2012 remastered edition liner notes.

  • Martin Newell – vocals, guitar, bass, drum machines, keyboards, electronics, glockenspiel
  • Lawrence "Lol" Elliott – "some drums and ideas"
  • Mick Brannan – saxophone
  • "Celia" – additional vocals on "Only a Shadow"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Midnight Cleaners - Cleaners from Venus at AllMusic". AllMusic. AllMusic, Netaktion. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Raggett, Ned (May 2012). "Cleaners From Venus: Blow Away Your Troubles / On Any Normal Monday / Midnight Cleaners Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. ^ Pelly, Jean (19 October 2011). "Captured Tracks to Reissue Three Cleaners From Venus Albums". Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Cleaners From Venus - Midnight Cleaners (2001, CDr)". Discogs. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  5. ^ "JARMusic - "Midnight Cleaners" CD". jarmusic. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Vinyl insert". Discogs. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Cleaners From Venus - Midnight Cleaners (1982, C40, Cassette)". Discogs. December 1982. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  8. ^ Naftule, Ashley (20 July 2018). "A Guide to the Brilliant DIY Pop of The Cleaners From Venus". bandcamp. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
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