Over the 40 years since their release I`ve played the A.R. Kane singles “When You’re Sad” and “Lollita” frequently. However, I’d rarely gone back to the album “i”, apart from the track, “A Love From Outer Space”, which I remain admittedly obsessed with. In preparation for interviewing Rudy Tambala, one half of the influential duo, I spent a very enjoyable hour with the long-player, listening and looking for clues. Speculating at sources of inspiration and listing possible points of reference, trying to spot links to potential likeminded contemporaries. A.R. Kane themselves, I know, would be adamant that they sounded like no one else. 

I could hear echoes of label mates like Rough Trade’s Scritti Politti – “The Sweetest Girl” – 4AD’s Cocteau Twins – whose appearance on TV really did kickstart A.R. Kane – and future collaborators Colourbox – particularly their Jacob Miller cover. There’s also The Jesus & Mary Chain – in the feedback and walls of treated guitar – check “Conundrum” – and dub, especially on songs such as “Catch My Drift”, but it’s post-punk edged, like the Martin Hannett produced Basement 5, or A Certain Ratio’s alter ego Sir Horatio. On-U’s New Age Steppers. 

“A Love From Outer Space” and “Crack Up” contain drum programming that recalls Tony Thorpe’s pre-Moody Boys 400 Blows. “Snow Joke”, an ode to coke?, is jazz-funk, with soulful backing vocals. More Style Council than The Cocteaus. “Honeysuckleswallow” is an acoustically strummed ode to fellatio. 

“In A Circle” is orchestral, while “Pop” manages to morph into a Fame Studios southern gospel. “Miles Apart”, lyrically a classic piece of nursery rhyme simplicity, is summery, moving toward Cure-like – “In Between Days” – and then the drum machine driven indie of The Field Mice – “Let’s Kiss & Make Up”. “Spook” is Smiths-like jangle. 

Slow, stoned, drunk, soaked in melancholy, “Sugarwings” acts as a romantic foreshadowing of shoegaze. “Down” feels like a flashback to “When You’re Sad”. A furious thrash, “Insect Love” seems to be Rudy’s homage to PiL and  Keith Levene. 

Quite the eclectic collection. 

The bulk of A.R. Kane’s influential back catalogue can be purchased directly from Bandcamp.