Children of the Night is an album by Canadian alternative recording artist Nash the Slash. Released in 1981 after Nash toured the United Kingdom in 1980 supporting Gary Numan, the album quickly gained cult status with its unique sound, created using electric mandolins, electric violins, drum machines and other sonic devices. The album sleeve proudly proclaims "There are no guitars."
Maybe I missed it, but there should have been a documentary covering some of these bands that popped out of the Canadian progressive rock scene in the 70's - excluding Rush - like Max Webster, Saga, and Klaatu, which often blurred the line between prog and New Wave. But the strangest character by far had to be Nash the Slash, who was originally part of a group called FM. On his solo Children of the Night, it's a wild, conflicted, emotional ride which is best expressed through his singular interpretations of Peter and the Wolf (here titled "Wolf") and the Rolling Stones "19th Nervous Breakdown". Nash's own material is fairly enveloping, too. The album sleeve proclaimed "there are no guitars", but Nash's electric mandolin and violin playing sounds eerily similar, and yet there is a different sound he reaches. But sometimes it misses the mark, as "Dopes on the Water" and even "Dead Man's Curve" can attest to. The 2000 re-issue includes a number of bonus tracks, of which 3 out of the 6 are live. An added treat for fans and new listeners alike.
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