ATF

Description

ATF is a compilation album the British new wave band After The Fire, released in the US and Canada on Epic Records late 1982 (after the band had disbanded), manufactured and distributed by CBS Records.

ATF (Epic FE 38282), a compilation of two releases not readily available in the US, brings the synthetic techno-pop of After the Fire to America. The group had a number one hit in England («Laser Love»), made smash appearances at Greenbelt (a large Christian festival in England), received growing critical acceptance in the secular press, and toured America with Van Halen. ATF, an enjoyable, high-quality release, should ride high on the tide of the new British invasion.

After the Fire, while utilizing elements of new wave and Europe’s new synthesized dance music, has a distinct orientation toward pop. With almost a formula approach to the newer sounds, ATF is the Styx of power-pop. Their strong pop album is chock-full of melodic morsels and creative tidbits. After the Fire has managed to produce an accessible sound that is commercially viable without selling out its own musical identity.

The 11 songs on ATF represent the band’s strongest tracks from 1979 to 1982. Unfortunately, the absence of liner notes or descriptive credits prevents the listener from tracking the group’s creative progression.

«Laser Love» opens side one and sets the direction of the album – bouncy, extremely danceable power-pop with metaphors that apply to human and divine love. «Frozen Rivers» and «Love Will Always Make You Cry» fit in the category of positive pop – music with a positive ethical stance but no clear relation to Christian doctrine. «Lase Love», «Sometimes», and «Carry Me Home» have a more obvious linkage to the Christian faith. Along with other Christians trying to make their mark in the secular music world, ATF seems to sense keenly the double standard that affects its lyrical expressions («One Rule for You»). Similar statements were made by Bob Dylan («Property of Jesus») and Dave Edwards («Commercial Suicide»).

After the Fire shows every sign of imminent commercial success, with some airplay on secular AOR stations already happening. ATF is a strong album with few, if any, slack moments. «Dancing in the Shadows», an Elvis Costello sound-alike, «Der Kommissar», and «1980-F» (an instrumental that names the band when spelled phonetically) round out ATF – an album not to be missed. [Quincy Smith-Newcomb, CCM, May 1983]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Laser Love” – 3:28
A2. “One Rule For You” – 3:24
A3. “Dancing In The Shadows” – 3:01
A4. “Sometimes” – 3:07
A5. “Sailing Ship” – 3:55
A6. “Carry Me Home” – 3:22

Side Two
B1. “Frozen Rivers” – 3:33
B2. “Love Will Always Make You Cry” – 3:32
B3. “Starflight” – 3:46
B4. “Der Kommissar” – 5:43
B5. “1980-F” – 2:32

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Epic Records, with the cassette version featuring a bonus track; “Der Kommissar (Dub Version)”. Re-issued on CD by Oldies Collectables / Sony Music in 2001 (though actually featuring different mixes compared with the original vinyl LP for a few of the tracks) with two bonus tracks included; “Der Kommissar (Dub Version)” 4:51 (the same bonus track as included on the original cassette version of the album) and “Joy” 3:18 (7-inch vinyl single version, 8-50712). The original album was re-issued by Renaissance Records in 2022, remastered and pressed onto Deluxe 180g Black, Red, and Blue vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.