Description
Zionic Bonds is the sole album by the Northern Irish new wave outfit Moral Support, released in the UK on Switch Records in 1980, distributed by Pilgrim Records (except in Northern Irland where it was distributed by Switch Records). Also released in the US the following year by Pilgrim America, distributed by The Benson Company (on that side of the pond credited “Andy McCarroll & Moral Support”). The album was recorded at ICC Studios in Eastbourne, England; with Andy Kidd producing. All songs written by Andy McCarroll except track A2 co-written with Jimmy Davis, as well as the instrumental lead-off track on Side B written by Davis alone.
Moral Support features Andy McCarroll on lead vocals, keyboards, and guitar, William Hilary on keyboards, Jimmy Davis on guitar, Alan Gillespie on bass, and Ian Sloan on drums.
Moral Support was the biggest band on the Christian rock scene in Ireland in the late 70’s/early 80’s. In 1979, awaiting their album debut, they released a two-sided single featuring «Just Where It’s At Tonight», b/w «Sin» (a remix of the latter track was included on the debut album as well). The single’s flip-side «Sin» made it all the way to number two on the national charts. The band’s debut album followed the next year and sold well. In Ireland Zionic Bonds was released concurrently with John Lennon’s Double Fantasy and for six weeks managed to keep Lennons album out of the number one spot on the charts. Moral Support was filling any venue in Northern Irland and they were on the verge of opening all kinds of possibilities worldwide when the band decided to pull the plug . They made their last live appearance at the Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival, England in 1983.
Zionic Bonds was released in the US market by Pilgrim America in 1981. In a review featured in The Boston Globe rock music critic Steve Morse stated that “Moral Support is a solid new wave band that can rock out like the Buzzcocks, or settle back for some tasty reggae-rock like Fingerprintz.”
The album track “Sin” was included on the multi-artist sampler The British Are Coming, released in the US on Pilgrim America in 1983, distributed by Benson.
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Zionic Bonds is a rippling record; the band performing with some of the rawness left over from punk fronted by Andy McCarroll‘s snarling voice. It fits in perfectly with the whole punky power-pop sound of the Undertones and all the Good Vibrations bands (Rudi, Protext, Moondogs etc.) that briefly dominated Ireland; witness the punk rock sturm and drang of «How the Kids Are Feelin’», the power-pop backing vocals on «Sin», the new wave synth-beeps on «Slippin’ and Slidin’» plus the obligatory reggatta de blanc of «In Control».
Lead singer Andy McCarroll made two Dylan-inspired solo albums in the late seventies – Through Different Eyes Now and Epitaph For A Rebel (the latter produced by Andy Kidd) – before becoming excited by new wave and establishing Moral Support. McCarroll wrote all of the songs on the album, except the instrumental track “Cyan City” written by guitarist Jimmy Davis. McCarroll hailing from Belfast was one of a thousands folkies turned “new wavers”, like Debbie Harry of Blondie fame and Tom Robinson. He was an artist the members of U2 respected and listened to in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The Edge was especially taken with McCarroll’s magnetic stage presence, natural songwriting ability, and the spiritual intensity of the production.
‘Zionic Bonds’, the debut album from Andy McCarroll and his band Moral Support, is exciting.
This band from Northern Ireland plays new wave music that is raw-edged and melodic. The tunes, laced with stock new wave ringing guitar lines, clipped bass notes and machine gun drumrolls, are reminiscent of such diverse artists as the Clash and the Police, but in the end, these guys emerge with a sound that’s all their own.
Lead singer McCarroll’s voice is flexible and expressive, and the rest of the band’s harmonies give the songs a full, bright sound. With its tight, punchy rhythms and hook-laden refrains, Moral Support’s music is comparable to many popular secular new wave bands. Unlike many of their counterparts, however, this band’s no-frills lyrics are urgent and intelligent. McCarroll, who wrote or co-wrote nine of the 10 songs on the album, addresses such relevant topics as abortion and hypocritical politicians.
McCarroll’s spare, staccato lyrics are especially effective on «How the Kids are Feeling», a driving song about the confusion of adolescence: “Have parents/ alway fight/ don’t understand/ they get uptight/ …emptiness/ hurt some more/ loneliness/ that’s the score!/ this is how they need Jesus.”
The beat may be a little more frantic than you’re accustomed to, but the unabashed voice of truth comes through loud and clear on this album. From a country of violence and social discord, these young street-tempered musicians offer songs of peace for the modern world: “There is a God… a hope for you and me/ There is a God… the final reality in this 20th century.”
(Best cuts: Those mentioned above, «To Know You», «I Am Human».) [Lori E. Pike, CCM, July 1981]
“Sin! Sin! Sin! Sin! Hate it! Hate it! Hate it! Hate it!” So belts out Andy McCarroll and his fellow UK ruffians on this feisty slab of British punk/new-wave, one of the wildest Christian rock albums ever recorded. Rebellious youth, politicians, abortion, hypocrisy, education, corruption – Andy and the boys called it as they saw it through titles like «How The Kids Are Feeling», «I Am Human», «King Man», «Living A Lie» and «Slippin’ And Slidin», shoving the hope and challenge of Christ right in the face of the problems of the world. Bratty vocals, aggressive beats and chaotic riffs are tempered by new-wave keyboards, melodic Police-like guitar chords and a strong power-pop enthusiasm. Shades of A Flock Of Seagulls on the instrumental «Cyan City» where ethereal synths and flanged guitar coast fluidly alongside the driving beat. Closes with a couple slower cuts, «In Control» and «20th Century». One gets the feeling that even amidst the serious topic matter, these guys were clearly having fun (a point further brought out by the goofy cover photos). Released the following year in the US on the Pilgrim America label, the cover altered slightly to show the band name as Andy McCarroll & Moral Support. Check out Andy’s solo albums as well, though he advised, they don’t sound anything like this. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
In 1980, this Irish band released their one and only album but it’s a classic of the time. Built around the voice and songwriting of Andy McCarroll, who had previously released solo records, the creation of the band seemed to unleash a passion and a new wave style snarl that befits the subject matter contained here. Kicking off with the punky «Sin», it’s immediately obvious that this is a band determined to pull no punches! The thunderous «How The Kids Are Feeling» and the hooky «Slippin’ And Sliding» simply demonstrate McCarroll’s skill in penning catchy songs. «To Know You» marries new wave to a reggae groove. There are three really big hitters on the album. «I Am Human» is as strong an anti-abortion as you’re ever going to hear on a Christian album. I am doubting that the Nashville CCM scene in 2010 would sanction such a song but it is poignant and powerfully done here. «In Control» is a powerful reminder that whether we’re facing huge global problems or smaller issues, God is in control. It features a fabulous montage of wartime soundbites which add to the atmosphere. Closing track «20th Century» firmly points the listener towards God. This is a seminal Christian rock album of the period, crisply produced at ICC studios and still capable of making an impact 30 years later. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, September 2010]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Sin” – 4:10
A2. “How The Kids Are Feelin'” – 2:39
A3. “To Know You” – 2:53
A4. “Slippin’ And Slidin'” – 3:38
A5. “I’m A Human” – 3:53
Side Two
B1. “Cyan City” (Instrumental) – 3:44
B2. “King Man” – 2:43
B3. “Livin’ A Lie” – 3:54
B4. “In Control” – 4:56
B5. “20th Century” – 4:41
Note: Simultaneously released in the US on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Pilgrim America. Later re-issued on CD.
An advertisement for Andy McCarroll & Moral Support’s album Zionic Bonds was featured in the July 1981 issue of CCM Magazine.
CREDITS. Produced by Andy Kidd. Recorded at ICC Studios, Eastbourne, England.
Musicians: Moral Support – Andy McCarroll (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards), Jimmy Davis (Guitar), William Hilary (Keyboards), Alan Gillespie (Bass), Ian Sloan (Drums).
The story of Moral Support:
Christian Punk band formed in the late 70’s by well known singer/songwriter on the Christian folk/rock scene Andy McCarroll, (vocals/guitar/keyboards), James Davis (guitars), William Hilary (keyboards), Ian Sloan (drums) and Alan Gillespie (bass). They were managed by ex Rudi manager Kyle Leitch from the Caroline Music record shop. As their guitarist James Davis recalled in the book It Makes You Want To Spit! “We were probably closer to New Wave although influences included The Clash, Jam, Magazine, Buzzcocks, Boomtown Rats and early Police. I was a big fan of Joy Division and Siouxsie & The Banshees”.
McCarroll released two solo albums prior to forming Moral Support, 1975’s Through Different Eyes Now on the Crumlin based D & A Records, and the 1978 Epitaph For A Rebel on Grapevine records, which was a local subsiduary of Christian record label Pilgrim Records. Moral Support gigged extensively all over Ireland: they were the biggest band on the Christian rock scene in Ireland in the late 70’s / early 80’s and were credited with introducing ‘New Wave’ to the Christian fraternity in the U.S.A. “The band did make an impact at the Greenbelt Festival in England which in those days attracted crowds of twenty thousand people, and this would have opened the doors for the U.S. market” said Kyle Leitch. James Davis played guitar on a number of occasions with Belfast punk band The Lids, whose lead singer Geoff Shannon happened to be James’ brother-in-law.
In 1979 Moral Support released their only 7″ single «Just Where It’s At Tonight», b/w «Sin», on the Round Records label, and this was followed in 1980 by the Zionic Bonds album, released on the Belfast based Switch record label, which was situated in Donegal Square South in the city centre. It was recorded at ICC studios in Eastbourne, England and was produced by Andy Kidd. The album was also released in America on the Pilgrim America label on both vinyl and cassette with altered song titles and credited to Andy McCarroll & Moral Support. The track «Sin» was included on an American compilation album The British Are Coming, released in 1983 which featured new Christian artists at the time. After the albums release, Bill Hilary left the band and they continued as a four-piece with McCarroll alternating between guitar and keyboards. They made their last live appearance at the Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival, England in 1983.
Kyle Leitch – “In the end a few of the guys were ready to settle down so they didn’t fully exploit the potential which was clearly evident.”
[http://www.spitrecords.co.uk/moralsupport.htm]
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