While working a holiday job in the summer of 1984, Keith Nuttall and Michael Brandon (of Blackburn band Psychopython) formed Back to the Grind with Gordon Farquhar and Craig Jepson (of Cloudburst / Albino Dinnerjacket).
They played other people’s songs for a few weeks, for fun. And, realising they had ideas of their own, convened in Keith’s home studio to write and record songs.
The result was the album Light from a Distant Beacon — an odd mixture of songs ranging from Ambient to Dance, via hippy punk lounge-lizard.
They were so pleased with their album that copies were sent to radio stations, with the apocalyptic closer Nice Day for a Picnic being played on Red Rose Radio.
Personnel
- Michael Brandon – bass, keyboard and voice
- Keith Nuttall – guitars, synthesiser and voice
- Gordon Farquhar – voice, keyboard and harmonica
- Craig Jepson – drums and enthusiasm