4AD

While the early Axis label singles had served an important research and development function, the arrival of Rema-Rema provided Ivo with something more important: a reason for continuing. Returning to the shop one afternoon to find five people about to play Peter their demo tape, Ivo was immediately struck by the post-punk quintet's music, later saying, "It was the first point I knew that we were actually doing something serious."

While the early Axis label singles had served an important research and development function, the arrival of Rema-Rema provided Ivo with something more important: a reason for continuing. Returning to the shop one afternoon to find five people about to play Peter their demo tape, Ivo was immediately struck by the post-punk quintet's music, later saying, "It was the first point I knew that we were actually doing something serious." The band consisted of Gary Asquith (guitar/vocals), Marco Pirroni (guitar), Mick Allen (bass/vocals), Mark Cox (keyboards) and Max (drums). Their sole EP, Wheel In The Roses, featured one side of studio recordings and another of live material. Their songs ‘Fond Affections’ and ‘Rema-Rema’ were later covered by This Mortal Coil and Big Black respectively. Rema-Rema split up shortly after the EP's release in April 1980. Pirroni later hit the big time with Adam And The Ants. Asquith, Allen and Cox formed the short-lived Mass with Danny Briottet. Asquith then moved on to Renegade Soundwave, while Cox and Allen stayed with 4AD as part of The Wolfgang Press. Drummer Max Prior went on to form El Trains (with Jay Strongman) and worked with Genesis P Orridge and Industrial Records as a solo artist under her real name (Dorothy), eventually joining Psychic TV full time.

Releases

ALBUMS

Fond Reflections
Mar 1, 2019

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SINGLES & EPS

Wheel In the Roses
Mar 31, 1980

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Compilations

Natures Mortes - Still Lives
Oct 5, 1981

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News

Announce Debut Album, 'Fond Reflections', 40 Years After Disbanding.
Jan 14, 2019

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Playlists

Best of 4AD: 1980-2000
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Foreword

2019

4AD

A hugely rewarding year at 4AD, including releases by The National, Aldous Harding, Holly Herndon and two new albums by Big Thief ...

Send No Flowers

by Martin Aston

As the saying goes, anticipation is half the pleasure. And if the pleasure really does prove equal to the task, then everyone who has waited for a Rema-Rema retrospective will be thrilled to the core by the double vinyl/CD album Fond Reflections, released almost 40 years after their sole EP, Wheel In The Roses.