the arkive

  •  - Country Life
  • A1. World In Action
    A2. Under the Shed
    A3. What’s Your Favourite Colour
    A4. Country Life

    B1. We Don’t Want Him Here
    B2. Boy From The Nursery World
    B3. Long Tall Sally in a Black Dress
    B4. Too Late

    C1. Out There in the Distance
    C2. Castaway
    C3. Dolores Jones
    C4. Yee Hee

    D1. Madame Hecate
    D2. Last Chance for the Slow Dance
    D3. Everything Is Done for You Today
    D4. Dolores Jones 2023 (Re-imagined acoustically by Trevor Tanner)




The Bolshoi

Country Life

Beggars Banquet
Released 3 May 2024
BBQ-2545

The Bolshoi released three albums during their existence, but they also recorded a fourth album that was never officially released during their tenure. Provisionally titled Country Life, it was released in 2015 as part of a limited 5-CD box set. We are excited to now release it on vinyl for the first time. The album is double colored orange and green vinyl. Country Life consists of demos recorded for the album, and many of these only survived on reference cassettes but were digitally restored. We are especially thrilled that Trevor Tanner has recorded a brand new acoustic reimagining of the song “Dolores Jones” made specifically for this release.

The Bolshoi were different. Their songs were dark and subversive, sufficient evidence for many critics to corral them under the 'Gothic' banner at the time of their debut - but they really only "flirted" with Goth. They oozed dark, pensive lyrics supported with inventive pop-goth guitar making them nearly impossible to categorize.

The suburban surrealism of the lyrics was rooted in the stories from characters on the fringes of society rather than brooding romantics, with an undercurrent of boredom, inadequacy and violence. Not the usual themes for pop success!

Based in London, the band consisted of Trevor Tanner (lead vocals, guitar), Nick Chown (bass), Jan Kalicki (drums) and Paul Clark (keyboards). With powerful live shows, The Bolshoi built a substantial following before disbanding in 1988.