Random Hold
Random Hold
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1979 Five-Track Original Produced By Peter Hammill. Appears Unplayed. "Like This Heat, Random Hold Probably Fit Best In The Fertile Post-Punk Bin Of The Late '70s And Early '80s, But Their Lack Of Ties To Punk Prevented Them From Being Considered With The More Experimental End Of The Rock Spectrum. David Rhodes And David Ferguson Decided To Start A Band After Meeting At A 1976 Concert By 801, The Short-Lived Pseudo Group That Featured Phil Manzanera And Brian Eno. One Major Impairment Was Ferguson's Lack Of Musical Skills And The Fact That His Knowledge Of The Guitar Was Limited And Distant. Nonetheless, The Duo Practiced Together And Arranged A Series Of Low-Key Gigs Near The End Of 1976. Ex-Glitter Band Drummer Pete Phipps Joined Up For A Short Spate, And Eventually The Core Duo Reeled In Simon Ainley, Who — Oddly Enough — Had Just Spent Time Playing Guitar And Singing With Phil Manzanera. And At Some Point Prior, The Group Was Re-Named Random Hold. The Group Approached Early Supporter Bill Maccormick, Who Had Also Played Bass With Manzanera, As Well As Eno. Maccormick Joined On As A Member And Also Kicked In With Financial Support. Random Hold's Debut Shows Off The Band's Talented Musicianship In A Dark, Dramatic Setting. The EP Opens With "Meat," A Nervous, Relentless Instrumental That Sets The Tone For The Four Remaining Tracks. Other Highlights Include "Avalanche," Where The Bass, Drums, And Synth Provide A Compelling Setting For The Song's Creeping Sense Of Panic, And "Montgomery Clift," An Extended Piece Of Tension And Paranoia. The Crisp, Clean Production Is Similar To Some Of Phil Manzanera's Albums, Which Is Not Surprising Since Bassist Bill Maccormick Played On Many Of The Roxy Music Guitarist's Solo Efforts. Altogether An Excellent Debut That Boasts Stronger Songwriting Than The Band's First Full-Length Effort, The View From Here.” Andy Kellman & Michael Waynick, All Music Guide