Adrian Borland

As one of the most intense, artistically accomplished, and unheralded talents of the punk school, singer/songwriter and guitarist Adrian Borland left behind a dense stockpile of excellent records under several guises. Prior to hitting his twenties, Borland formed <a href="spotify:artist:0f7avfWCJZ0vx4mWYGn0Nn">the Outsiders</a> in 1976, a band that released a couple of records and frequently gigged at the infamous Roxy club. <a href="spotify:artist:0f7avfWCJZ0vx4mWYGn0Nn">The Outsiders</a> morphed into <a href="spotify:artist:4hzCcF4Leos2sKnz79nwhz">the Sound</a>, who released several records between 1979 and 1987 that deserved the popularity of <a href="spotify:artist:0fgYKF9Avljex0L9Wt5b8Z">Echo & the Bunnymen</a> but failed mostly due to the lack of a marketable image. Like <a href="spotify:artist:4VuMnSnoTGrma3a79UhfMs">Magazine</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:4h36evdgERR6C9JKlar2hb">Howard Devoto</a>, Borland's lyrics were probably too emotionally naked and literate for the masses, and the group might have been a shade too dark for chart appeal. Nonetheless, <a href="spotify:artist:4hzCcF4Leos2sKnz79nwhz">the Sound</a> were the missing link between <a href="spotify:artist:432R46LaYsJZV2Gmc4jUV5">Joy Division</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0fgYKF9Avljex0L9Wt5b8Z">Echo</a>; perhaps time will help acknowledge this.

Borland struck out on his own two years after <a href="spotify:artist:4hzCcF4Leos2sKnz79nwhz">the Sound</a>'s last recording with Alexandria (1989) and Brittle Heaven (1992), both of which were credited to Adrian Borland & the Citizens. Beautiful Ammunition followed two years later without the Citizens on board; Cinematic came hot on its trail in 1995. Cinematic Overview was also issued around the same time, compiling some of Borland's best moments with <a href="spotify:artist:0f7avfWCJZ0vx4mWYGn0Nn">the Outsiders</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4hzCcF4Leos2sKnz79nwhz">the Sound</a> with solo material. His last proper solo record, 5:00 AM, was released in 1997. The Last Days of the Rain Machine came later, a limited-edition record of acoustic tracks unavailable elsewhere. None of his solo records eclipsed the excellence of <a href="spotify:artist:4hzCcF4Leos2sKnz79nwhz">the Sound</a>, but each of them was respectable on its own, considering his immense gifts as a songwriter and his perfectionist tendencies.

Aside from being prolific with his bands and as a solo musician, Borland kept his hand in a number of other projects. In 1980, he was part of the Witch Trials, a one-off EP project with <a href="spotify:artist:30U8fYtiNpeA5KH6H87QUV">the Dead Kennedys</a>' <a href="spotify:artist:1ddbFlSqbqp2vuJd5CuRcE">Jello Biafra</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:7D8tUG1oXs4SlGZJaor8R5">East Bay Ray</a> (of all people). Borland notched several releases in the early '80s with <a href="spotify:artist:4hzCcF4Leos2sKnz79nwhz">Sound</a> cohort Graham Bailey as the electronic-based duo <a href="spotify:artist:1XvC09ZYvWgsa5pXROeT9Y">Second Layer</a>. Under the alias of Joachim Pimento, he was part of the Honolulu Mountain Daffodils, who released a slew of records throughout the remainder of the decade. He co-wrote and produced two <a href="spotify:artist:7oo11ojzOGOxhaCTYdrxmC">White Rose Transmission</a> albums with <a href="spotify:artist:3xrQThJUBzFF2Wba6SymdT">the Convent</a>'s Carlo Von Putten. And through his own records, Borland became a noted producer, who aided the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:4mZlgrDsGRgWXy7T5ke3hP">the Celibate Rifles</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3BqAAo5E60L15TcFgWI8xH">Felt</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:566U2F2jJsduEuyV4AuBHg">Dole</a>, Steve Lake, and <a href="spotify:artist:1fFxKpgKnv3cDioVpAC0O6">Red Harvest</a>.

While engaged in recording sessions for another solo record, the depression-prone Borland succumbed to nagging mental illness by throwing himself underneath a train on April 26, 1999. In a letter to his fans written only a month prior, Borland exuded enthusiasm in his new efforts, making his passing all the more sad. Dates for a short <a href="spotify:artist:7oo11ojzOGOxhaCTYdrxmC">White Rose Transmission</a> tour that had been scheduled prior to his death were still filled, with <a href="spotify:artist:4HLWX9kzfraiCsTvrxJEXm">Chameleons</a> front man <a href="spotify:artist:6WVHLkz6cvyNAFlBBEmE58">Mark Burgess</a> taking his place in tribute. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi