He Who Seeks Only Vanity And No Love For Humanity Shall Fade Away

One of my music reissue highlights of 2021 was New Age Steppers career-spanning box set, Stepping Into A New Age 1980-2012. In addition to their three albums from the 1980s and the 2012 reunion, there's an additional album of previously unreleased dubs and outtakes. 

I was only really familiar with their debut self-titled album and follow-up Action Battlefield, both from 1981, so it was a delight to immerse myself in the set as as whole and it's one that I've repeatedly come back to in the past year. The much-missed Ari Up and Bim Sherman add a unique vocal edge, as does Denise Sherwood and the then-teenage Neneh Cherry. Musically it's all underpinned by a red hot line-up variously including Style Scott, Bruce Smith, George Oban, Viv Albertine, Skip McDonald, Nick Coplowe and Doctor Pablo, and (of course) Adrian Sherwood at the controls.

 

You can buy the individual albums on vinyl or digital formats, or the 5-disc box set on vinyl, digital or CD via Bandcamp. Well worth every penny, as today's selection hopefully demonstrates.

Side One

1) Fade Away (Album Version) (1981)

2) I Scream (Rimshot) (1981)

3) 5 Dog Race (1983)

4) Love Forever (1981) 

Side Two

1) Abderhamane's Demise (Album Version) (1981)

2) The Worst Of Me (ft. Denise Sherwood) (2012)

3) Wide World Version (Dub By Adrian Sherwood) (Cover of 'My Whole World' by Bim Sherman) (1981)

4) Vice Of My Enemies (ft. Bim Sherman) (1983)

5) My Love (Album Version) (Cover of The Gaylads) (ft. Neneh Cherry & Bim Sherman) (1981)

 

1981: The New Age Steppers: A1, A4, B1

1981: Action Battlefield: B5

1983: Foundation Steppers: A3, B4

2004: Action Battlefield (Japan-only bonus tracks): B3

2012: Love Forever: B2

2021: Avant Gardening: A2, B3

Side One (21:15)

Side Two (22:01)