Hula

post-punk

There is more than one band that recorded under the name Hula: 1) The Sheffield based band Hula was founded in November 1980. Three members (Mark Albrow, Alan Fisch & Ron Wright) lived with Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire) and Paul Widger (They must be Russians, Clock DVA & the Box) in a villa called Hula Kula, named after an obscure Roxy Music track. After trying the bass players Alan Watt, the notorious Chris Brain (Tense & NOS) & Mark Brydon (Chakk & Moloko), & after the replacement of Alan Fish (a.k.a. Fisch) by Nort (both drummed for Cabaret Voltaire), Hula released Fever Car, which became an indie hit. Then they recorded the impressive album Murmur. Ingredients like cut ups, steady rhythms, and paranoia vocals were blended together into a unique white funky sound. Hula recruited John Avery as bass player. A bass player was necessary for the exciting live shows with lots of video material by Peter Care. Hula continued to bring out danceable 12 inches and more experimental albums. With this line-up Hula was more or less successful. International tours were made. Radio sessions for VPRO and John Peel were recorded and broadcast. Being a support act for Depeche Mode implied performing live in Wembley Arena for huge crowds. After Nort left the band in 1986 the music changed, but still remained interesting. Later on Mark Albrow quit as well. When their record company Red Rhino went bankrupt they moved on to Wax Trax. They released the last Hula record: a Jimi Hendrix...