The Expression (Australian band) 1981-85

Decisions, Single, 1983.

 
I always close my eyes, to look into the sun.

I always close my eyes, the same as everyone.....

There are lots of good bands that 'never make it' - always have been, and always will be, for a variety of reasons and circumstances. I won't name any here, but it is interesting when you come across a performer or band from the past that you had never heard of before, and go, with surprise and shock, "Wow! They are really good!" Of course, any assessment of success is relative, and also somewhat dependent on personal taste. Members of a band may look back and see the gigs they played, the records they released, and the fan base they developed as evidence of success, despite the perhaps short-lived nature of the experience and its often tumultuous history, with little or no financial reward, or perceived public acclaim. Some could view all this as failure, others as success. The Sex Pistols are a case in point. Tumultuous, short-lived, a single album, scattered gigs, but legendary. A couple of years ago I came across the little known, and somewhat unfortunately named, 1960s American pop / rock / psychedelic group The Electric Prunes and had just such a "Wow!" reaction when I heard a live tape of a 1968 Stockholm gig.

Powerjam '83 poster, Sunday 15 May 1983.

The most recent example has been the 1980s Australian band The Expression. Introduced to me at the beginning of 2020, I was amazed by the quality of their sound, the song writing, and the fact that I had never heard of them before, despite being an avid fan of Australian rock music, though with a focus on the late 1960s and 1970s. According to their Wikipedia entry, The Expression formed in Sydney in 1981 from a group of local and originally Perth-based musicians. They disbanded in 1985, with singer Tom Haran and keyboard player Neville Dowling the longest serving members. In between, the band signed to Mushroom Records in Australia during 1982 and A&M internationally. They released five singles and two albums in Australia, the latter comprising the self-titled The Expression in 1983 and Conscience in 1985. Their first album was released in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Europe and the UK (Discog 2020).

The Expression were a New Wave band, very much of their time and Australian, though strongly influenced by the post-Punk English scene and so-called dinosaur groups such as Genesis, Yes and Pink Floyd. They had a heavily produced, synthpop sound comprising traditional instruments and synthesizer, bringing to mind - upon later listening - a number of contemporary bands of the time, including Duran Duran and IXS. Their sound very much places them in that early to mid 1980s pop / rock scene. Their lyrics, often reflecting a debt to Punk and Sixties protest movements, included references to political and social justice issues - a factor which  helped distinguished them from many of their contemporaries. This is most evident in the singles With Closed Eyes (1983) and Small Brave Land (1985). The former video clip, a quality production which replicated a Nicaraguan war scene in a disused brick works on the outskirts of Sydney, was apparently banned by the FBI as anti-American and rejected by MTV, thereby forcing Mushroom to produce a new, studio-based clip for the American market which instead presented as anti-Russian. The latter song, Small Brave Land, was also critical of the US, imploring Australia to maintain its independence from American imperialism. The Expression were not the only Australian band to reflect such an attitude, with Midnight Oil being the most prominent, in songs such as The Power and the Passion and US Forces. Some of this history of the band's first year is reveals in a November 1983 Countdown magazine interview:

The Expression, LP, 1983.

When the Expression's guitarist Andrew Wong Yen spent a year at Melbourne's RMIT doing the first half of a practical course in the media, he never thought the experience he was gaining in video techniques, photography and so on would be so quickly brought into play to project himself and his own band. There was no Expression then and little likelihood, since the friends he'd spent two years and more gigging in Perth with, as a band called Visitor, had dispersed across the country to try and survive. The split lasted two years, with singer/songwriter Tom Haran and keyboards player Neville Dowling gigging around Sydney for a while as a duo, and Andrew in Melbourne with his course. But throughout that time, each of them was writing and keeping in touch. Then Tom rang Andrew to say he'd written a whole batch of new songs and that he should come up to Sydney and get something together. With a bit of persistence, the two convinced the keyboards player, who'd gone back to  Perth, and their old bass player, Stephen Manassah, to come over and try their new concept. They got a drummer and became The Expression. In a very short time they were packing rooms like the Bellevue Hill, in Paddington, and in under a year they were releasing their debut single. Eight months later, they have a second single and debut album in the market place - quite an achievement for a band not officially two years old. The video made for that debut single, With Closed Eyes, made a huge impact. In it, we see Tom Haran as the 'urban guerilla', standing up against a backdrop of chaos to present his personal statement. It presented a socially aware band with a vital sense of melody counterpointed against a solid bass line, very clean, very modern. But the clip created a few false impressions, according to Andrew. "That was something that became very attached to the ideas about the band, as Closed Eyes had a very political and world-wide media type influence in it, which isn't necessarily reflective of the band generally. We aren't a political band really. Quite a few of the songs are really personal, more than social commentary. In fact, we've just redone the film clip of Closed Eyes for America. "The original clip was just a little too political for American release, since there was a bit of anti-American opinion reflected in it with that reference to Nicaragua - MTV just wasn't too happy about it! So we've done another one. "The Rich Kids did the original clip (they've done Jo Jo Zep's new clip and that one for Real Life) - they're great, but they've got a very strong political conscience which our song gave them free rein on because it was so political in its way. I've helped to script and co-produce the new clips that we've done for the second single, Decisions, and a couple of the other tracks from the album, and that'll be my sort of side of things from now on." Although the majority of the debut album is written by Tom, with a couple of songs by Neville, each member has developed a song writing capability and more and more songs are being written as a unit, as Expression songs. Andrew feels that people are going to be quite surprised by the album, because there is no-one playing material like theirs here in Australia - a strong synthesis of the old and the new which reflects the band's roots, the so-called dinosaurs like Genesis, Yes and Pink Floyd. At the same time, they are very much a modern band, utilising contemporary sounds, today's rhythms and power. Then there are Tom Haran's lyrics. Personal experiences for the most part, as Andrew has pointed out, they are still pertinent observations of life in the eighties. This harks back to a background of folk music, which Tom played in his youth. The Expression feel they have something to offer Australian music and that is important to them. For all the European influences, their first allegiance is to Australian rock and with it is a healthy respect for what Australians have achieved with their music. With the release of their album and singles in America, they hope that they too can contribute to the prestige Australian music has attained there already. (Smith 1983)

After a split during 1984, some of the band members travelled to the UK to record. Haran and Dowling kept the name and reformed for a short period, releasing the LP Conscience in 1985. The Expression subsequently disbanded and has never since re-reappeared, though individual members continue to record and perform. Singer Tom Haran, for example, has released two albums - Calling (2003) and Gallow Glass (2006). The band's two LPs were remastered and re-released on CD in Australia and the United States during 2006. A compilation of unreleased and live material appeared the following year.

The first LP is at present available for streaming on Amazon Music. The Australian Music Database site contains a listing of the band's numerous (12) members, along with a discography and reference to 25 known gigs (see below). The Discog site is also full of useful information about the band's output. A listing of the their videos at present available on YouTube follows. These comprise both official band-produced promotional clips and 'live' (usually mimed) recordings from TV shows such as Countdown. No live concert footage is known at this stage, and only a single live performance track has been released. As such, The Expression remains little known and will perhaps remain so, pending any reunion.

With Closed Eyes, Single, 1983.

* With Closed Eyes 1983 - 4.51 / 4.14 - Australian promotional clip, set in a war zone though actually filmed in an abandoned brickworks on the edge of Sydney. Released as a single in February 1983.

* With Closed Eyes 1983 - 3.37 - American promotional clip, with the band performing in a studio and also containing documentary footage.

* With Closed Eyes 1983 - 3.45 - miming on Countdown, March 1983.

* Decisions 1983 - 3.20 - promotional clip. Released as a single in August 1983.

* Decisions 1983 - 3.17 - miming the song on Countdown.

* Total Eclipse of the Heart 1983 - 4.33 - promotional clip filmed on and around a local beach. Released as a single in November 1983.

* Total Eclipse of the Heart 1983 (unreleased version 2007) - audio only.

* Nothing Changes 1983 - 4.29 / 4.14 - audio only.

* Right to a Slice 1983 - 3.17 - audio only. From the first album.

* Three Four Day - 1984 - 4.56 - audio only. Studio track, not released on the first album.

* Present Communication 1984 - 4.24 - miming to the song on Countdown. Released as a single in March 1984, off the first album.

* Small Brave Land 1985 - 4.02 - promotional clip. Released as a single. Produced clip of the full band performing, alongside scenes of Tom Haran riding a motorcycle, two Americans in a limousine crossing the Sydney Harbour bridge, coastal scenery and a girl dancing in her room.

* The Waiting Game 1985 - 6.09 - audio only. Released as a single.

* Run the Hill - 1985 - 4.35 - audio only.

* The Story Goes On 1985 - 5.21 - audio only. From the second album.

Tracks

Conscience, LP, 1985.

The following is a list of tracks available in association with the 2006-7 CD re-release.

• With Closed Eyes 1982  
• Dawn Day & Sleep 1982
• Total Eclipse 1982
• Right To A Slice 1982
• Present Communication 1983 4:56
• With Closed Eyes 1983 3:38
• Total Eclipse 1983 5:26
• Keep Appointments 1983 4:48
• Right To A Slice  1983 3:18
• Dawn, Day & Sleep 1983 4:53
• Decisions 1983 3:36
• You & Me 1983 5:07

  

  Unreleased... CD, 2007.

• About Tomorrow 1983 4:37
• Satisfied Strangers 1983 4:06
• Satisfied Stangers (Live) Bombay Rock, April 1984     
• You're Still Running 1984
• Old Mankind/I'd Walk Miles 1984
• Run The Hill 1984
• Small Brave Land 1985   
• Run The Hill 1985
• One More Time 1985     
• Old Mankind 1985
• You're Still Running 1985
• The Story Goes On 1985
• The Light Of Day 1985
• Glasshouse 1985
• The Waiting Game 1985

Chronology

1981

The Expression form in Sydney.

1982

Thursday 11 November 1982, Bayview Tavern, Gladesville, NSW                

1983

February - With Closed Eyes released on Mushroom records as a single.

Wednesday 2 February 1983, Family Inn, Rydalmere, NSW

Saturday 12 February 1983, Trade Union Club, Surry Hills, NSW

Friday 25 February 1983, Manly Vale Hotel, Manly Vale, NSW

Honi Soit, University of Sydney student magazine, No.4 [February] 1983. Extract: 24 hours of 2JJJ .... After these vocal exertions George Wayne indulged his peculiar and unique music tastes including far too much David Bowie, a couple of 505 songs that even 2WS would be ashamed to play, and the song “Closed Eyes” from the Expression that nobody but a hardened DJ could play twice in 3 hours. George also cracked a joke (What do you get when you put an old Californian hippy in a sound studio? The new Neil Young album — hahahahahahaha JayJayJay.) Donna Cunningham.

March - the band appears on Countdown, miming With Closed Eyes.

12  March 1983, Festival Rock, National Indoor Sports Centre, Canberra, ACT. The Expression appears with Mental as Anything.

Tharunka, University of New South Wales Student Association, Monday 21 March 1983 – The Expression, With Closed Eyes. The Expression are a Sydney band who do quite a few support gigs around town. Their debut single With Closed Eyes and also the flip side Nothing Changes are both great songs, especially for such a new band. They were recorded by Charles Fisher who worked on the Moving Pictures album, and he has brought their sound to the fullest although sometimes the music tends to sound a bit like Icehouse. This single is well worthwhile and make sure to give it a listen next time you feel like you can afford some new records.

Friday 29 April 1983, San Miguel Hotel, Cammeray, NSW

Sunday 15 May 1983, Bankstown Paceway, Bankstown, NSW

Monday 13 June 1983, Blondies Restaurant, Rockdale, NSW

Saturday 18 June 1983, Family Inn, Rydalmere, NSW

Sunday 3 July 1983, Blondies Restaurant, Rockdale, NSW

Wednesday 13h July 1983, St George Sailing Club, Sans Souci, NSW

Sunday 17h July 1983, Campbelltown Leagues Club, Leumeah, NSW

Saturday 23 July 1983, Family Inn, Rydalmere, NSW

Saturday 30 July 1983, The Tivoli, Sydney, NSW

August - Decisions is released as a single by Mushroom.

Saturday 6 August 1983, Goldstein College, Kensington, NSW

Sunday 7 August 1983, Caringbah Inn, Caringbah, NSW

Saturday 20 August 1983, The Tivoli, Sydney, NSW

Sunday 21 August 1983, Avalon Beach RSL, Avalon, NSW

Saturday 27 August 1983, Club Chevron, Late show, Melbourne, VIC

Saturday 27 August 1983, Tarmac Hotel, Laverton, VIC

Friday 9 September 1983, Balmain Leagues Club, Balmain, NSW

Wednesday 14 September 1983, St George Sailing Club, Sans Souci, NSW

Woroni, Australian National University Students Union, 19 September 1983. The Expression. Decisions. Mushroom. Another Aussie band trying to sound like they come from somewhere else (classic example being Real Life's 'Send me an Angel'). If it's the English sound they're aiming for, it's the Dapto sound they've got.

Friday 7 October 1983, Greenfield Tavern, Greenfield Park, NSW

Friday 28 October 1983, Eureka Hotel, Geelong, VIC

November - Total Eclipse of the Heart released as a single.

November - story on The Expression in Countdown magazine, by Michael Smith.

Countdown magazine, Sydney, November 1983.

Friday 18 November 1983, Greenfield Tavern, Greenfield Park, NSW

1984

March - Present Communication is released as a single. The band appear on Countdown.

April - Countdown awards nominate The Expression LP as Best Album by a New Band.

April - Satisfied Strangers is recorded live at Bombay Rock, Surfers Paradise.

Thursday 31 May 1984 - Student Representative Council Dance, University of Wollongong. The Expression headline, with The Jonnies.

Tertangala, UOW Students Representative Council, 29 May 1984.

late 1984 - The Expression splits and some members travel to England to begin recording their next album.

1985

July - Small Brave Land released as a single.

August - Conscience LP released.

Friday 2nd August 1985, The Manzil Room, Kings Cross, NSW.

References

Smith, Michael, What's The Expression?, Countdown magazine, November 1983, 25.

The Expression, Australian Music Database [website], accessed 20 January 2020. Available URL: http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/bands/the-expression. Includes a list of members, discography and a list of 25 known gigs 1982-85.

The Expression - Conscience, New Romantic Rules - On the edge of shadow: Eighties music and more [website]. Available URL: https://nrrules.blogspot.com/2008/02/expression-conscience-1984.html.

The Expression, Discog [website], accessed 20 January 2020. Available URL: https://www.discogs.com/artist/570753-The-Expression.

Tom Haran, Facebook, 2017. Available URL: https://www.facebook.com/harannow/.

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Last updated: 4 March 2020.
Michael Organ, Australia