In Embrace
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Coventry , England |
| Products | Albums, singles, EPs |
In Embrace was a British band from Leicestershire, established in 1981 and later relocating to Coventry, England. Their style incorporated elements of art rock, alternative rock, and indie pop. Over their active years, they produced two albums, seven singles, and an EP/mini-album before dissolving in 1987.
History
The group originated in 1981, founded by Gary Knight (vocals, keyboards, guitar) and Cameron Lindo (guitar, keyboards, vocals), who had previously played together in the post-punk outfit 3-Way Dance. Drawing inspiration from bands such as Eyeless in Gaza and Young Marble Giants, their intention was to express a wider spectrum of emotions. Their first release was the EP The Initial Caress, issued through Glass Records in May 1982. That year also saw the release of the single "Sun Brings Smiles" and their debut album Passionfruit Pastels, following support from DJ John Peel on radio.
After Lindo left, Knight brought in guitarist Richard Formby and drummer Joby Palmer to complete the lineup that produced the second album Too in 1983. Bassist Steve Rees joined for the singles "Your Heaven Scent" and "Shouting in Cafes." The latter single marked a label change from Glass Records to Cherry Red Records and received airplay from DJ Janice Long. Guitarist Clive Dove replaced Formby for Cherry Red’s release "This Brilliant Evening." Throughout these changes, the band stayed based in Coventry with Knight as the sole constant member. Among other lineup shifts was the addition of Peter Becker from Eyeless in Gaza, who contributed bass, keyboards, and various instruments on their final singles "A Room Upstairs" and "What's Got into Me?" as well as on their last completed but unreleased album Songs About Snogging, which remained shelved due to financial constraints.
Following his time with In Embrace, Formby joined Spectrum and The Jazz Butcher and later established himself as a producer for acts including Wild Beasts. Palmer also collaborated with Eyeless in Gaza; Dove became involved with Russian For Money; Rees performed alongside Marina Del Ray.
In 1986, Glass Records compiled the band's recordings for a retrospective titled Wanderlust. Cherry Red included In Embrace tracks on various compilations such as A Fine Day...and a Brilliant Evening: Cherry Red Rarities 1983–1985.
With the revival of Glass Records as Glass Redux in 2015, Passionfruit Pastels was reissued featuring bonus material and comprehensive liner notes by Knight. Later that year saw the CD release of The Initial Caress, augmented by previously unheard demo recordings.
Passionfruit Pastels received a four-star rating from Mojo magazine (February 2016), which described it as "a ravishing rediscovery."
By late 2018, Glass Redux issued an expanded edition of Too, remastered with nine additional tracks and rare photographs. This release was accompanied by unseen video footage from their 1983 sessions at Woodbine Recording Studio.
In February 2019, Mojo magazine featured "Our Star Drawn Through Panes" from Passionfruit Pastels on its complimentary CD showcasing standout alternative pop songs from the 1980s.
Emotional Rescue announced in August 2019 a vinyl EP for "The Living Daylights," which included both original and newly mixed versions; it was released on March 23, 2020.
In January 2021, Glass Modern opened pre-orders for Bonfire Of Love Letters, a rarities collection presenting six rare B-sides digitally available for the first time alongside four unreleased tracks produced by Peter Becker. The set also contained live recordings from 1984 plus cover versions of Young Marble Giants' "Brand-New-Life" and Kevin Hewick's "Make." Mastered by Colin Lloyd Tucker with artwork by Knight, it officially launched on March 12 as a limited edition CD and digital release across major platforms.
March 2021 saw the publication of a full-color paperback titled In Embrace: Bonfire Of Love Letters, authored by Knight with contributions from Dove, Becker, Dave Barker (Glass Modern), Stuart Moxham (Young Marble Giants), and Kevin Hewick. The volume includes lyrics, detailed notes, photographs, gig information, and personal anecdotes.
In August 2021, Demon Music Group featured In Embrace's track "Your Heaven Scent (Plays Hell With Me)" on Gary Crowley's Lost 80s Volume 2, a four-CD compilation alongside prominent artists such as Elvis Costello and The Human League.
October 2021’s Cherry Red box set The Sun Shines Here, chronicling indie pop’s development, included In Embrace’s debut single "Sun Brings Smiles" among influential peers like Prefab Sprout and The Jesus and Mary Chain.
Cherry Red’s October 2022 box set C85 highlighted "Shouting In Cafes," showcasing significant indie-pop/rock artists from the mid-1980s era including Primal Scream and James.
In February 2023, Glass Modern released the compilation Glass Remade/Remodelled, which features contemporary artists covering tracks originally released on Glass Records; In Embrace’s "Tears Turn Fresh" was reinterpreted by Deux Filles (Simon Turner and Colin Lloyd Tucker).
Books
- In Embrace: Bonfire Of Love Letters (2021, paperback edition, purchasable via Amazon)
Albums
- The Initial Caress (1982 Mini Album), Glass; reissued in 2015 as CD with demos and digital format by Glass Redux
- Passionfruit Pastels (1982 LP), Glass; re-released in 2015 on CD with additional tracks plus digital by Glass Redux
- Too (1983 LP), Glass; expanded Grande Edition CD with bonus tracks and digital release in 2018 by Glass Redux
- Songs About Snogging (1987), Glass (unissued)
- Bonfire Of Love Letters (2021 Limited-edition CD and digital), Glass Modern
Compilations
- Wanderlust (1982–1984 LP) (1986), Glass
- This Brilliant Evening (1986), Music-Box/Cherry Red
- A Fine Day & A Brilliant Evening (2003), Cherry Red CD featuring Jane & Barton and Grab Grab The Haddock
Singles/EPs
- Sun Brings Smiles (1982 7-inch), Glass
- The Living Daylights (1983 7-inch), Glass
- Your Heaven Scent (Plays Hell With Me) (1984 12+7-inch), Glass
- Shouting in Cafés (1985 12+7-inch), Cherry Red
- This Brilliant Evening (1985 12+7-inch), Cherry Red
- A Room Upstairs (1986 12+7-inch), Glass
- What's Got into Me? (1987 12-inch EP), Glass
- The Living Daylights (Timothy J. Fairplay Remixes) (2020 12-inch and digital EP), Emotional Rescue