The Adult Net
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Brix Smith |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Adult Net was a British indie pop ensemble established in 1984 by American vocalist and guitarist Brix Smith during her tenure with The Fall. Initially, the band featured support from Fall members such as Simon Rogers, Craig Scanlon, and Karl Burns, releasing four singles between 1985 and 1986. After their first single, Scanlon departed, followed by Burns after the subsequent release. In 1988, Smith and Rogers brought in ex-members of The Smiths, including Craig Gannon, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce, although these musicians had left by the time the group's sole album was recorded in 1989. The final formation comprised Smith, Gannon, former Blondie drummer Clem Burke, and bassist James Eller from The The. Following the commercial failure of their 1989 debut album The Honey Tangle, which did not enter the charts, their label Fontana Records terminated their contract in 1990, leading to the band's breakup.
Origins
In 1983, American singer and guitarist Brix Smith joined the British post-punk outfit The Fall and subsequently married its founder Mark E. Smith. While still part of The Fall, she collaborated with fellow member Simon Rogers to create The Adult Net in late 1984. Their first release was a rendition of the 1967 psychedelic rock track "Incense and Peppermints" originally by American group Strawberry Alarm Clock, issued through Beggars Banquet in April 1985. The band’s official lineup credited Brix on vocals and guitar, Ottersley Kipling (Simon Rogers) on bass, Silki Guth (Craig Scanlon) on guitar, and 'Mask' Aiechmann (Karl Burns) handling drums—essentially The Fall without Mark E. Smith, who contributed as guest 'Count Gunther Hoalingen' on select recordings. Production credits listed John Leckie under the pseudonym Swami Anand Nagara.
In November 1985, they unveiled "Edie," a homage to American actress Edie Sedgwick, performed by a trio consisting of Brix, Kipling, and Aiechmann. Early releases identified Brix simply as "Brix," while her songwriting credits appeared under "Brix E. Smith."
Two additional singles emerged in 1986: "White Night (Stars Say Go)," a cover of a track by English band The Lines, followed by "Waking Up in the Sun." The latter marked their initial entry into the charts, peaking at number 94 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1986. Both singles’ credits featured only 'Brix' and 'O. Kipling.' An album titled Spin This Web was recorded for Beggars Banquet in 1987 but was never officially released.
Fontana Records era
In 1988, Smith and Rogers brought on board former members of The Smiths—guitarist Craig Gannon, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce—while attempting to secure a deal with Geffen Records. During this period, Rogers abandoned his "O. Kipling" pseudonym, and Brix adopted the surname Smith for her stage name. This lineup did not produce any releases; shortly thereafter, Rogers, Rourke, and Joyce exited.
Subsequently, The Adult Net signed with Phonogram Records subsidiary Fontana Records, featuring a revamped roster: Smith, Gannon, bassist James Eller, and ex-Blondie drummer Clem Burke. This quartet recorded their 1989 album The Honey Tangle, produced by Craig Leon at London’s The Church Studios. They issued three singles: "Take Me," which reached #78; "Where Were You," a cover of a 1966 single by The Grass Roots that peaked at #66; and a re-recorded version of "Waking Up in the Sun," reaching #99. Shortly after releasing the album—and following her divorce from Mark E. Smith earlier that year—Brix departed from The Fall. Despite these efforts, the album failed to chart, resulting in Fontana dropping the band in October 1990; The Adult Net disbanded soon afterward.
Musical style
During a 1987 conversation with Sounds, Richard Cook characterized The Adult Net's initial single as a revival of psychedelic sounds, emphasizing Smith's interest in a vintage pop aesthetic. American critic Ira Robbins described the group as a "flower-power inspired side project linked to the Fall," noting sporadic country music elements while commending The Honey Tangle for its infectious power-folk-pop vibe that evokes early 1980s Los Angeles. In his review for Allmusic, Stewart Mason referred to the early singles as "edgy fusions of guitars and electronic elements" reminiscent of Factory Records' prime era, and depicted The Honey Tangle as "polished, jangly, and amiable pop" that could have fit Top 40 radio in an alternate reality.
Albums
- The Honey Tangle (1989)
Singles
- "Incense and Peppermints" (1985)
- "Edie" (1985)
- "White Nights (Stars Say Go)" (1986)
- "Waking Up in the Sun" (1986) UK No. 94
- "Take Me" (1989) UK No. 78
- "Where Were You" (1989) UK No. 66
- "Waking Up in the Sun" (1989) UK No. 99
External links
- The Adult Net music videos at Universal Music Group