Dif Juz for Monday Lunch – recorded at Town & Country in London on November 17, 1986.
If Dif Juz doesn’t immediately ring bells for you, you’re not alone. I confess, they escaped my otherwise eagle-eye for music when they were around in 1986 (the year they ironically broke up). And even though they were together for a short period of time (1980-1986), they left a lasting impression on the Post-Punk transitioning to New Wave transitioning to Shoegaze in the mid-late 1980s. This particular concert features Di Juz in a support capacity, opening for The Cocteau Twins during this period. Ironically, they would call it quits shortly after this gig.
Dif Juz signed with the 4AD label, and a demo was played by John Peel. The band performed a number of gigs in the London area in 1981, most notably at the Moonlight Club in West Hampstead and at Ealing Town Hall. The band’s debut album with the label, Extractions, was released in 1985. It reached No. 11 on the UK Indie Chart.
The band befriended fellow labelmates Cocteau Twins and frequently collaborated with them. Cocteau Twins guitarist Robin Guthrie produced several of their recordings and vocalist Elizabeth Fraser sang on “Love Insane” from the album Extractions; in turn, Thomas played saxophone and tabla on Cocteau Twins’ 1986 album Victorialand. Occasionally, the two bands toured together and played together at the Sadlers Wells Theatre.
Although the band was mainly instrumental, they occasionally worked with a vocalist from North London, Hollis Chambers.
At one point they served as a backing band for reggae/dub luminary Lee Scratch Perry for a few live dates. A studio album of this collaboration was recorded with Robin Guthrie as producer, but the album was never released and sits unheard in the 4AD vaults.
The band never officially disbanded. However, due to health issues, neither founders Dave Curtis nor Gary Bromley were able to devote the time needed to the band, and this led to a “slow dissolve”. For a time, the band continued with bass player Scott Rodger who performed and recorded with the band on “Out of The Trees” and subsequent touring, but the spark seemed to be diminishing. The final step to dissolution occurred when Dif Juz percussionist Richard Thomas became a touring drummer for The Jesus and Mary Chain.
Thomas has also worked with Butterfly Child, Moose, Felt, Cocteau Twins, The Wolfgang Press and April March. In 2017 Thomas joined with Simon Raymonde (former Cocteau Twins) under the name of Lost Horizons, releasing music via the Bella Union label. Bromley lives in Louisville, Kentucky where he hosts his weekly radio show, Outernational with Sir Basil Bromley, on ARTxFM and continues to release solo material. He has been a major influence on many of the bands that are based in Louisville and often performs with an outfit called The Children. Bromley is seen as a major contributor to the dub and reggae scene in Louisville. Dave Curtis spent some time collaborating with the Wolfgang Press, This Mortal Coil and Tranquil Trucking Company.
Perfect lunchtime music – best when cranked up and played over headphones . . .just a suggestion.
Over to you.
