"Effortlessly seductive, reducing odd syllables to a whisper, a sense of calm weeping from every note in spite of the articulation of loss and loneliness, confusion and incomprehension, fears and pains, yearnings and soft burnings . . . The album is a triumph of minimalism, dreamscapes gently stirred to pale life through the gentle fingering of fretboards and keyboards . . . Grasping at clouds and clinging to Gabriel's frayed gown. A wonder." (MELODY MAKER)
Area began in 1985 when Steve Jones asked Lynn Canfield and Henry Frayne to participate in a recording project. From there the trio recorded five albums; then went on extended leave in 1990. Lynn and Henry formed another band, The Moon Seven Times, which recorded three albums for Third Mind / Roadrunner; eventually disbanding in 1998. Lynn then formed Shotgun Wedding, with Brendan Gamble (also of Mx7) and others; while Henry recorded under the name Lanterna, and signed with Rykodisc for an album. Shotgun Wedding disbanded, and Lynn is now writing and touring in Lynn Canfield & Hot Tub Party.
Meantime, Projekt Record has been reissuing the original Area albums as part of the Projekt: Archive series. In 1998 Radio Caroline and The Perfect Dream were reissued, while February of 2000 saw the release of Between Purple & Pink and Fragments of the Morning.
Jones began writing new music for Area in 1996 with Mel Eberle, formerly his bandmate in The Arms of Someone New, and Kris Krasnowski on vocals. Kris sung backing vocals on "The One Year" on the Fragments of the Morning album, and sung lead vocals on "O Come Emmanuel" on Projekt's Excelsis: A Dark Noel CD as well as on "Too Far Away (Drum 'n' Tabby Mix)" on Projekt's A Cat-Shaped Hole in my Heart (Lynn Canfield's Shotgun Wedding appears on that album, and solo she appears on Excelsis vol. 2 - A Winter's Song.
Work on a new Area album for 2000 or 2001 continues.
Discography: Projekt
ARC00016 Radio Caroline CD (Projekt: Archive, 1987) ARC00017 The Perfect Dream CD (Projekt: Archive, 1988) ARC00019 between PURPLE and PINK CD (Projekt: Archive, 1989) ARC00020 Fragments of the Morning CD (Projekt: Archive, 1990) ARC00026 White Canvas New Hope (Projekt: Archive, 1986) ARC00028 Agate Lines (a retrospective) (Projekt: Archive, 1989)
Darkwave none
Merchandise: none