SAPPHIRE (UK-Preston) - Sapphire (demo, 1982) plus II (demo, 1983)

RATING: 7/10

Perhaps we can describe this as a pre-review? I mean, it recently came to my knowledge that Lancashire's Sapphire (not to be confused with their - also pretty good - London namesakes) are going to receive a proper CD/LP release at long last, compiling the couple independent releases that are know to us to this day (and perhaps, fingers crossed, some yet-unreleased curios as well?). It made my day knowing this really, as I have been an ardent admirer of the band for roughly 20 years now, having been lucky enough to download both cassette releases via SoulSeek in 2006 or thereabouts - or was it even earlier, maybe a year or so? I can't really remember now, but fact is it was love at first listen, and (though I was never able to locate and/or acquire original copies myself) I'm very thankful that the mp3 files and picture scans came my way in a period when (even with the invaluable help of landmark sources of info such as Malc McMillan's NWOBHM Encyclopedia) I simply wasn't even aware they ever existed, let alone looking for their music. That Sapphire's music will finally be available in proper, collectable formats got me so pumped up that I've been listening to their music all day, and ultimately felt it would be a good time as any to write a few lines about it - not only as a reference to their charming and catchy brand of NWOBHM music, but also as a strong incentive to every good reader to buy a copy as soon as possible, as (just like it came to be the case with Turbo's magnificent "Charged for... Glory" compilation from Cult Metal Classics) I'm pretty sure it will be one of the most valuable additions to the NWOBHM retrospective releases in recent memory.

There's no doubt the upcoming release will offer plenty of interesting trivia and first-hand accounts about Sapphire (and I damn sure want you to buy it when it comes out), so I won't make any exhaustive efforts to tell every single snippet of info I know about the band (not that I actually know their history in minute detail, you know). Still, some context is always welcome, am I right? The group was originally formed in Preston, Lancashire in November 1981, and it originally worked as a trio with brothers Graham (G) and David Coupe (D) alongside Stewart Mayor (B), putting a number of original numbers together before recruiting Jan Holmes as a lead singer. After a few shows, Mayor left and Ian Dargie (B) took his place, and new singer Dave Drew was invited into the fun, with Holmes assuming keyboard duties instead. This is the line-up that recorded the band's first tape at the local Countdown Studios in the final months of 1982, which allegedly sold in excess of 400 copies and got a very good response in places like Belgium (where they seem to have become something of a pirate-rock-radio sensation for a while) and the Netherlands. Some line-up changes were on the horizon though, with David Coupe and Dave Drew leaving and being substituted by Carl Parker (D) and Ben Morris (V), and this 5-piece would record in June 1983 the five tracks that comprise their second and final tape release. Things looked very promising for a while, and their first (and, so far, only) vinyl appearance as part of the "It's Unheard Of!" compilation in 1984 (with an abridged version of "Encounter") sure have done their chances no harm whatsoever. But no further music was ever heard from the band, and it seems that Sapphire were no longer active by the 1985 or thereabouts. They seem to have been pretty determined in their quest for fame and fortune, going to great lengths to spread their tapes wherever possible and getting as far as planning a full Belgian tour for 1984 (which I'm sure never came to be, unfortunately), so I suppose the lads, having given their best shot for a few very eventful years, ultimately concluded the band had run its course and collectively opted to disband, in order to pursue other interests. None of the members resurfaced in any other bands of note, at least that I'm aware of, but I'm sure the forthcoming compilation will offer us some much welcome extra info in due course. 

The first demo (a release that, given its careful presentation, have been described by different sources as a cassette album) is perhaps slightly more widely known than the sophomore "II" tape, but fact is that most metalheads out there (including a large percentage of NWOBHM enthusiasts) are simply unfamiliar with Sapphire's music, which is a clear indication that the world has gone completely mad indeed. What we hear in "Sapphire" (the debut tape) is elegant, dynamic heavy metal with more than a taste of 70's hard rock (most of all in the style of choice of singer David Drew) and generous connections to the then-flourishing prog rock revival scene, most of all due to the prominent (but not at all intrusive) use of keyboards. In fact, two of the tracks here featured ("Autumn" and "Freeflight") are instrumental cuts with more than a leaning towards full-blown proggy music - and, to be frank, both are little more than keyboard-driven filler that, regardless of its good intentions, won't do much for most metal palates, I'm afraid. That being said, the rest of the material is very good, even surprisingly original in places, as one have to consider the musicians involved were in their early twenties at the very most. Opening track "Encounter" is quite a blast actually, a tale about a contact with alien spaceships that (despite the somewhat silly lyrics) really captures the listener's attention without ever letting go. The use of keyboards is very clever (with melodies that are quite reminiscent of "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind", who would have ever guessed), the mid-tempo drive of the song works beautifully and the vocal lines are truly enjoyable, most of all the very memorable chorus. It has its rough edges, that's for sure, but it's still a remarkably catchy tune that is sure to live rent-free inside your mind for quite a while after listening to it.

But Sapphire are not one-hit-wonders, mind you. "Love is the Feeling" is a delightful, hard-hitting tune that strongly brings to mind a slightly more melodic Trespass (the riffs, though surely not a carbon-copy, are actually not that dissimilar to "One of These Days", incidentally), whereas "Back on the Streets" (enhanced by a simple, but very nice atmospheric mid session) and "Two Timer" are your typical NWOBHM fare - and I mean it in the best way possible, these being tracks that bands like A II Z and Bashful Alley would be glad to call their own. "Crazy" is a mellower tune that starts rather unpromising, but gains a lot of oomph when the guitars kick in, and final track "Battle for Freedom" is a more epic cut with more pretentious arrangements - and, though not a award-winning display of faultless songwriting (it kinda sounds like the lads are struggling to keep it together in places), it's still a commendable step in the right direction in the learning curve towards the most complex end of the metal spectrum. All in all, a pretty nice collection of songs for such a young act, and one that should really gather a fair dose of attention from the record labels of the day, if there was any justice in the world.

The second tape (succintly-named "II") shows some perceivable differences in the band's approach, with arrangements clearly leaning towards a more polished, proggy sound - though never letting their hard/heavy fans down, you can rest assured of that. Actually, I tend to think that songs like "One Last Chance" and most of all "Third Precinct Seventeen" show Sapphire under the most favorable light, with the 5-piece surely moving towards a sound that is all their own, without any obvious comparisons with anyone else. In fact, I'd say "Third Precinct Seventeen" is my favorite song from Sapphire (and I pretty much like them all, you know), with colourful lyrics about some personal tragedy carried along by forceful, dynamic guitar riffing and pretty colourful performances from all members. The stop-and-go chorus is memorable as hell, and I can't help but think how nice if will be if some modern NWOTHM band ever pick this one up as a cover, giving it a proper reworking and more modern production values. "One Last Chance" is a more typical heavy rock number, but I simply love the keyboards on this one, and another catchy chorus is sure to replay into your brain for days after listening to it. 

"851216" is a bit more laid back, with keyboard melodies that float above the rest of the band almost like a different song - this actually being pretty nice, as it gives the track something of a ethereal, slightly haunting vibe. But the verses and chorus are not that memorable to be frank, the track as a whole failing to reach the heights of its two predecessors. Final tracks "Coming of the Storm" and "Twilight Watcher" are the most adventurous of the batch, though not moving too deep into flamboyant arrangements or busy displays of dexterity - let's face it, the lads playing it were undeniably talented, but not skilled enough to awe the world with their musicianship just yet. "Coming of the Storm" starts as a pretty decent mid-tempo number with pensive lyrics until halfway through, when it lays the pedal to the floor and launches into a fast-and-furious section that, albeit pretty simple, still works out quite nicely. "Twilight Watcher", on the other hand, is not that long (4-minutes straight), but I'd say it's very ambitious for its running time, with nice guitar-keys dialogues and a few surprising changes in dynamics that can really take the listener off guard. It also gets pretty heavy towards the end, though it doesn't quite take it to the limit like in the previous track. A pretty nice piece of music nonetheless, and it comes to show that Sapphire had a fair number of tricks under their sleeves after all, and could have evolved into something truly special if given a modicum of encouragement and financial backing.

As stated above, I'm not familiar with the events that led to Sapphire's disbanding, but I sincerely hope some much belated adulation will come their way at long last, and a few comeback shows would be something of a dream come true really. I'd definitely try to schedule my vacations and book a travel to wherever they would play, if I can only find the time (and the money) to do so! It's all only a wild conjecture of mine by this point, but the world is always full of surprises (the Bleak House reunion was quite unexpected for instance, at least for me), so just let me dream a little, right? While none of it comes to fruition, and the Sapphire CD/LP is a promise rather than a reality, let's hold on to the mp3 files (or the old tapes, if you lucky to have it) for a while, savoring the taste of pleasant dreams on their way to become truth. I'll drink to that tonight.

David Drew (V), Graham Coupe (G), Ian Dargie (B), Ian Holmes (K/V), David Coupe (D).

01. Encounter (D.Coupe, Drew, G.Coupe, Dargie, Holmes) 5:15
02. Autumn (Holmes) 1:11
03. Back on the Streets (G.Coupe) 3:43
04. Crazy (G.Coupe) 4:24
05. Love is the Feeling (D.Coupe, Drew, G.Coupe) 4:00
06. Two Timer (G.Coupe) 3:19
07. Freeflight (G.Coupe) 2:46
08. Battle for Freedom (D.Coupe, G.Coupe, Holmes, S.Mayor) 3:37

Ben Holmes (V), Graham Coupe (G), Ian Dargie (B), Ian Holmes (K/V), Carl Parker (D).

01. Third Precinct Seventeen (G.Coupe) 5:08
02. One Last Chance (G.Coupe) 4:43
03. 851216 (G.Coupe) 4:36
04. Coming of the Storm (G.Coupe, Holmes) 6:05
05. Twilight Watcher (G.Coupe, Dargie, Holmes) 4:09

Have you been involved with any of the bands mentioned here? Have any extra info and/or corrections? Please e-mail me at drequon@gmail.com and let me know!