Liverpool post-punk pioneers The Room present ‘Magic Games’, a lighter nostalgic single from their new ‘Doom Pop!’ album, telling the story of a child in his grandmother’s parlour in the early 1960s using surreal and fragmented imagery.
Through impressionistic lyrics about ghost riders, ancient books, and figures in armor, the band critiques the confusing, authoritarian-tinged state of the contemporary world. This track is a commentary on how reality is often obscured by false narratives and information overload, positioning the listener as an observer trapped in a disorienting, high-stakes game.
Favourites of John Peel, The Room was formed by singer Dave Jackson and bassist Becky Stringer in 1979, during the golden years of northern English post-punk. Reforming in 2022 after disbanding in 1985, they are now joined by guitarist Darren Brown, keyboardist Ethan Kyme, and original drummer Clive Thomas.
‘Doom Pop!’, their third album released via 9×9 Records, was inspired by the strange days we are living through. While exploring the rise of authoritarianism, disinformation and war, it equally draws inspiration from science fiction, horror, and cinematic liminal spaces. Recorded and mixed at Ark Studios in Liverpool, this album was co-produced by Dave Jackson and Steve Powell (Michael Head & the Red Elastic Band, Autour De Lucie, Echo & The Bunnymen).
“In contrast to the darker tone of much of the album, ‘Magic Games’ is based on early memories; playing with toy knights and scuba divers in my grandparents’ parlour while listening to Vaughan Monroe sing ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’, while a distantly remembered Grandad slept in his armchair with a bottle of his favourite beer next to the fireguard. The way a child’s mind turns multiple sources of inspiration into fodder for adventures in the mind. A big tin Fire Engine. The Just So Stories. Book illustrations of the Spanish Armada and Francis Drake,” explains Dave Jackson.
Earlier, the band showcased melodic post-punk driven by jangling guitars, relentless momentum, and distinctive drumming through the singles ‘Drill, Baby, Drill!’, ‘The Room’ and ‘Things Have Learnt to Walk that Ought to Crawl’, the latter track re-envisioning their 1982 cult classic. The album’s eleven hook-driven post-punk songs confront the anxieties of modern life, balancing political urgency with imagination and nostalgia.
“We aimed at shorter, sharper, more pop-oriented songs than on our previous album… While the songs ‘Drones’, ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’, ‘Continent of Lies’ and ‘Doom Patrol’ concern the paranoia and destruction emanating from worldwide warmongers and oligarchs, other songs are influenced by a love of science fiction, horror and liminal spaces. ‘The Room’ is about the film ‘Stalker’ and a man who guides ‘tourists’ through a Zone corrupted by alien technology. ‘Temptation Harbour’ references three films by the late director Bela Tarr,” says Dave Jackson.
‘Things Have Learnt to Walk that Ought to Crawl’ is a the only older song re-envisioned for this album… ‘No One Comes Here From The Town’ is a response to Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Haunting Of Hill House’, and ‘Trespassing’ attempts to sum up Dave Jackson’s unproduced science fiction screenplay ‘Trespassing’ in a 3-minute pop song, tangentially influenced by Dave Bowie’s ‘Drive In Saturday’. ‘Stories’ is about an inspirational storyteller who said, “Stories told thrice become our possessions”.
The Room recorded four John Peel sessions, appeared on The Whistle Test and worked with Television’s Tom Verlaine and John Porter (Roxy Music, TheSmiths, Billy Bragg) on their ‘In Evil Hour’ LP (1984), aside from releasing three other albums (‘Bitter Reaction’ in 1980, ‘Indoor Fireworks’ in 1982 and ‘Clear!’ in 1983. Recordings from Janice Long’s BBC Radio One programme and Saturday Live were used for the 1985 release ‘Jackpot Jack’ EP.
Following the band’s split, Becky and Dave went on to form Benny Profane, Dust and Dead Cowboys. Dave has also recorded under his own name and as The Room in the Wood (with Paul Cavanagh).
The Room toured the UK and the USA, and performed with The Fall, The Birthday Party, Bauhaus, Southern Death Cult, Violent Femmes, Tom Verlaine, John Foxx and The Red Guitars. Since reforming, they have since performed at Shiiine On festival and Preston Pop Fest, and have toured or played with The Red Guitars, Blue Orchids, Trupa Trupa, and Estonia with Shelton San.
‘Doom Pop!’ is out now on CD and limited edition mixed eco-vinyl, distributed in North America via Darla Records. It is also everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where 2023’s ‘Restless Fate’ album and 2024’s ‘The Telling’ are also available.
TRACK LIST
1 . Drill, Baby, Drill
2 . Magic Games
3 . Things Have Learnt to Walk That Ought to Crawl
4 . Trespassing
5 . Temptation Harbour
6 . Doom Patrol
7 . Continent Of Lies
8 . The Room
9 . No One Comes Here from the Town
10 . Stories
11 . Drones
CREDITS
Lyrics by Dave Jackson. Music written by The Room
Dave Jackson – vocals
Becky Stringer – bass
Darren Brown – guitar
Ethan Kyme – keyboards (and Theremin on Track 1)
Clive Thomas – drums on all songs (except 8 & 10) and backing vocals on Track 3
Tom McCabe – drums on Tracks 8 & 10
Helena Jacks – backing vocals on Track 7
Recorded & Mixed by Steve Powell at Ark Recording Studios, Liverpool
Produced by Dave Jackson and Steve Powell
Mastered by Pete Maher
Cover artwork by Genevieve Baker
Video by Marco Cecere
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
COMING SHOWS
Nov 3 – PRESTON @ The Ferret (with Swell0
Nov 8 – PRESTON @ New Continental – all dayer
Nov 13 – LONDON @ Dublin Castle