English eccentric Martin Newell carved out a career in Cleaners from Venus and under his own name, cranking out cheerfully poppy tunes throughout the '80s and beyond. His career started in the '70s with Plod and Gypp. Newell left the latter in 1979 and before long was recording his own songs with encouragement and help from Dave Hoser. The two formed a band, with drummer Michael "Stix" Natkanski, bassist Tony Phillips (Gypp), and guitarist Malcolm Burch (Braintree), named themselves the Stray Trolleys, and rehearsed and recorded a batch of Newell's songs. Ranging from rambling pub rock to poppy new wave, 14 songs were recorded at Hoser's Octopus Studio during 1980. Newell released the tracks in 1982 under the title Barricades and Angels. ~ Tim Sendra