By Night (EP)

By Night
EP by
The Bats
Released1984 (1984)
Recorded1984 at Nightshift Studios in Christchurch, New Zealand
GenreDunedin sound, indie pop, alternative rock
LabelFlying Nun[1]
ProducerThe Bats
The Bats chronology
By Night
(1984) 		And Here Is 'Music for the Fireside'
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[3]

By Night is the debut recording of New Zealand indie rock group The Bats, released in 1984.[4][5][6]

In 1990, Flying Nun released the first three Bats EPs as Compiletely Bats. However, the track "My Way," from this EP, was omitted. It was added in the 2010 remastered reissue of the CD.

Critical reception

Trouser Press called it "paradoxically morose and exhilarating; each song a moody pop gem, with hints of the hard-strummed countryisms of Gram Parsons."[5] PopMatters wrote that it balances "pop grace and idiosyncrasy."[7]

Track listing

Side 1
No.TitleLength
1."I Go Wild" 
2."Jewellers Heart" 
3."By Night" 
Side 2
No.TitleLength
4."My Way" 
5."Man In The Moon" 
6."United Airways" 

Personnel

  • Malcolm Grant - drums
  • Paul Kean - backing vocals, bass
  • Robert Scott - lead vocals, guitar, piano
  • Kaye Woodward - backing vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar

References

  1. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 465.
  2. ^ "By Night - The Bats | User Reviews | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 31–32.
  4. ^ "The Bats | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  5. ^ a b "Bats". Trouser Press. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Perfect Sound Forever: Robert Scott interview". www.furious.com.
  7. ^ "The Bats: By Night". PopMatters. 16 June 2013.