Aerial FX

Aerial FX was an English coldwave band from Oxford, Oxfordshire, that released a single apiece on Square and Island in 1980/81, followed by the 1982 album Watching the Dance on Kamera.

Members: Chris Hufford (vocals, rhythm guitar), Bryce Edge (keyboards, backing vocals), Richard Hart (lead guitar), Andy Melton (bass)

Background

Aerial FX formed in Oxford in 1980 when singer-guitarist Chris Hufford and keyboardist Bryce Edge renamed their existing group Exit 13. Richard Hart played lead guitar beside bassist Andy Melton and drummer Simon Bladon. The quintet recorded a series of demos in 1980 under the new name.

Aerial FX signed a publishing agreement with Island Music and first released “So Hard” (b/w “It’s About Time”) through Square Records, with John Owen Williams as producer. John Peel played “So Hard” on March 19, 1981, in a BBC Radio 1 broadcast. Aerial FX followed with “Take It From Here” (b/w “Somewhere”) on May 15, 1981, through Island Records, again with Williams as producer. The group played shows in London and elsewhere in Britain through this period. Aerial FX then secured further studio time and entered the sessions for Watching the Dance.

Album:

• Watching the Dance (1982)

Singles:

• “So Hard” / “It’s About Time” (1980)
• “Take It From Here” / “Somewhere” (1981)
• “Instant Feelings” / “5: 15” (1982)