God's Own Medicine

Performer: The Mission UK (UK)
Producer: Tim Palmen
Distributor: Fontana Distribution

Notes: Following their messy divorce from the Sisters of Mercy, Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams formed a new band, the Sisterhood. Before they got going though, more legal squabbling with the Sisters camp caused another name change. Now dubbed the Mission, they debuted with a pair of singles that set the stage for their full-length LP, GOD'S OWN MEDICINE. As the Mission, Hussey and Adams (along with the former drummer from the vastly underrated Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and the guitarist from the largely unknown Artery) explored a more prominent "rock" sound than any of their pedigrees would suggest. That said, the synthesizer washes and Hussey's end-on-end lyrical metaphors still toed the goth line pretty closely. Standouts include "Wasteland," which quickly recovers from it's stunningly pompus, spoken-word intro, evolving a steady rhythm of chugging drums offset by dueling guitars, and "Burning Bridges," a pushy, insistent track that highlights Simon Hinkler's crystalline guitar work. Also of note is the slithering rocker "Blood Brother," which features some of Hussey's more emotive vocals (though oddly enough, this track was not on the original album, rather it was added to the cassette and CD versions as one of the two bonus tracks).

CMJ (1/5/04, p.20) - Ranked #9 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1987"

Known as the Mission U.K. stateside to avoid confusion with a similarly named Philly soul band, The Mission formed in 1985 when singer Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams strayed from goth mainstays Sisters of Mercy. Plying a just slightly more melodic, but still ferocious, brand of dark-tinged rock, the band swiftly became a live phenomenon. The four-piece were also regulars on the U.K. pop and U.S. modern rock charts through the late-`80s and early-`90s with enduring hits like "Wasteland" and "Deliverance."

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