Biting Tongues

Biting Tongues emerged from Manchester's experimental music scene, initially forming to provide a sonic backdrop for a 16mm silent film of the same name. The band's genesis involved Ken Hollings, Howard Walmsley, Eddie Sherwood, and others, responding to an open invitation for creative exploration at Tony Wilson's Factory Club. Following their initial performance, Colin Seddon and Graham Massey joined, solidifying the group's core members.

The band's creative process embraced a wide range of source materials, including overheard conversations, news reports, film dialogue, and writings from various subcultures. This openness allowed Biting Tongues to freely experiment with new ideas and approaches. Their debut album, Don't Heal, was recorded in two distinct sessions. The 'Dark Room Skin Transfers' portion, captured in August 1980 at Drone Studios, featured a deliberately dry sound due to the studio's denim-clad, "dead room" acoustics, with minimal overdubs. The 'The White Valise' side, recorded in January 1981 at the more refined Pennine studios, incorporated ambient sounds, such as the coffee machine in the hall, which can be heard on the track "Heart Disease." Despite being the first release on the Situation 2 label, Don't Heal achieved modest sales.