Never Ending A Film Noir

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Film Noir might have been short-lived but they are still considered an outstanding Greek new wave band of the 80s mainly because of their first album titled “Never Ending Dream”.

The band was formed in 1985 and soon started playing live mostly in the Cat’s Meow Club on Syggrou Avenue in Athens.

Their singer, Maria-Gabriela Loukaki (Mariela), was a great performer on stage, reminiscent of Siouxsie Sioux.  The band’s songs were closely in line with the styles of Cure, Xmal Deutchland, as well as Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Their drummer, S. Adam (Spyros Floros), was the former drummer of the punk rock band, Ausschwitss, while their guitar player, Kostas Sokialis, produced several other records, such as the electro single of the band In Trance 95.

Film Noir released the album “Never Ending Dream” in 1986 through an independent label and the album slowly received a cult status, especialy in the late the 90s. 

Mariela left the band in late 1987, moving to Australia for a while to become a model. 

Without their female singer the band looked like they had a huge problem and soon lost their musical identity. 

film noir

They released a second album in 1990 titled “Portrait of a Child”, but I never heard of any gigs with their new line up.  This time they had a male singer behind the mic and the sound was very close to David Sylvian’s Japan. 

Nothing else was ever released from this band, which to me sounded like two completely different bands under the same name.

Their bass player, Coti K. (Kyriakou), later produced bands such as Tuxedomoon, Stereo Nova, The Flowers of Romance, and Raining Pleasure.  He still releases very interesting abstract electronica albums.

Sadly, Mariela Loukaki passed away at the age of 33 after losing her battle with cancer.

You can listen to this band here

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