The Cleaners From Venus in London

The Cleaners From Venus is an English lo-fi pop project formed in Wivenhoe, Essex, in 1980 by songwriter Martin Newell and drummer Lol Elliott. Home-recorded cassette albums such as On Any Normal Monday, Midnight Cleaners and Under Wartime Conditions established their mix of new wave, jangle pop and psychedelia; “Only a Shadow” is among their best-known songs. The early cassette albums circulated by mail without conventional supporting tours, and performances under the project’s name remained rare for much of its history. Later club appearances in London have featured Martin Newell fronting a live band.