Saturday, December 29, 2007

Best of 2007- The Singles List


01. Klaxons - Golden Skans
02. Manic Street Preachers - Autumnsong
03. The Rakes - Suspicious Eyes
04. The Shins - Phantom Limb
05. Interpol - No I In Threesome
06. Andrew Bird - Fiery Crash
07. Erasure - I Could Fall In Love With You
08. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
09. The Knife - Marble House
10. Chromatics - Hands in the Dark
11. Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own
12. Cold War Kids - We Used To Vacation
13. Debbie Harry - Two Times Blue
14. Digitalism - Pogo
15. Duran Duran - Falling Down
16. Panda Bear - Take Pills
17. Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere
18. Arcade Fire - Intervention
19. Paul Haig - Reason
20. Modest Mouse - Dashboard
21. Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
22. Rooney - When Did Your Heart Go Missing
23. Siouxsie Sioux - Into A Swan
24. Radiohead - 15 Step
25. The National - Mistaken For Strangers
26. Pete And The Pirates - Knots
27. Shitdisco - Disco Blood
28. Shriekback - Hooray for Everything
29. Husky Rescue - Nightless Night
30. The Killers - Tranquilize
31. Interpol - Pioneer To The Falls
32. Dave Gahan - Kingdom
33. Kim Wilde - Perfect Girl
34. Glass Candy - Rolling Down The Hills
35. Metric - On The Sly
36. Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse- Valerie
37. Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler
38. CSS - Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
39. Chromeo - Bonafied Lovin'
40. Maps - It Will Find You
41. Richard Hawley - Tonight The Streets Are Ours
42. Feist - My Moon My Man
43. The Ponys - Double Vision
44. Working For A Nuclear Free City - Rocket
45. Papercuts - The World I Love
46. Roisin Murphy - Overpowered
47. Hot Hot Heat - Let Me In
48. Annie Lennox - Dark Road
49. The The - Mrs Mac
50. The Fratellis - Whistle For The Choir

Friday, December 28, 2007

Instant Hit: And One- Forever J

This year, one of the songs I've been listening to frequently is a cover by the German group And One. Originally recorded by Terry Hall and released in the early 90s, this cover version later became a B-side of the single "Wasted," released by And One around 2000.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura was an English group formed in the winter of 1982. It originally consisted of two members Peter Oldroyd and Nigel James. Peter had been in several bands prior to this and just returned from living in Belgium. Nigel met Peter in a nightclub after a gig and they decided the write some songs together.

Four compositions came out of this initial session of writing and two of them, “Destitution” and “Race in Athens” became the duo's first single on Small Wonder Records in the spring of 1983. Their only LP 'Horizonts of Suburbia' was recorded in 1983 but stayed unreleased until it was released on Anna Logue Records in 2005. This record featured ten catchy synth-pop songs mixing with minimal electronics.

In 1985 Camera Obscura extended into a 4-piece line up (Gary Scargill and Rob Gospel were added) and the Quartet formed Paradise Now in '86. Nigel left in '87 and was replaced by Steve Wright from Fiat Lux. In 1989 Peter and Gary formed the extremely successful Ded Good Music but sadly the Band ended there. However, Camera Obscura never actually split up, Peter and Nigel have just had a long break until now.....

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

VA- After Dark

'After Dark' is one of the best compilations that was released this year on Italians Do It Better Records. It features groups like Glass Candy, Chromatics, Mirage, Farah and more. They all have one thing in common, their electro/synth/italo sound in combination with smooth female vocals. Here is one example of a lost 80's New Wave song "Hands In The Dark" which was recorded by Dark Day with Robin Crutchfield on vocals. This song has been covered by the Chromatics. Both songs are available here.

Dark Day- Hands in The Dark

Chromatics- Hands in The Dark

Monday, December 17, 2007

Insant Hit: Fiat Lux- Photography

"Photography" was released as Fiat Lux' second single in 1983 on Polydor Records. This record was produced by Hugh Jones and it appeared as 7", 12" and on the Hired History. In 2019,  the album was reissued by Cherry Red as Hired History Plus including the lost album Ark of Embers.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Furniture

Furniture was a British group, that was active from 1979 to 1991. The group's members consisted of Jim Irvin on vocals and percussion, Sally Still on bass, Maya Gilder on keyboards, Tim Whelan on guitar, Hamilton Lee on drums and Larry N’Azone on saxophone.

Furniture was formed in the Ealing area of London, England. The group's founding members were Irvin, Whelan and Lee. After few line up changes in the early 80's, Still and Gilder joined in 1983 and Furniture released their first EP entitled 'When the Boom Was On', on the Premonition imprint of the Ealing based Survival record label. Switching to the main label, they released their next single, "Dancing the Hard Bargain", produced by a former member of Blue Zoo, Tim Parry; followed by "Love Your Shoes", produced by former member of The Teardrop Explodes, Troy Tate; and a self-produced EP "I Can't Crack". Some of this material was collected on an LP on Survival, The Lovemongers.
In 1986 the band switched to Stiff Records and released the single "Brilliant Mind", which peaked at number 21 in the UK Singles Chart. "Brilliant Mind" is the band’s most popular song. It has since been used on a series of 1980s compilation albums, and as regular incidental music in "World Shut Your Mouth" for the character with the cymbals. A re-recorded version of "Brilliant Mind" featured in the John Hughes film, Some Kind of Wonderful.

The band attempted to build on their success by releasing a second single, (a re-recorded version of) "Love Your Shoes". By this time Stiff Records was in financial crisis and could only afford to press a limited number of singles. Advance orders for their album 'The Wrong People' were fulfilled with a pressing of 30,000 copies, which sold out quickly, but Stiff Records went into liquidation and was sold to ZTT who pressed no further copies of the album.
In 1989 the band signed to Arista Records and released the album 'Food, Sex and Paranoia', which was produced by Mike Thorne. Sessions got underway for a third album, to be released on Survival (who also managed the band), but were curtailed when the label's recording studio was shut down. Furniture decided to take some time off after a series of gigs, one of which was a headlining slot on the second stage at the 1990 Reading Festival, and reconvene after the release of a compilation album, 'She Gets Out The Scrapbook' - released on vinyl and CD by Survival in 1991.

But the reunion never happened. Irvin made an album under the name 'Because' (1991), and has since been a music journalist for Melody Maker, Mojo, The Guardian and Time Out. Whelan and Lee went on to form Transglobal Underground in 1992.
An active fan forum, named "Wrongpeople" after the band's album, has existed since 2002 on Yahoo. Fans of Furniture discuss the band's music, and exchange information and updates on re-releases.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Hilary Blake 1950-2007

Hilary Blake, also known simply as Hilary, emerged onto the music scene with a single and EP in 1983. Despite limited online information, it is noted that she was from Los Angeles and was recognized as one of the pioneering female artists in the synth-pop genre. Tragically, she passed away in August 2007. Her legacy endures primarily through her standout single, "Kinetic."


Tuesday, December 11, 2007

New Visage

Few weeks ago I posted a topic about the new Visage song that was going to be available soon. Now you can get the brand new Visage song in full on the official website. 

http://www.visagemusic.com/

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Instant Hit: Secession- Michael

"Michael" was one of the several singles Secession released between 1983 and 1987. It was released in 1986 and marked the label change from Beggars Banquet to Siren Records and it also appeared on their only album release Dark Enchantment released a year later.


Friday, December 7, 2007

Echo And The Bunnymen- Ocean Rain Concert

Echo And The Bunnymen are to play their classic 1984 album 'Ocean Rain' in with full orchestra. The concert will be held in London's Royal Albert Hall on September 16th next year.


More info here:
http://www.bunnymen.com/

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Minor Detail

Minor Detail was an Irish Synth-Pop duo consisting of the brothers John And Willie Hughes. They formed Minor Detail in the early 80's and released only one self titled album "Minor Detail". Soon after that, they split and John Hughes eventually became the manager of the Corrs . Their music was an expression of Longing, Romance and Peace. "Canvas of Life", "Take It Again" and "She's Back" were the only Minor Detail single releases. Their album was never released on CD.

More info:


Retrovision: Comateens- The Late Mistake

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Instant Hit- The Blue Nile- I Love This Life

"I Love This Life" served as the debut single for the Glasgow-based band Blue Nile, released in 1981 under their own label, Peppermint Records. The song showcased a more minimalistic style compared to the music Blue Nile would later become known for. Interestingly, this single did not appear on any of the Blue Nile albums released throughout their career

Blue Peter- The Millenium Collection

The Best of Blue Peter, 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection has recently been released(Nov 20, 2007) by Universal Music Canada . This release features 15 remastered tracks and includes songs such as Radio Silence, Video Verite, Chinese Graffiti, and Don't Walk Past. The songs were compiled by Peter Moore.



Related Post