Retrovision: Electronic- Forbidden City

The Britsh duo Electronic comprising Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr released their sixth single "Forbidden City" in June 1996. The song was taken from their second album 'Raise The Pressure', their first release on Parlophone which was co-produced by Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk. The song was not a huge hit reaching only #14 on the UK Singles Chart, but did receive substantial radio play in Britain and remains one of Johnny Marr's favourite Electronic songs. This year in February Johnny Marr announced the release of his debut album 'The Messenger' and there are rumours of possible Electronic reissues during this year. 

Karl Bartos Announces a New Album in March

Karl Bartos, the well known one quarter of the classic Kraftwerk line-up has announced the release of his second album 'Off The Record' for March 15th. After leaving Kraftwerk in 1990, Karl Bartos was still involved with electronic music forming Elektric Music, collaborating with OMD and Electronic and recording solo. Ten years ago he released his debut solo album 'Communication' which featured the single "I'm the Message". "Off The Record" will be preceded by a new single "Atomium" which will be released on February 1st 2013. 

To get the latest updates, visit:

www.karlbartos.com.

 

The Return of David Bowie (Another Berlin Chapter?)

This morning of January 8th will certainly last in our memory. Out of nowhere came the news about the brand new David Bowie single "Where Are We Know?". Premiered on his 66 birthday, the track takes us back to Berlin and there are speculations of a possible fourth chapter of the Berlin Trilogy which will be called 'The Next Day' and which will be released on March 16th. The first single is produced by Tony Visconti with it's lyrics and the video (below) features footage of Berlin, and Bowie's face projected onto a shape, by long-time collaborator Tony Oursler. 

More Bowie News to come.

Reissue: The Lords of the New Church - The Gospel Truth

Today sees the release of the first official boxset by the 80's post-punk rockers. "The Gospel Truth" is a 3 CD / 1 DVD collection of rarities and live material. Doing the honors is the UK based, who have given CD/DVD rarities reissue treatments to Lou Reed, The Stooges, Roxy Music, Heaven 17, and a countless list of others. All featured material was recorded from 1982-1988 and comes nearly 23 years after the death of vocalist, Stiv Bators. Bators died on June 3, 1990 following complications from being hit by a taxi in Paris. This tragedy would bring the bands' activity to an end but the music still lives on.

Please visit The Gospel Truth boxset @ Action Records for complete tracklisting.

WAW: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - We No Who U R

Few days ago the new video by Nick Cave and The Bad seeds was premiered on YouTube. Just a reminder that this is the first track from the upcoming Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album, Push The Sky Away which will be released on February 18th. The video for the song was directed by Gaspar Noé.

Suede Confirm New Album 'Bloodsports'

Suede have announced the release of their brand new album Bloodsports for this year. The album will be preceded by the single "It Starts And Ends With You" in February. A free download for one of the songs from the album entitled "Barriers", has also been made available today. Suede plan on celebrating the release of their new album with a one-off gig at London’s Alexandra Palace on March 30th. 

http://www.suede.co.uk/

 

Label Spot: Other Voices Records

Other Voices Records is a Russia based independent record label dedicated to releasing works by ambitious and creative artists from the past, present and future. The label concentrates on genres that originated in the 80's like new wave, minimal synth, electropop, post punk, cold wave, darkwave and shoegazer, but it isn't deaf to other music styles like indie rock, krautrock, goth rock, post rock, indie pop,electronica, trip-hop, ambient etc. 

The label was founded in 2007, out of the ashes of Russian pioneering post-industrial/ambient label Tantric Harmonies and till 2009, it existed as Intuition Records after which it changed the name to the Cure inspired Other Voices Records. From 2007 to date the label has issued and reissued albums and released compilations by artist such as Eleven Pond, Tobias Bernstrup, Parade Ground, Lust for Youth and many more. 

 Their most recent release is a compilation called 'Distant Noises' which collects fourteen artists from nine countries and two centuries. Upcoming and something we really look forward to is Soft Riot's debut LP 'Fiction Prediction' which is available on pre-order. More news on that soon.

More about the releases and updates:
http://www.othervoicesrecords.com/index.html

Next Wave: October Dance

October Dance are back with their debut EP '7 Moon' which is out this week. If you follow our blog, you might remember the dance floor filler "Houses Falling", which we introduced last October. Just a quick reminder that October Dance is an art/music concept which includes a collaboration between three Danish musicians and the artwork of the Austrian graphic designer Hans Tolford. The sound of October Dance has many references to the 1980's European art scene and it is an assembly of seductive electro beats, synthesizer hooks and unique art forms. The group interprets the Tolfordian universe, and draws upon the bottomless reservoir of creativity, which shapes the ensuing music. Follow the links for more info and updates.

www.octoberdance.dk
www.facebook.com/octoberdance


More info on Hans Tolford:
www.hanstolford.com

Reissue: Informatics - Dance To A Dangerous Beat

In the tradition of doing what they do best, Dark Entries Records has rounded up the best of Australian analog synthers, Informatics. The vinyl compilation titled "Dance To A Dangerous Beat" is set to be released on January 29. Tracks such as "Proximity Switch, "What A World", and "Hungry Pets" will be included amongst others. Informatics began in Melbourne, Australia in 1981 with the line-up of  Michael Trudgeon, Valek Sadovchikoff, Steve Adam and Ramesh Ayyar. Philip McKellar would be added to the mix in 1983. After two EP releases and numerous live performances, the band would end their run in 1985.

For more info and sound samples of this must-have release, please visit:

Dark Entries Records and Dark Entries Records @ SoundCloud

Best of 2012- The Singles List

01. Arcade Fire- Sprawl (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
02. DIIV- Doused
03. Chromatics- Cherry
04. Twilight Sad- Another Bed
05. Liz and Laszlo- Rien a Paris
06. Bat for Lashes- Laura
07. Trust-Sulk 
08. Grizzly Bear- Yet Again
09. iamamiwhoami- goods
10. School of Seven Bells- Scavenger
11. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds- We No Who U R
12. The Temper Trap- Miracle
13. Twin Shadow- The One
14. Light Asylum- Shallow Tears
15. Perfume Genius- All Waters
16. The Irrepressibles- New World
17. Sky Ferreira- Everything is Embarrassing
18. Ultraista- Bad Insect
19. Future Islands- Tomorrow
20. Wild Nothing- Paradise