Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Mute's Visual History Documented

Just before Christmas and during the last days of the running year, Mute has released a coffee table picture book 'MUTE: A VISUAL DOCUMENT FROM 1978 TO TOMORROW'. This 320 pages book puts on display 40-year history of one of the most influential labels in history. It includes cover artworks from some of the biggest Mute stars, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Wire, Erasure and much more, plus numerous short informative essays on the label history. Also along comes the complete Albums and Singles discography at the back of the book. The book has been compiled by Terry Burrows with contribution of Daniel Miller.

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Best of 2017- Top 15 EPs

Time has come to enroll with the best EPs for 2017. From some of the well established veterans in music biz, all the way to the bandcamp pioneers. This year has been dominated by Post Punk and Darkwave, but there were also other musical sub-forms which all contributed to this whole variety of sound which are packed in 15 impressive EPs.



Thursday, December 21, 2017

WAW: Blondie - Doom or Destiny

Blondie have recently revealed a video for the songs "Doom or Destiny" from their brilliant come back album which was released this year. It features Debbie Harry and Joan Jett in an apocalyptic news broadcast. The video was directed by Rob Roth. 


Felt's First Five albums to be Reissued

Chery Red has announced the reissue of first five albums by the English post-punk band Felt. This reissue includes all their albums from the debut release 'Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty' (1982) to 'Let the Snakes Crinkle Their Heads to Death' (1986) and each album will be available either on 12-inch vinyl or as a CD plus seven-inch single boxset. All five albums were revisited and remastered by Kevin Metcalfe and Lawrence and they will be released on February 23rd 2018.

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/crumbling-the-antiseptic-beauty-remastered-12-vinyl-edition/



Friday, December 15, 2017

Next Wave: LEATHERS

LEATHERS is the anticipated collaboration between Vancouver visual artist/vocalist, Shannon Hemmett and producer/songwriter, Jason Corbett from Actors who we have been following since their formation and debut release "Nightlife" in 2012. LEATHERS took format in 2015 and by now they have released two singles. "Day for Night" is seductive, melancholic and the female vocals are beautifully delivered against the moody cold synths. "Missing Scene" reveals a bit different style where the guitars create a ground for very atmospheric shoegazing sound. It will be interesting to see in what direction their music will develop further. 


Thursday, December 14, 2017

Best of 2017- Singles and Tracks

Already last week we revealed our Albums list which will not leave much for imagination what the Tracks and Singles will mostly consist of. But besides the big heavy weights of 2017, there will of course will be some other delights that we liked a lot in 2017. This list will be revealed in six parts. Stay tuned!


01. Slowdive- Sugar for the Pill
02. Boy Harsher- Motion
03. Grizzly Bear- Three Rings
04. MGMT- Little Dark Age
05. The Horrors- Something to Remember Me By
06. The War on Drugs- Strangest Thing
07. Oren Lavie- ft Vanessa Paradis- Did You Really Say No?
08. Depeche Mode- Cover Me
09. Crimer- Brotherlove
10. Jessie Ware- Midnight
11. Slowdive- Star Roving
12. St. Vincent- Los Ageless
13. Alvvays- Dreams Tonite
14. Beach Fossils- Sugar
15. Sébastien Tellier - Lovely Blonde
16. Protomartyr- A Private Understanding
17.Perfume Genius- Die 4 You
18. John Maus- The Combine
19. Feist ft Jarvis Cocker- Century
20. Grizzly Bear- Neighbours

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Instant Hit: Barbi and the Kens- I'm Not Your Stepping Stone

Barbi and the Kens was one of the several project of Bobby Orlando projects released in the early 80's. Under this moniker he released only one mini LP in 1980 which featured 4 track including the title track "Just a Gigolo" which even managed to enter the Billboard Club Play charts. Later throughout the 80's he even manage to become one of the most prolific Hi-Nrg produces which besides of producing his own acts, resulted in a collaboration with Divine and Pet Shop Boys. Even today he is still releasing albums. Here for you, the bouncy "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" 


Monday, December 11, 2017

Pet Shop Boys 'Catalogue' Reissues Continue

Already in June this year, Pet Shop Boys announced the release of ‘Catalogue: 1985-2012’, a series of reissues of their Parlophone studio albums. This definitive edition features each album from the duo’s Parlophone discography, remastered and accompanied by ‘Further listening’ albums of master quality bonus tracks and demos created in the same time period as each album, as well as Pet Shop Boys own remixes of their tracks. Many tracks are being released for the first time. 
 The first three of the ‘Catalogue’ albums that were released in July are 'Nightlife/Further listening: 1996-2000', 'Release/Further listening: 2001-2004' and 'Fundamental/Further listening: 2005-2007’. The second pair of ‘Catalogue: 1985-2012’ reissues were released in October, including 'Yes/Further listening: 2008-2010' and 'Elysium/Further listening: 2011-2012'. 
The Catalogue’ reissue campaign will continue and this time going right back to the beginning and reissuing their first three albums, 'Please', 'Actually' and 'Introspective'. All three albums are going to be released in March 2018.

  www.petshopboysshop.co.uk



Retrovision: Prefab Sprout- If You Don't Love Me

Prefab Sprout released "If You Don't Love Me" 25 years ago, in 1992. It was a quite an unusual Prefab Sprout track, having this Anglo Dance rhythms with the touch of Pet Shop Boys and SAW. Back then, it was a brand new track on the 'A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout' compilation which was released during the same year. The song was produced by Stephen Lipson and it was covered by Kylie Minogue and released as b-side to "Confide in Me" on some Australia releases.



 

Friday, December 8, 2017

Din Release Debut album 'Real Dirt'

Din have released their debut album 'Real Dirt' on DKA Records. This new album follows up on their 'Saturate' EP which was released in April this year. The textures and structures of the minimal synth in Din's music sound very innovating and hypnotic, especially in the way how they managed to connect with their listeners by illustrating their visuals in their music videos. "Oils" seems to be the lead single from the album and the video for it was directed by Amanda Siegel and Benjamin Turner.

  https://dkarecords.bandcamp.com/album/real-dirt



Sunday, December 3, 2017

Best of 2017 - The Album List

December always means fun time with the favorite albums and like every year, this year we have also been working hard to review what was best in terms of creativity, sound, visuals and what we enjoyed the most. If you only look at the top 10 out of this top 30 Albums, you will see a real illustration of music styles we appreciate the most on our site. We have a another high point with the Horrors again this year. What else was on for us and offered a musical delight, please find in the least below.


Tuesday, November 21, 2017

SSION is back!

SSION is back with a brand new single which was revealed yesterday through Fader. The new song is titled "Comeback" and it announces the new Album 'O' which will be released in early 2018. It will be the follow up to his album 'BENT' which was released in 2011. SSION has also directed the video for the song "Losing all Sense" by Grizzly Bear under his alias Cody Critcheloe. We hope for much more SSION excitement in 2018.


Monday, November 13, 2017

First Two Studio Albums by Data Reissued

Angel Air Records have reissued the first two albums by Data. Their debut album 'Opera Electronica' has been originally released in 1981 on Polydor records and featured Data's biggest hits "Fallout" and "Fever of Love". Their second album '2-Time' followed two years later and was released on different labels in different countries. Georg Kajanus, the musical mastermind behind Data and the founder has digitally remastered the original album adding bonus tracks as well. 
Both albums have been reissued on November 3rd and can be purchased here


Sunday, November 12, 2017

WAW: Yan Wagner- It was a Very Good Year

The French electro-pop artist Yan Wagner has revealed a new video for the song "It Was a very Good Year", a Frank Sinatra cover. The song is taken from Wagner's album second album 'This Never Happened' released this year. The video was directed by Marco Dos Santos and show a quite unusual approach the the life circle. 


Saturday, October 28, 2017

Next Wave: Kaade

Kaade is a Belgrade-born, Toronto-based electronic music producer and singer. Her debut release, 'Encounter with Power', explores themes of outsider culture, masculinity and power dynamics. Composed between Berlin and Toronto, the four track EP layers frosty synths over pulsing rhythms, crafting her own style of dark and danceable pop. Kaade made her live debut in 2016 and has since shared the stage with a wide range of artists; from Black Marble to Inga Copeland. 

https://kaade.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/clubkaade
 
Photo by Nadia Khashan

Friday, October 27, 2017

Instant Hit: Private Blue- She's Love

Private Blue was a short-lived German act that released only one single during their brief existence, titled "She's Love." This 12" single featured two versions of the titular song along with "Help Me Tonight." Genre-wise, it falls into the category of Synth Pop with a strong influence of Italo Disco, a style that was popular in Germany at the time. The single was released on the 80's label Westside Music, which also featured music by artists like Moskwa TV and Celebrate the Nun. While it may be considered an obscurity today, there's hope that it will find its place on music compilations that appreciate similar genres.
 

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Group Rhoda Release third studio Album 'Wilderness'

Group Rhoda is back with a brand new album 'Wilderness' this year.‘Wilderless’ is Group Rhoda’s third full length and first for Dark Entries Records. As per Group Rhoda's Bandcamp, "Each of the these 7 songs draw forth tones of tropical darkwave and soft industrial; while negating the sound of conformity and control". All songs were written and produced by Mara Barenbaum alias Group Rhoda and it was released on October 10th through Dark Entries Records. 

  https://grouprhoda.bandcamp.com/album/wilderless


Dark Entries Release 'Afternooners' a third Compilation of Patrick Cowley's Songs

Dark Entries has once again teamed up with Honey Soundsystem Records for a third collection of instrumental songs which will be entitled 'Afternooners'. The songs were recorded between 1979 and 1982 and some recordings are demos from the album ‘Mind Warp’. This compilation also includes three bonus tracks found in the archives of fellow Megatone Records recording artist Paul Parker and the attic of teenage friend Lily Bartels. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA. The vinyl is housed in a gatefold jacket designed by Berlin-based artist Gwenael Rattke, featuring black and white photos of Patrick in his studio that opens to a full color array of x-rated scenes from the Fox Studio vaults.

www.darkentriesrecords.com/store/vinyl/patrick-cowley-afternooners


 

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Next Wave: Fragrance.

Fragrance is a music project Matthieu Roche from Paris, France. According to his Bandcamp, Matthieu has released two singles and one EP. The music of Fragrance is atmospheric dream pop with playful synth waves and mellow vocals. This year fragrance released the single "Heatwave" and the EP 'Dust & Disorders', both mastered by Hélène de Thoury who we remember from Minuit Machine and Hante. fame.

For more info follow the links:
https://www.facebook.com/thisisfragrance/
https://fragrancemusic.bandcamp.com



Thursday, October 19, 2017

WAW: Geneva Jacuzzi- Macho Island

Geneva Jacuzzi has revealed a brand new video for the song "Macho Island". The song is taken from her 'Technophelia' which was released last year. The video was directed by Jennifer Juniper Stratford and produced by Telefantasy Studios.




Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Tears for Fears- Rule The World – The Greatest Hits + New tracks Announced

Virgin/EMI have announced the reissue of 'Rule The World: The Greatest Hits' in November. What is good about this compilation is that it will include two brand new songs including "I Love You But I’m Lost" which has been announced as the single to promote this compilation. Apart from the new songs, the compilation will include 16 tracks which are in fact single releases from all Tears for Fears albums. The compilation is set for release in November.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

A Certain Ratio Reissues Announced

A Certain Ratio and Mute have announced the release of a long awaited series of reissues. The series will launch with the reissue of a selection of the Manchester’s band’s albums and will continue into 2018 with a compilation in April, followed by further releases and a rarities box set. The first albums set for release on 24 November 2017 include the band’s debut release, 'The Graveyard And The Ballroom', which originally came out on Factory Records in December 1979. In addition, albums 'To Each' (1981), and 'Force' (1986) will be released on coloured vinyl and CD. 

http://mute.com/mute/new-series-of-reissues
 

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Sally Dige Releases her Second Album 'Holding On'

Danish-Canadian audiovisual artist Sally Dige has released a new album. We have been following her career from the early starts, with the Petroleum by Product and Cult Club fame and it was always interesting to see how her music corresponds with her art expression. 'Holding On' is Sally‘s second album, following her debut 'Hard to Please' from 2015. The album was created during the time of intense inner turmoil and the songs are written for dance floors, but are sung about loneliness, death and the meaninglessness of existence. The album was released on September 13th on Avant! in Europe and DKA in North America, with two separate cover designs.

https://sallydige.bandcamp.com


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