Monday, April 28, 2008

Retrovosion: Gang Of Four- I Love A Man In A Uniform

Invisible Zoo- In This Zoo

The American Synthpop pioneers Invisible Zoo have released their previously not released album 'In This Zoo' after 25 years. As they say, these New Wave gems aren't clever remakes or remixes, they are the real deals recorded 25 years ago and mastered freshly to satisfy your thirst for real 80's new wave rock music that you have never heard before!

For more info and the tracks check
http://www.invisiblezoo.com/



Sunday, April 27, 2008

Portishead- Third

'Third' is the third studio album by the trip hop group Portishead. It will be officially released tomorrow, on Monday, April 28, 2008. It is their first release in 10 years, and their first studio album in 11 years.The first single from this album was "Machine Gun," which made its radio and download debut on March 18, 2008. A UK one-sided 12 inch vinyl release was set for release on April 14, 2008.



Friday, April 25, 2008

John Foxx- A New Kind Of Man

John Foxx's new live album 'A New Kind Of Man' will be released exclusively through Townsend Records on Monday 28th April, 2008. The album was recorded on the 2007 Metamatic UK tour and features 17 tracks, including the singles 'Burning Car', 'No-One Driving' and 'Underpass', as well as B-sides such as 'Film One' and 'This City'. The artwork is designed by John Foxx and features the classic 'empty suit' image as the cover.

http://www.metamatic.com/

Also released this year a collaboration between Jori Hulkkonen and John Foxx "Dislocated"
http://burningflame.forumotion.com/next-wave-f5/next-wave-video



Microdisney

Microdisney was an Irish group which began recording in their native town of Cork, Ireland, producing a muted, heavily melodic, atmospheric sound. The group consisted of: Cathal Coughlan, vocals/keyboard, Sean O'Hagan, guitar, Jon Fell, bass and Dave Galvin, drums. They released several albums and singles during the mid and late 80's.

Their first few singles, including 1983's "Pink Skinned Man" were produced by Dave Feeley and released on small indie labels like Kabuki. After relocating to London, they signed to Rough Trade and tapped John Porter (producer of The Smiths) to produce their debut album, 'Everybody's Fantastic'. At this time the band became acquainted with John Peel, who championed their music and gave them the first of several Peel Sessions which also gave Microdisney a wider audience.

Soon after, bassist Jon Fell and drummer Tom Fenner were added as a permanent rhythm section, Microdisney's sound gradually became more commercial and chart oriented, as heard on their 1985 release, 'The Clock Comes Down the Stairs', and its corresponding single "Birthday Girl". Despite this stylistic shift, Coughlan's lyrics grew increasingly sardonic and scathing. They wrote about people- the people who let it all happen. They peered deep into the human soul and found fear, insecurity, ignorance, greed, apathy. Sometimes they still even had time to laugh. They wrote about love, about sex, about lifestyle, about politics and usually it took just one 3 minute song to cram it all in. A song about nuclear war "Town to Town" was a rock-along sing song about yuppies attempting to live normal lives amid a nuclear holocaust. Their 1987 single "Singer's Hampstead Home" is often described as an attack on Boy George (of Culture Club fame) and the media circus that surrounded his post Culture Club years.

In 1988, with chart success and mainstream acceptance having continually eluded them, Microdisney disbanded. After they disbanded Coughlan formed The Fatima Mansions and O'Hagan formed The High Llamas, retaining Jon Fell. Post break up two further compilations were issued of previously released material - 'Big Sleeping House' a Collection of Microdisney's Finest Moments, and the 'Peel Sessions' which has most of their collected BBC John Peel sessions apart from the last one.


Sunday, April 20, 2008

dEUS- Vantage Point

'Vantage Point' is the fifth album by the Belgian group dEUS, released on April, 21st 2008. Vantage Point was produced by Dave McCracken and it features 10 tracks including some guest vocals on the songs "Slow" by Karin D. Andersson from the Knife and "The Vanishing Of Maria Scheneider" by Guy Carvey from Elbow. Earlier this year "The Architect" was released as the first single and it was featured on this blog. The second single release was "Slow".

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Instant Hit: Blue For Two- Catch Me

"Catch Me" was the first track on the self titled debut album by the Swedish group Blue For Two,  released in 1986 on Radium 266.05. Their sound was defined as some sort of dark synth-pop. The band remained active in music in the next decades and released five more albums.

Monday, April 14, 2008

M83- Saturdays=Youth

Saturdays=Youth is a new album by French electronic group M83 which is set to be released on on April 14, 2008. The album was recorded with Ken Thomas (known for his work with Sigur Rós, The Sugarcubes, Cocteau Twins and Suede) and Ewan Pearson (who has also produced for Tracey Thorn, The Rapture and Ladytron). "Couleurs" is the first single, released to digital retailers on February 25, 2008. The album's second single, "Graveyard Girl," was released on April 8, 2008 with the original album version as well as a remix by Yuksek.


Sunday, April 13, 2008

Paul Haig- Go Out Tonight

'Go Out Tonight' is the 10th solo album from Paul Haig.The album is going to be released on April 14, 2008. Its release will be supported by his first full live performances since 1989. The first single from the album "Hippy Dippy Pharmaceutically Trippy" has been released a week earlier.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

The Reels

The Reels were formed in the late 70’s after few name changes. The major figures of the group were David Mason (lead vocals, keyboards), Craig Hooper (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Colin 'Polly' Newham (keyboards), John Bliss (drums), Paul Abrahams (bass) Karen Ansell (keyboards, vocals), Stefan Fidock (drums). They released four albums, two EP’s and several singles between 1979 and 1991.

The Reels went under few name changes in their early career and when they signed the first record contract with Australian branch of Mercury records, they then changed their name into The Reels and released their debut single “Love Will Find A Way”. Another single followed and their self-titled album was released the same year, in 1979.
In 1980 the Reels added a second keyboardist and released their third single “After The News”. This song marked a transition in their music both in the songwriting as well as in the sound. They began using synthesizers as the main instrument. In May 1981 the Reels released ‘Quasimodo Dream’ which is considered as their best album today.

After few line up changes the Reels signed a new record contract with RCA Records in 1982 and they scored their first international hit with a cover of the song “The Guys In Love With You”
In mid-1980 the group undertook the innovative "Reels By Rail" tour, which saw them using rail transport to travel to all the destinations on their tour. At the end of the year, returning to their roots as a covers band, they released a five track Christmas EP, Five Great Gift Ideas From The Reels, produced by Bruce Brown and Russell Dunlop, which included versions of Jim Reeves' "According To My Heart", and Freda Payne's "Band Of Gold". "According To My Heart" was very successful and featured a folksy music video filmed at the ranch of Australian country music star Smokey Dawson. In 1986 the Reels were signed with Regular records and continued to record cover songs. Even their 1987 tour was called ‘Reels by Request’ and audience called out for the songs they wanted to hear.

In 1989 Mason appeared in the acclaimed Australian feature film Ghosts... of the Civil Dead, in which he co-starred with Nick Cave. In September 1991 the Reels issued their first original single in five years, "I Don't Love You Anymore", followed by what proved to be their last single, a remix by Filthy Lucre of "Bad Moon Rising" . The group officially disbanded to coincide with the release of the compilation CD Requiem.
In May ‘07, Dave Mason released his first album in more than 15 years, ‘Reelsville’, an acoustic celebration of The Reels hits re-recorded by the original artist. In August ‘07 ‘Reel To Reel’ was also released - a compilation of The Reels classic tracks with new liner notes as written by Dave.Dave Mason, John Bliss and Colin ‘Polly’ Newham have resurrected themselves in their former guise ‘The Reels’ and plan to play shows in May 2008.


Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Next Wave: Blondfire

Blondfire is the Brazilian/American brother/sister duo of Bruce and Erica Driscoll. They began under the name Astaire, but due to legal threats from the Fred Astaire estate they were forced to change their name. The siblings write/record/produce all their own songs and make a refreshing, UK influenced sound that is at once catchy, original, and undeniably their own. Despite their polished, pop hooks, the duo is the true definition of Indie.


Retrovision: Fay Ray- Heatwave

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Instant Hit: East Wall- Eyes of Glass

East Wall released their only single "Eyes of Glass" in 1985 through ZYX Records. The single was issued as 12" only and included the vocal and instrumental version of the song. It was recorded in at the Master Studio 33 in 1984 and produced by Ray Masola. The duo recorded one album in 1981, entitled Silence.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Clinic- Do It!

A Liverpool based indie rock band noted for their often fast-paced, eclectic sound are set to relese their fifth album 'Do It!'. The album is going to be released on 8 April 2008. The single "Free Not Free" was made available on 1 February 2008 as a free download from clinicvoot.org.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours

'In Ghost Colours' is the second studio album by Australian band Cut Copy. The record contains 15 tracks including a song "Hearts on Fire" which was re-recorded. 'In Ghost Colours' has already been released in Australia, and it will be released in US on April, 7th and on April 14, 2008 in the UK.


dEUS- The Architect

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Instant Hit: Cee Farrow- Lost And Memorized

Cee Farrow was one of the most underrated 80's stars led by Christian F. Kruzinski. They released their only album Red and Blue in 1983 and a year before that the famous Cee Farrow song "Should I Love You" for which they also recorded a slick music video. Cee Farrow tried a comeback in the early 90's, but failed to gain any success. Christian sadly passed away in 1993 due Brain disease attributed by Aids. "Lost and Memorized" was never released as a single, but remains as one of the unforgettable and most played Cee Farrows tunes.

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