Instant Hit: End of Data- Sahrah

The minimal/ post punk outfit End of Data from France released two albums during their Brief existence. Their first LP Sahrah was released in 1984 through Divine record label and their second album followed the year after. This gothadelic tune perfectly represents the sound of the first album.
End of Data never officially released any singles and, sadly their albums never got reissued.

Ladytron- Ace of Hz Video

The official video for the song "Ace of Hz" which announces the 'Best Of Ladytron: 00-10' is out. The band has also relased 'Best Of Remixes' which features mixes by Soulwax, Tiesto, Toxic Avenger, Felix Da Housecat, Hot Chip, Simian Mobile Disco, and more.

http://www.ladytron.com/#news

Icicle Works- The Small Price Of A Bicycle Reissue

The Liverpool group Icicle Works will see their second album 'The Small Price Of A Bicycle' reissued by Cherry Red Records this month. The album was originally released in 1985 and featured the singles "Seven Horses" and "All The Daughters". This reissue in conjunction with Beggars Banquet contains two bonus discs of rare and unreleased material, b-sides and live versions of the songs.

http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/artists/icicleworks

Shakespears Sister- Dancing Barefoot

Shakespears Sister have announced that their new single will be a cover of none other than the Bananarama classic "Really Saying Something"(a digital-only release).This version will mark the 30th anniversary of the song which is a live version performed on Shakespears Sister's 2010 tour and taken from the band's forthcoming live album. The new Shakespears Sister EP 'Dancing Barefoot' is also up for sale through website's digital store. It is a four track EP and it includes "Dancing Barefoot", a Patti Smith cover and an early alternate version of "A Man In Uniform". The other half of the Shakespears Sister and former member of the band Marcela Detrorit is also working on new material.

http://www.shakespearssister.co.uk/News

Marcella News

The Human League's 'Credo' Preview

The new Human League album 'Credo' is available as a stream via the Human League official Facebook page. This is the first official streaming of the album which will be available until Sunday. The official album release date is set for March 21, 2011 in the UK.

http://www.facebook.com/thehumanleague

Erasure- Total Pop! Tour

Erasure will make their much anticpated return to the live arena in 2011 with a run of 'Total Pop!' summer shows - including a series of very special outdoor shows in woodlands and forests around the UK in June as part of The Forestry Commission's annual concert series - that will see them play in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Russia and Ukraine, plus appearances at Miami's prestigious Ultra Music Festival in March and the Short Circuit Festival in London in May.

The guys are also working on a new album which will be co-produced by Frankmusik. Check out Erasure official for more information.

www.erasureinfo.com

The Rise of The Human League

Philip Oakey

It was a note from a friend left on his door that would change his life forever. This is where Philip Oakey’s story in music began back in 1977 when he joined a band which would transform in the synth pop super group called the Human League. Also known as Phil, he is a singer, composer and producer and his music and his style made him an iconic figure of the early 80’s music scene and fashion trend setter with his unique styles to dress. From avant-garde to commercial synth pop, the sound and vision of Human League has changed throughout the years with Phil remaining the group’s only constant member and group leader since 1978 up to date, when the Humane League are releasing their first album in ten years.

The Future

In the late 70’s Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh were working as computer operators. They met at youth arts project Meatwhistle. Their musical collaboration combined pop music of that time with avant-garde electronic sound. They used to perform private performances under the name The Dead Daughters and after a few more low-key, private performances, Ware and Marsh decided to officially form a band. Joined by their friend Adi Newton, they formed The Future and began to create music in their own rehearsal facility in a disused cutlery workshop in the centre of Sheffield. The association with Adi Newton was short; Newton left The Future and went on to form Clock DVA. Ware at this point decided that he needed a singer rather than another keyboard player. This was the time when Ware’s old school friend Phil Oakey joined the band. With a new line-up, sound and vocalist, Ware decided that the band needed a new name. He suggested a quote derived from the game Starforce: 'Alpha Centauri', a science fiction wargame and in early 1978 The Future became The Human League. They however managed to release one avantgare and experimental album under The Future moniker entitled The Golden Hour of the Future

The Men

The Men was an alias used by The Human League as a result of Virgin pressing the group to record material which used more 'conventional' instruments, rather than just synthesizers. Virgin were afraid that the general public would not accept a synthesizer-only group at that time. Martyn Ware had previously declared that the League would certainly consider recording material using non-electronic instruments, but "not under the name Human League". So, to appease their new label, they recorded "I Don't Depend On You", with session musicians providing bass guitar and drums, and Katie Kissoon and Lisa Strike providing backing vocals.

(All media is copyrighted by their respective copyright owners)

 

Source: Wikipedia (edit)
The Golden Hour of the Human League (Part II)
The Human League- Hysteria (Part III)

John Maus- New Album in June

John Maus will release his third LP this summer with the title 'We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves'. The album features 11 tracks of Maus' brand of vintage-inspired, lo-fi synth pop. It is reported that unlike the last two albums, 'Pitiless Censors' looks towards the future in all its absurdity where promise takes the lead for the first time, providing a counterpoint to John's default existential calling. The album will be out in June via Maus' longtime label home 'Upset the Rhythm'! in the UK and 'Ribbon Music' in the US. Possible new single "Quantum Leap" is available as a free download. You can get it here.

Next Wave: Turboweekend

Turboweekend is a three piece band out of Copenhagen, Denmark, consisting of Silas Bjerregaard (Vocals), Martin Øhlers Petersen (Drums), and Morten Køie (Bass).The three members grew up together in the small town of Fredensborg. They formed Turboweekend around 2006 as a playground project, and only 4 years after the playground has become fulltime work in the most rewarding sense of the word. The band is currently writing material for their third album and preparing a European spring tour beginning. Their new EP called 'Bound' is out and features guest performances by the lovely Ty Bulmer of the New Young Pony Club Browse bands website for more information and EP download.

http://www.turboweekend.com

The Human League March

Thirty years ago the Human League had a huge international success with the song "Don't You Want Me Baby" and their third album 'Dare!" went platinum in the UK. This month, they are releasing their first album in ten years and they will be the featured as the band of the month, this March, on Burning Flame Blog. Here is another hit form the album 'Dare!' which announced the New Human League Era. It was performed live on 'Top of the Pops' back in 1981.