Instant Hit: Android A 21st Century Band - My Love is Like a Shooting Star

Before Android became a ubiquitous mobile operating system, it was associated with humanoid operating machines, often referred to as robots. In 1980, a band named Android A 21st Century Band adopted this concept, embodying avant-garde ideals and a futuristic outlook. They were pioneers in synthesizing the human voice, a technique that would later be recognized as the vocoder. Here is "My Love is Like a Shooting Star," a track from their sole album In Tune with Tomorrow released in 1982.

Retrovision: Carly Simon - Why

Carly Simon released "Why" in August 1982 as one of her biggest 80's hits. The song was recorded for the film Soup for One but it eventually gained broader popularity than the film itself. Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic produced the song moving away from Carly's guitar based songs from the past leaning more on reggae sound.

Instant Hit: The Gist - Love at the First Sight

"Love at the First Sight" was the second single Stuart Moxam released under the name The Gist. He was previously a member of Young Marble Giants who split soon after the release their only album Young Colossal Youth. The song could also be found on The Gist's debut album Embrace the Herd which was released through Rough Trade records during the same year. The song became a hit in France when it was covered by French pop singer Étienne Daho under the title "Paris, Le Flore".

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/

Instant Hit: Neuland- Gehirnamputiert

"Gehirnamputiert" was the only release for the German NDW band Neuland. The song was released in 1982 and was featured on their only album Neuland. The album was released via Ariola and to this date it was not reissued.

Instant Hit: Brain- D.I.X.O

For all of those that the future is still kept in some of the most obscure and brilliant 80's tracks, should check this one out. Futuristic and experimental and a lot of forward thinking with the musical arrangement and design. There is not much info about the band itself and this is their only release from 1982. According to some sources on the internet, this single was reissued by Private Records from Berlin.

ABC Announce the Release of 'Lexicon of Love 2'

ABC have a announced the release of possible sequel of their most successful and best selling album 'The Lexicon of Love'. The album was originally released in 1982 and featured the hits "Poison Arrow" and "The Look of Love". It is announced to be an 80's album with the modern twist to it. The band have also announced the release of the first single "Viva Love" which will have a promotional video to it. The album is set for release on May 2nd through Universal Records.

A Certain Ratio's 'Sextet' to be Reissued on Factroy Benelux

Factory Benelux will reissue A Certain Ratio's third album 'Sextet' next month. 'Sextet' was originally released in 1982 and featured the single "Knife Slits Water" and the great title track "Lucinda". This new version of 'Sextet' will include bonus tracks and 12 inch versions and will be released as 2CD Deluxe edition. Official released date is set for November 3rd, 2014. 

Retrovision: The Chills- Pink Frost

Thirty years ago The Chills released the haunting and atmospheric "Pink Frost". One somewhere said "Creepy beauty from the far south" and I think this is the right sentence to describe this lo-fi, post-punk, goth feel tune. Their biggest and probably most essential hit was recorded in 1982 and this is also where it belongs. This might be the song that defines the band and gives the absolute high water mark in New Zealand's jangle pop history.

Ultravox' - Ultra Box Set Announced for Late October

Chrysalis Records have announced the release of a new Ultravox box set. 'The Albums 1980-2012' is a nine-CD collection featuring the six Midge Ure era studio albums – 'Vienna' (1980), 'Rage in Eden' (1981), 'Quartet' (1982), 'Lament' (1984) and 'U-Vox' (1986) – as well as live records 'Monument' (1983) and 'Return to Eden' (2009). The story is brought right back up to date with the inclusion of 'Brilliant', last year’s studio album featuring the classic line-up after a recording hiatus of almost three decades. All the LPs from the 1980s have been newly remastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios. 

The CDs will be in card sleeves and housed in a clamshell box. The Albums 1980-2012 is released on 28 October 2013.

Source:

http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/

A Certain Ratio's- I'd Like To See You Again out on Factory Benelux

Factory Benelux has released a new CD edition of 'I'd Like To See You Again', the third studio album by Manchester postpunk funk group A Certain Ratio, originally released by Factory Records in October 1982. 'I'd Like To See You Again' was the last Ratio album to feature the original quintet of Donald Johnson, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Simon Topping and Peter Terrell, and saw the band move from the ethereal textures of Sextet towards a more stripped-down sound, influenced by the Latin and electrofunk scene in New York. 

 This remastered CD features 5 bonus tracks, including the 7" and 12" versions of dancefloor classic "Knife Slits Water", flipside "Tumba Rhumba", an exclusive remix of "Guess Who", and underrated single "I Need Someone Tonite", issued in 1983 and the first Ratio record to feature keys player Andy Connell. 

http://factorybenelux.com/id_like_to_see_you_again_fbn17cd.html

Tracklist:
1. Touch
2. Saturn
3. Hot Knights
4. I'd Like To See You Again
5. Show Case
6. Sesamo Apriti – Corco Vada
7. Axis 8. Guess Who
9. Knife Slits Water (7" version)
10. Tumba Rhumba
11. I Need Someone Tonite
12. Guess Who (Remix)

Best of 1982 - The Singles List

After having been propelled further by the New Romantic movement and becoming much easier to handle, Synthesizers became dominant in pop music and a possible formula for future success. The Human League were still ruling the charts and won the BRIT Award for the best Breakthrough act. Following their success story other bands like Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Soft Cell adopted synthesizers as main instruments which had an impact in launching of the Second British Invasion in the US. This brought the new styles, rhythms and stars to the States including Duran Duran, The Human League, Eurythmics, Billy Idol and more. Sadly some of the great bands from late 70s and early 80s disbanded which included most notably Blondie, Adam and The Ants, ABBA and Japan.

01. Yaz(oo)- Don't Go 

02. Tears for Fears- Mad World 

03. Heaven 17- Let Me Go 

04. Talk Talk- Talk Talk 

05. Yazoo- Situation 

06. Duran Duran- Rio 

07. Tears for Fears- Pale Shelter 

08. Eurythmics- Love is a Stranger

09. A Flock of Seagulls- I Ran (So Far Away) 

10. Japan- Ghosts 

11. The Psychedelic Furs- Love My Way 

12. Visage- The Damned Don't Cry 

13. New Order- Temptation 

14. Soft Cell- Torch 

15. Simple Minds- Promised You A Miracle 

16. The Stranglers - Golden Brown

17. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark- Maid of Orleans 

18. Modern English - I Melt with You 

19. Duran Duran- Save a Prayer 

20. ABC- Poison Arrow 

Factory Benelux Reissues :The Wake- Harmony

Following the news about the recent Names reissue announcements, Factory Benelux presents a new CD edition of Harmony, the debut album by influential Scottish group The Wake, The album was originally released by Factory Records in December 1982 and this December it celebrates the 30th Anniversary. 'Harmony' was recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport with producer Chris Nagle and it was originally released as Fact 60. 

This new CD version includes bonus include second single, "Something Outside", and their John Peel session from July 1983, plus enhanced artwork featuring previously unseen images of the band by noted photographer Paul Slattery, taken at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. The album ids due for release on February 11, 2013. 

The band released a new album A Light Far Out, which is among our favorites for this year. 

http://news.cerysmaticfactory.info/2012/11/the-wake-harmony-fbn-29-cd.html

The Names' Debut 'Swimming' to be Reissued via Factory Benelux

Factory Benelux has announced the new Names reissues to be released in February next year. Their debut album 'Swimming' which was originally released in June 1982 will be reissued on both CD and Vinyl. Both versions will feature the original album, bonus tracks and band's February 1982 Peel session. This new editions also feature original artwork and poster design by Benoit Hennebert, and photographs by Marc Portée. 

More about the upcoming releases:
http://cerysmaticfactory.info/the_names.html
 

Instant Hit: Blackway- New Life

Blackway was a three-song Italo Disco project involving roughly the same personnel as B.W.H. and Mr. Master. "New Life" was their second single released on Moon Records Association in 1982. This and two other singles were reissued on 'Blackway' EP which also featured the remix versions of the songs. This release was issued by 'Music Control Italo' in 2009.   

 

Retrovision: Fad Gadget- Life on The Line

Thirty years ago Mute released "Life on the Line" by Fad Gadget. The song was taken from Fad Gadget's third album 'Under the Flag' which was released in the same year. During this performance (Hotel Suburbia 1983) the group also performed their biggest hits "For Whom The Bells Toll", "Lady Shave" and "Back to Nature". The whole performance and a lot more was featured on Fad Gadget/Frank Tovey compilation which was released by Mute in 2006. 

Instant Hit: A Popular History of Signs- Dancing with Ideas

The London based quartet A Popular History of Signs released two studio albums and several singles during the 80's. Certainly one of the outstanding tracks was their 1982 release "Dancing With Ideas" which was released as 7" single. It was backed by "The Traveller" and it was issued on Melodia Records in 1982. The music of the band was drifting between arty synth-dance and lightly played mood music. 

 

Retrovision: Tears for Fears- Mad World

Thirty years ago Tears for Fears released "Mad World" which became one of their best selling singles of all time. The song was written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith. The song reched Number #3 in the UK charts and it would eventually become Tears for Fears' first international hit, reaching the Top 40 in several countries between 1982 and 1983. The promotional clip for "Mad World", filmed in late summer 1982, was Tears for Fears' first music video that was directed by Clive Richardson. 

Two decades later, the song was covered in a much slower, minimalist style by composers Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the soundtrack to the movie 'Donnie Darko' in 2001. 

Medical Records October Releases

Medical Records have two new singles out this month. Both are rarities and celebrate the early 80's minimal-wave DIY culture. The first one is  Disco Volante's single "No Motion" which was originally released in 1982 as 7" on Catalyst Box Records. Presented on high-quality thick transparent green 7” vinyl in a limited edition of 500 hand-numbered copies. 

The second single is a Christof Glowalla's "Erde 80" 10", a four track single, originally released in 1980. This first Medical Records 10" issue features "Erde 80" and three more singles which were recorded in collaboration with Ingolf Kurkowski, but were never released before. This collection is released on high-quality heavyweight 10” opaque mustard colored vinyl in a limited edition of 600 hand-numbered copies. Both singles are also available digital.

To find out more info about the releases and how to order go to medical-records.org.

Instant Hit: 3rd Man- Oral Pleasure

3rd Man was a Norwegian minimal-synth duo who release their only single "Oral Pleasure" thirty years ago. The group consisted of Bjørn Sorknes and Morten Sjøberg who was also a member of one of the finest Norwegian post-punk outfits Fra Lippo Lippi. The single was issued as 7" on Unition Records and featured "Pleasure Recycled" as B-side. The song appeared on the compilation Maskindans - Norsk Synth 1980-1988 which was released in 2009.