Instant Hit: Blue Peter- Up To You

Blue Peter released their second EP Up to You in 1982. This release included some of their first singles, "Chinese Graffiti" and "Around You". For this feature we would like to present the dance funky EP title  track. 

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/

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.