Casey Spooner- Adult Contemporary

A former Fischerspooner member Casey Spooner is back with his debut solo album 'Adult Contemporary' which takes Spooner to new musical directions. The first single to be taken from the album is "Spanish Teenager" co-written with Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and produced by Jeff Saltzman. The single will be released on January 24th in the UK while the album is available here.

Official Video for the song "Spanish Teenager"

Back to Phuture with Blancmange and Mirrors

The new edition of Back to Phuture on BBC 6 Music will feature Blancmange who will release a new album in March after a 25 year break. The duo join Mark to talk about the music which inspired them to pick up electronic instruments, why they've decided to reunite after a quarter of a century apart and what they've been up to in the intervening years. In the last half hour of the show, there's a guest mix from new Brighton-based electro band Mirrors. Having toured Europe with OMD at the tail end of last year, the band play a mix of the 'synthfluences' which have informed their debut album 'Broken By Silence', due out in February. Don't miss it, Sunday, 20:00 on BBC 6 Music.

http://www.bbc.co.uk

Gang of Four Deluxe Can

The long awaited new album by Gang Of Four is set to be released on January 24th 2011. The album will be available in three standard formats as well as a limited edition special package. The standard formats are a CD release, gatefold vinyl, as well as a digital format. It will also be available in a limited edition 'Ultimate Content Can' which contains six booklets, the new album booklet and the second featuring an art piece Jon and Andy have created to depict the last 40 years of world history. There is also a free MP3 from the new album available via Gang of four official.

Get the album here
Gang of Four- You'll Never Pay for The Farm (Music Video)

Instant Hit: Obscure By Degrees- I'm Dying

"I'm Dying" is the only release by a rather unknown band called Obscure by Degrees. They released this fantastic single with "A Woman Like You" as a B-side. The single was released in 1981 for the KA records and it was produced by Phil Towner.

Blondie- Panic of Girls

The new album by Blondie is expected to be released soon after the original release date was delayed for some, as they say political reasons. Their ninth album will be entitled 'Panic of Girls' and it was recorded in late 2009 and 2010. The albums includes cover songs as well few songs in French and Spanish, while all the songs in English were written by Debbie Harry. No singles were yet announced, but there is one song available for a free download via .Blondie official.

Welcome to 1981!!

Snowy Red- The Ultimate Edition

'Onderstroom Records' will release a compilation 'Snowy Red 1980-84, The Ultimate Edition'. The five disc box set (vinyl or cd) contains the three first, demos, alternate takes, b-sides and a couple of unreleased tracks. Cover design by Michaël Thiel, based on a photography bty Stéphane Sergeant.

Check out this site for more information.

New Musik

New Musik was a synth pop group from England, formed in 1978. The original line up of the band consisted of Tony Mansfield, Clive Gates, Tony Hibbert and Phil Towner. Their music developed from consumable pop records to doomy and complex sounds. They released three great albums and several singles before disbanding in 1982.

New Musik was formed as a result of long standing friendships and chance meetings during the seventies growing out of a casual band of South London school friends in 1978. The group was having several sessions at TMC which would later result as their debut album. Their first single was released in August 1979. 'Straight Lines' amply demonstrated their intentions. that they were aiming for radio music. Despite being very radio friendly tune, it failed to make a major dent in the charts, but New Muisk made their appearance on Top of the Pops and their debut album reached the top 40 in the UK.

Several singles from the album followed including “Living by Numbers” which was later adapted for a Casio advert on national TV. The third single “This World of Water” did well enough in the charts to prove that the album would not remain a one hit wonder. “This World of Water” also revealed a more complex and deeper approach to their music. To coincide with the album release, the band embarked on their first UK tour, as well as playing some dates in Europe.

In 1981, the band announced the release of their second album ‘Anywhere’. Armed with the desire to experiment, they recorded a far more complex album and released it in March 1981. It was released both on vinyl and as a cassette. To many fans it was their best album, but it failed to impress wider audience and gain the success of the debut album. Their label GTO started to fold leaving New Musik to the mercy of the parent company CBS.

The group went through a period of turmoil with a result of Tony Hibbert and Phil Towner quitting the band. Mansfield and Gates hired a new drummer and went to record the third album as a trio. The final album ‘Warp’ was released in 1982 and it was even more experimental than the previous release. It was entirely electronic and recorded with digital samplers and emulators. New Musik disbanded shortly after this release in the same year.

All three albums will be reissued by the Cherry Red Record label on January 17, 2011. Stay tuned for more info.

Source:
http://www.new-musik.co.uk/gallery-band.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Musik



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Mick Karn- 1958-2011

Japan bassist Mick Karn has died in the age of 52. Born Andonis Michaelides in Nicosia, Cyprus, Karn played with Japan from their formation in 1974 until their split in 1982. He also worked with Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Midge Ure and Bauhaus founder member Peter Murphy, with whom he formed Dalis Car in 1984.

Official Statemant

It's with profound sadness that we have to inform you that Mick finally lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully at 4.30pm today, 4th January 2011 at home in Chelsea, London. He was surrounded by his family and friends and will be deeply missed by all.

http://www.mickkarn.net/

RIP Mick

Best of 1980 - Top 50 Singles List

It was an interesting year at the crossroads still very influenced by the 70's music and culture but also slowly opening the doors to the new decade and adopting new trends and styles. Blondie, Abba, The Police and The Jam still ruled the charts. David Bowie scored his second number one hit this year while Kate Bush became the first British female artist to have a No.1 album. It was also a sad year in music as the music world lost two very influential musical artists and iconic figures. Ian Curtis of Joy Division hanged himself just days before the US Tour kick off and John Lennon was shot dead outside his apartment building in New York City, both leaving their families and thousands of fans in mourning and sorrow. The year ended with John Lennon's song "{Just Like) Starting Over" reaching number one in the UK charts announcing the new decade.

During our 30 year anniversary of 1980 in 2010, the following albums were voted Top 50 Singles by Burning Flame friends and readers including in-house votes.

Updated: 05/2020

01. Joy Division- Love Will Tear Us Apart 

02. Visage- Fade to Grey 

03. Orchestral Manouvers in the Dark- Enola Gay 

04. Joy Division- Atmosphere 

05. David Bowie- Ashes to Ashes

06. The Cure- A Forest 

07. Spandau Ballet- To Cut A Long Story Short

08. Blondie- Atomic 

09. The Korgis - Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes 

10. Siouxsie and the Banshees- Happy House 

11. Peter Gabriel- Games Without The Frontiers 
12. Robert Palmer - Johnny and Mary

13. John Foxx- Underpass

14. Martha and The Muffins- Echo Beach

15. The Clash - Train in Vain
16. The Jam- Going Underground

17. Kate Bush- Babooska 

18. The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated

19. Bauhaus - Dark Entries

20. Ultravox- Passing Strangers