Lost Videos: Act- Snobbery and Decay

"Snobbery and Decay" was the first single for Act, a short lived collaboration between Propaganda vocalist, Claudia Brücken and cult favourite Electro pioneer, Thomas Leer. The single also featured a cover of "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You" from the musical Evita. The song was released by ZTT Records and it also appeared on their only album Laughter Tears & Rage from the year 1988.

   

Steve Strange Has A New Formation

New Romantic vocalist Steve Strange of 'Visage' and 'Blitz Kids' fame is back with a new project called Detroit Starrzz. The collective includes artists, producers and remixers such as Patrick Ruane from chart-topping dance duo 'The Nightstylers', amazing remixstress producer and guitar virtuoso Rachel Ellektra and the highly talented and charismatic DJ Little Andy (TOTP Star Bar). They have launched their unique brand of breaks and beats-inspired synth-pop. Their new album is expected to be released soon.

www.facebook.com/pages/Detroit-Starrzz

Reissue: Die Doraus und die Marinas First Two Albums

The first two albums by Andreas Dorau's very own Die Doraus and Marinas have been reissued for the first time on CD and Vinyl. Their debut album 'Blumen und Narzissen' was originally released in 1981 and featured their huge hit "Fred From Jupiter" which Andreas wrote when he was 16. It also remained an all time NDW classic. The second album 'Die Doraus Und Die Marinas Geben Offenherzige Antworten Auf Brennende Fragen' was released two years later in 1983 and on this album Andres carried on where he left off with "Blumen und Narzissen": Pop hits in quick succession, but this time professionally produced and radio-friendly. Both albums were released in January on Bureau B. 

www.bureau-b.com

Instant Hit: Spectral Display- There's A Virus Going Round

"There's a Virus Going Round" was a first release for a Dutch group Spectral Display in 1982. This smooth synth pop gem which featured Arianne Kraak on vocals was released as 7" and 12" with "Hang Ups" as a B-side. Both songs were also included on their self titled debut album released in the same year. Their biggest hit "It Takes a Muscle to Fall in Love" was covered by M.I.A. on her last album. 

WAW: Azure Blue- Seasons

Azure Blue are back with a new single this month. It is a double A-sided single which features the songs 'Season' and 'Dreamy Eyes' both taken from Azure Blue's debut Rule of Thirds which was released last year in November. There is also a brand new video for the song 'Season' which was directed by Mattias Erik Johansson.

 

The Spirit of Talk Talk Updates

New updates on the Talk Talk tribute project! "The Spirit of Talk Talk" will be the name of this pompous new project which will mark Talk Talk's 30th anniversary. It will feature 30 artists and acts and personalities including King Creosote, Alan Wilder, Jason Lytle, Zero 7, Crispin Hunt, Linton Kwesi Johnson, White Belt Yellow Tag, Electric Soft Parade, Joan As Policewoman, White Lies, Goldheart Assembly and many, many more guesting cats from Bon Iver to Arcade Fire covering 30 Talk Talk tunes from 'Today' to ‘Life’s What You Make It’ to ‘After The Flood’ in their own inimitable style. 

The album is slated for release on September 3rd, 2012 on double CD and download and as part of the whole tribute-themed narrative arc the record will be accompanied by a lavish book, also called 'Spirit Of Talk Talk' which features eulogies from, among others, the smitten likes of Guy Garvey, Richard Wright (Pink Floyd), Karl Hyde (Underworld), Wild Beasts and James Lavelle from UNKLE. The artwork for both artefacts is by original Talk Talk illustrator James Marsh and the book features all manner of Mark Hollis-related delights for music lovers old and new alike to swoon over such as lost photos and handwritten lyric sheets. 

Source:
http://fiercepanda.co.uk

Kraftwerk Eight Day Stand in New York

Kraftwerk will give a series of eight performances, each devoted to one of its albums, as part of a Museum of Modern Art retrospective of the electronic music pioneers in April, museum officials said. The performances during “Kraftwerk-Retrospective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8,” on consecutive evenings starting April 10, will not only feature tracks from one of Kraftwerk’s albums, but also other original compositions intended to showcase the group’s influence on contemporary culture. Projected images, including 3-D ones, will accompany the music. The albums will be performed in chronological order, one each night, starting with “Autobahn” from 1974 and working up through “Tour de France” from 2003. 

Source:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com
http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1257

LP Covers Bricked Up

The British artist Aaron Savage with experience in Photography, Print, Web and Logo design came to the idea to reconstruct a host of music’s finest album covers using only Lego. The collection includes album cover from all decades throughout the music history from Elvis to lily Allen, all bricked up in Lego.

Artist info:

http://www.aaronsavage.co.uk/portfolio/brick-the-lp/

Reissue: Twilight Ritual- The Factory Scream

Ten years after the CD release Twilight Ritual will release their album 'The Factory Scream' on LP. This will be a limited edition 16 track LP released through the Belgian label Onderstroom Records on February 21, 2012. All tracks on the album were written and produced by Geert Coppens and Peter Bonne. More details soon!

Retrovision: Depeche Mode- See You

"See You" was released on this date 30 years ago. It was the fourth single release for Depeche Mode which reached #6 in the UK Charts. The song was included on the band's second album 'A Broken Frame'. Martin Gore debuted here as a songwriter and Alan Wildler appeared for the first time in a DM video. The video was directed by Julien Temple. The band did not like, and it did not show up on the 1985 video compilation 'Some Great Videos', which included the band's videos up to 1985 except the 'A Broken Frame' singles and "Get the Balance Right".