Label Spot: Dark Entries

Dark Entries was born in the spring of 2009 to release out of print and unreleased underground 80's music as well as contemporary bands referencing that sound. The project was named after the first Bauhaus' 7" and the man behind this project was Josh Cheon, a vinyl-focused DJ and collector. 

Dark Entries takes great care in preserving sound quality and respecting the aesthetics of its artists. All of their releases reflect the DIY days of the 1980's independent record labels. The label entrusts all of their projects with the best engineer in California, George Horn at Fantasy Studios, who has remasters each release using his 50+ years of knowledge in the industry. 

The label founder Josh Cheon has had a rich musical background and music was always part of his life. He grew up in New York, enjoyed the dance in the clubs with dark synthesizer driven sound. He was working for several different record labels and radio stations and when he moved to San Francisco he started a night called 'Radio Lines' at the Transfer. Sharing the decks with another avid minimal synth collector, Phil Mailer who ran the blog 'A Viable Commercial', Josh learned about the band Eleven Pond, whose debut LP was going for $500 on Ebay. Luckily Jeff Gallea from Eleven Pond left a comment on the blog post: “If people are interested in a re-release I would love some feedback? I’ll dust off the Masters and see what could happen?” Josh contacted him and eventually obtained a copy of the master tapes, had the songs remastered for vinyl and released the LP in July 2009 with a silk screened cover like the original LP had. This is how things stated to roll on Dark entries Records. 

From its foundation in 2009, the label has reissued music by artist such as Dark Day, Second Decay, The Neon Judgement, Parade Ground, Starter and many more and released new material by Linea Aspera, Inhalt and many more.

www.darkentriesrecords.com 
https://www.facebook.com/DarkEntriesRecords
 

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. 

 

Next Wave: Xiu

I feel a chill coming on and her name is Xiu. Known as Oksana Rodionova to family and friends, she unleashes her official label debut, with the help of [aufnahme + wiedergabe], on Oct. 12th. This release is a limited edition (55 copies) cassette with a digital download version available as well. Born in Estonia and now based in Milan, Oksana crafts a mesmerizing arsenal of tracks. The sound is synthy, icey, and probably the lost sountrack to your lonliest of dreams. The vocals soothe you and guide you home in comfort and contentment. This is not to be missed! Pre-orders and audio samples are available at Xiu Bandcamp.

Additional info, sounds, and visuals are available at the following: Xiu @ Sound Cloud and Xiu (official) @ Facebook

Author: Ty Voltaire

Reissue: The House of Love

November will see the release of The House of Love's 1988 Creation Records debut LP, remastered and supplemented with extra tracks. Cherry Red Records proudly does the honors in bringing forth this 3CD set which includes non-album tracks, b-sides, and previously unreleased demos. Disc 1 features the original 10 track album as well as the demo versions of "Christine" and "Shine On". Disc 2 is to include 19 non-album singles and b-sides while Disc 3 features 19 previously unreleased demo versions all remastered from an original demos cassette. For more info, you can visit Creation Records and Cherry Red Records.

Nico Re-imagined and The Final Report Electrospective on 2 CDs

Industrial Records is proud to announce the much anticipated two album release 'Desertshore' / 'The Final Report' , a unique collaboration by Chris Carter, Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson and Cosey Fanni Tutti.

'The Desertshore' project is a 're-imagined' cover version of Nico's seminal 1970 album first conceived by the late Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson in Berlin 2006. In 2010 at his home in Bangkok, he refocussed his approach readying to record guest vocalists while Chris and Cosey prepared material in their UK studio for his return there in December. Sadly, Sleazy unexpectedly died in his sleep on the 25th November in Bangkok.Chris and Cosey made a commitment to Sleazy to complete the Desertshore project picking up from where they left off just prior to his untimely passing. With enthusiastic support and contributions from so many who were close to Sleazy, especially the guest artistes whose work he admired; Antony, Marc Almond, Blixa Bargeld, Sasha Grey and Gaspar Noé, the project is now complete.

'The Final Report' is a result of a 36 year friendship between Chris Carter, Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson and Cosey Fanni Tutti. The Album has been completed from their final 2009/2010 sessions together at Chris and Cosey's studio in Norfolk. This album stands as the final report; a celebration, a loving remembrance of their unique partnership.

http://www.industrial-records.com/ 

Available from 26th November 2012 in the following formats: 

Double Vinyl - Gatefold cover with 12" booklet. 

Double CD - in bespoke CD packaging, 12 page booklet, postcard & bonus track. 

Digital Download - with pdf booklet and bonus track. - aac, mp3, flac etc.

Bananarama, New EP, Pinktober Tour and more...

Bananarama are back with a brand new digital EP entitled 'Now or Never'. Your dancing shoes should be ready for this new four track EP which is out now. To promote this EP and to celebrate their 30th Anniversary Sara and Karen will tour in the US as part of Hard Rock International’s 'Pinktober' series, which aims to raise awareness of breast cancer. 

http://www.bananarama.co.uk/ 

Deacon Blue Are Back

Deacon Blue are back with their first album in eleven years. This release also marks the 25 anniversary of their debut release 'Raintown'. The album is ironically titled 'The Hipsters' and its release is preceded by the title track, as the lead-off single, with its brilliant accompanying promo-video. The band will be undertaking a nationwide promotional campaign and will be on a 15-date tour from 4th-22nd October, with two additional concerts in Scotland in December. 

 http://www.deaconblue.com
 

Out This Week: Clockwork Orchestra- Friends Without Names

'Friends Without Names' is the exciting debut album by Clockwork Orchestra (aka Irish songwriter Paul Mangan) set for release on White Label Music, an independent record label based in Windsor which is co-run by Ann Shenton, a founding member of art rockers Add N To (X). 

A chocolate box of melodic treasures, the album was recorded entirely within the confines of Mangan's bedroom studio and demonstrates his love of nursery rhymes, vintage keyboard instruments and lyrical storytelling. 'Friends Without Names' takes the listener on a unique journey through a frenzied world of vibrant colours, songs within songs, eccentric characters and chronic symphonies. 

The live incarnation of Clockwork Orchestra have recently returned from performing a series of shows in Germany and have an album launch set for November 3nd at the Twisted Pepper in Dublin to celebrate the release of Friends Without Names on compact disc. The digital album is released this week. 

http://www.clockworkorchestra.com/ 

John Taylor- In The Pleasure Groove- New Book

New item for the Duran Duran fans is out now, in particular for John Taylor fans. His latest book is entitled 'In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death and Duran Duran' and in his frank, compelling autobiography, John recounts the highs and troubles during his career with Duran Duran. Told with humour, honesty and hard-won wisdom, and packed with exclusive pictures, 'In the Pleasure Groove' is a fascinating, irresistible portrait of a man who danced into the fire... and came through the other side. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/In-The-Pleasure-Groove-Death

 

In Conversation: Detachments

Detachments is the creation of London-based musician and songwriter, Bastien Marshal. Along with drummer, Peter Dawson, and a cast of musicians and producers, Marshal has been the driving force behind the band since the mid-2000's. The sound is an intoxicating blend of 80's post-punk, synthpop, new wave, and even hints of darkwave in some places. Not to be clumped in with the wave of bands recreating these sounds as of late, Marshal and company do it very well and with an ultramodern feel in tow. The listener is mentally, physically, and rhythmically drowned in mood, atmosphere, and all that tugs at the heartstrings. Following a string of singles, the band released their self-tilted debut LP in September of 2010. 
Largely produced and performed by Marshal, Dawson, and producer James Ford ( Simian Mobile Disco), it offered more synth driven reworkings of previous singles as well as new and unheard tracks. Since that release, Marshal and Dawson have been touring, intermittently, to further promote the album and band while gaining many a new fan along the way. On September 3, 2012 the digital release of the "Fade EP" saw the light of day on UK-based Hacienda Records. The label has mainly been a vehicle for the output of Peter Hook (New Order / Joy Division) and are now taking on the task of releasing the work of new and established artists. With a follow up LP in the works, where will we see the band go from here? Who better to ask than Marshal himself? He kindly agreed to answer a batch of questions that i happily whipped up for him.