Next Wave: Neon Lights

Neon Lights is a Spanish post-punk group based in Murcia. The group was formed in 2008 and consists Javi Nieto (Vocals, Keyboards) Diego Monreal (Guitars, Keyboards, Backing Vocals) Edu Méndez (Drums, Percussion) Manuel Villalba (Guitars) and Dani Nieto (Bass). Their dream like post-punk rhythms are under a strong influence by The Cure, The Chameleons and Galaxie 500. Their lyrics tell about the passage of time and dreams that do not quite meet. The band have released several singles during 2012 and their debut album 'Late' is out this year. 'Late' is a collection of 9 songs all produced by Jose Marsilla & Neon Lights. To find out more and stream the album, check out the following links.

http://neonlightsgroup.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/neonlightsgroup

Polyphonic Size's Earlier/ Later LP out on Minimal Wave

Minimal Wave Records have released a 'Earlier / Later', a selection of songs by the prolific Belgian synthpop band Polyphonic Size. The Earlier / Later LP are remastered selections, curated mainly from Polyphonic Size’s early output as a band, from when they formed in 1978 to when they began working with JJ Burnel in 1980. The tracks on side A represent their early period were recorded between 1978-1980 and the side B tracks, recorded between 1980-1982, are representative of how their sound evolved whilst working with a producer. The LP will be pressed on transparent red 180 gram vinyl, housed in a heavy printed sleeve with text overlay printed on a clear vinyl outer sleeve, and limited to 999 hand-numbered copies. Release date: July 9th. Sound samples on label's page.

http://minimalwave.com/articles/article/polyphonic-size-earlier-later-lp

WAW: Sensual Harassment- Capri Suntan

Sensual Harassment are back with a brand new song and video called "Capri Suntan". Their newest creation is a gorgeous 8mm video collaboration made from vintage beach footage of a young couple in Hawaii from 1965. Recorded with Jesse Cannon (great engineer for acts like The Cure, Animal Collective and The Misfits), “Capri Suntan” is the latest single off our new EP Escape From Alpha Draconis and the entire album is available as a free download at their website. 

www.sensualharassment.com

 

Soft Riot- Fiction Prediction Out Now

A London based Soft Riot is a project of Jack Duckworth a former Vancouverite who has clocked over fifteen years of musical output in various bands and projects. With origins from the mid-nineties in the vibrant art-punk/hardcore dominating the West Coast American/Canadian underground at the time, JJD followed a trajectory through to the revival of synthbased post-punk music just over a decade or so ago, which spawned a number of highly successful Canadian artists out of that scene. 

His new album is entitled 'Fiction Prediction' is a collection of songs selected for a first official LP release, these tracks being a confident advancement in the unique and engaging “Soft Riot” sound developed on prior releases. Drawing inspiration from synthesizer-based film soundtracks of yesteryear, drones, early EBM, minimal synth, a dose of psychedelic synthpop and a heavy dose of throbbing appregiated rhythms, Soft Riot is a science-fiction heavy soundscape that narrates the listener through today’s fractured, excessive landscape with hints of black humour Soft Riot, coming from a more punk rock pedigree, often places more focus than the norm on his lyrical content, bringing in detailed pictures and sometimes even linear narrative storylines to subjects such as modern living, technology, surveillance, environment, overpopulation, enlightenment, life elsewhere, forewarning about catastrophic events, vain people in gyms, and not having enough time. 

The influences come less from other musical artists but more so from written fiction and film —a future predicted by fiction. Where in past musical ventures the path would be aggression, stomp and noise; Soft Riot takes those energies and experiments more with anxiety of tension and unease. A number of these tracks were released in the spring/ summer of 2012 on the limited edition cassette “Hyperbolic Masses”, which was self-released is now completely out of print.

June Singles Round Up

1.Editors- "The Weight"

2.Washed Out- "It Feels Alright"

3.Blouse- "No Shelter"

4.Arctic Monkeys- Do I Know You?

5.Miss Kittin- "What to Wear"

6.Pet Shop Boys- "Vocal"

7.David Lynch- Are You Sure?

8.Franz Ferdinand- "Love Illumination"

9.White Lies- "Getting Even"

10.Bright Light Bright Light- "Moves"

xex' Changes out on Dark Entries

Dark Entries Records have released of xex' second album 'Change' as the final piece of our Americana Underground trilogy which comes from the state New Jersey, circa 1981. The album was recorded in the early 80's but the band did not have the funds to release the album and it sat in obscurity for over 30 years.

 All songs have been remastered from the original reel to reel tapes for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in jacket created by Alex Zander for his senior art project in college in 1980. Each LP includes a double sided 11×11 cardstock insert with lyrics and photos. Also included is a full length DVD featuring a 9-song xex concert from 1981, recorded at Hurrah in New York. With the bonus DVD included in the new LP, more people will see xex perform than ever saw them play live. More than 30 years later xex:change finally sees the light of day and fits in today’s world all too perfectly. 

  www.darkentriesrecords.com/xex-change

Retrovision: Altered Images- Bring Me Closer

Thirty years ago, Altered Images released "Bring Me Closer". It was one of the several singles which were taken from their third album 'Bite' which was released during the same year. The first single "Don't Talk to Me About Love", reached UK #7, becoming one of the group's biggest hits, "Bring Me Closer" made it only to #29. Soon after the final single and the group completed a UK tour, they disbanded.

Mute Announces The Cabaret Voltaire Reissue Series

Mute are delighted to announce a series of Cabaret Voltaire releases, starting with the vinyl issue of Cabaret Voltaire’s iconic 1981 album 'Red Mecca' – out on 22 July 2013. Remastered and available here on vinyl for the first time since Mute’s reissue in 1990, Red Mecca features the line up of Richard H Kirk, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson, and is Cabaret Voltaire’s third album, and the final full album with co-founder Chris Watson. 

 The series of Cabaret Voltaire releases will continue with a box set release on vinyl and CD in the autumn. #8385 (Collected Works 1983 –1985) will collate four of the Cabs’ classic mid-period releases, remastered – The Crackdown (1983), Micro-Phonies (1984), Drinking Gasoline (1985) and The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord (1985) – alongside bonus CDs and DVDs.

Mote info about the first reissue:
http://mute.com/cabaret-voltaire

Out This Week: Lust For Youth- Perfect View

Lust for Youth are back with new album which is out this week. This is the third full length album by the Swedish producer Hannes Norrvide which is announced to be warmer and more inviting than any of his previous work. The new album is entitled 'Perfect View' and is composed of largely instrumental pieces, focusing more on beats, samples and general ambiance. 

 The band will embark on their first European and us tours this spring and summer, joining Chelsea Wolfe in Europe this April/May and touring the Us in late May beginning with the Chaos in Tejas festival and ending with Brooklyn’s Northside festival.

http://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/releases/sbr093/

 

The New Chameleons' Reissues Announced for June 17th

Blue Apple Music, the official store for the music of the Chameleons has announced the reissue 'Dreams In Celluloid' and 'Why Call It Anything?'. Both releases are available combined and separate. 'Dreams in Celluloid' is a collection of rare recordings and this two CD set features newly re-mastered versions of classic early recordings, plus the ultra rare Tony Fletcher EP. The second reissue is Chameleons' fourth album 'Why Call It Anything' which also features two CDs. The first CD is the original album reissue while the second features the Chameleons live in concert at Manchester Academy, a sold out hometown show recorded in 2001, during the band’s brief reunion. 

Both releases are announced for June 17th and they were re-mastered in Spring 2013. 

  http://www.blueapplemusic.co.uk/chameleondetails