Retrovision: Edward Ka Spel - Eye Contact

Thirty years ago Edward Ka Spel released his debut album 'Laugh China Doll'. A great record of minimal synth and abstract electronic. The album has been reissued twice since the original release.

Today we focus on "Eye Contact", one of my favorite tracks from the album with its seminal video.

A Certain Ratio's 'Sextet' to be Reissued on Factroy Benelux

Factory Benelux will reissue A Certain Ratio's third album 'Sextet' next month. 'Sextet' was originally released in 1982 and featured the single "Knife Slits Water" and the great title track "Lucinda". This new version of 'Sextet' will include bonus tracks and 12 inch versions and will be released as 2CD Deluxe edition. Official released date is set for November 3rd, 2014. 

Visonia's Debut Album 'Impossible Romannce' out in November

Earlier this year Visonia released their debut EP, a  split with Doppeleffekt entitled 'Die Reisen' both on vinyl and digital. This autumn Nicolas Estany returns with the much anticipated debut album 'Impossible Romance'. The album reveals poetic soundscapes of emotions, feelings, fears and positive expression. It will come as double vinyl format includes the previously available collaboration with Dopplereffekt, alongside an equally striking collaboration with New Wave/Synth Pop artist, Mad Moizel in the form of 'Beat Frequencies' and late addition to the album - the sleek, driving vision of 'Between Lies and Real Looks'.  

Expected release date November 2014. 

Alphaville's 12" and b-sides to be Released on a Compilation.

German based DJs Blank & Jones continue their long-running so80s (SoEighties) series this October with a new release focusing on German synthpop band Alphaville. Best remembered for their 1984 hit singles "Big In Japan" and "Forever Young", Alphaville released three albums on the Warner label in the 1980s but like many eighties pop bands struggled to match the success of the early records in the 90's.

 This new two-CD so80s collection celebrates 30 years of Alphaville and features all 1980′s twelve-inch versions and B-sides, all of which have remastered from the original master tapes. In addition, this comes with a 36-page booklet with rare photos and a track-by-track annotation by the group. Online retailer JPC.de are offering exclusive autographed versions of this new release. so80s presents Alphaville is released on 31 October 2014. 

 www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/soeighties-presents-alphaville
 

Next Wave: Wrangler

Wrangler is the big new thing in analogue and synthetic beat electro. Futuristic, but quite vintage is what the new London trio relies on.The band's members have noted history in music, Stephen Mallinder the founding member of Cabaret Voltaire, Phil Winter has been recording, playing and DJ-ing for a number of years and is a member of folktronica exponents Tunng and Synth collector extraordinaire and producer Benge who is best known for his part in the collaborative project John Foxx & The Maths. They made their debut in 2012 releasing the EP 'Mind Your Own Sequence'. Their brand new album 'La Spark' was released in May this year. 

https://www.facebook.com/weare.wrangler
 

WAW: Sato Sato- Psycho Liar

Here another great new comers of 2014 to rave about. Based in London/Berlin, Sato Sato consists of Alessandro Nieri and Alessio Ippolito who released their debut single in April this year. Meanwhile their first official EP is out entitled "Architecture of Torment". One of the lead tracks of the EP "Psycho Liar" is a real synthetic electro dancefloor killer and dangerously atmospheric. We got on a vid for you as we are watching. 

 Thanks Brigitte for recommending this!

More about the band..
 http://satosato.bandcamp.com
 

Martial Canterel Announces New Album/ Label Change

Sean McBride, aka Martial Canterel who also performs as half of the duo Xeno & Oaklander is back with a brand new album. His new album is entitled 'Gyors, Lassù' and will be released on a new label Dais Records. It is announced that the album marks an important milestone in the evolution of Martial Canterel's music style, "Progressing far beyond the cages of “minimal synth” and embracing the noisier qualities of its sound". The Album is set for release on October 28th and you can hear the preview track below "And I Thought". Sean is currently touring as Xeno & Oaklnder.  

http://daisrecords.com/

   

Label Spot: Visage Musique

There was this wonderful Gold Zebra song I discovered few years back which led me to its mother label. You can see that I'm referring to Visage Musique, one of the finest record labels in Canada. Based in Montreal, the label was probably established in 2010 and since then, it has released material of very distinctive synth driven electronic sound. Best known for Brusque Twins and Gold Zebra who share the history with the label and are there since its launch. Visage Musique certainly is the Face of the Montreal's electronic music scene and I'm sure there are more synth pop artists lined up and waiting to be heard. One of my personal favorite from VM's catalog certainly is Violence who released their debut album this year. 

They will join us for an exclusive interview this month. Stay tuned!

http://www.visagemusique.com

Retrovison: Alison Moyet- All Cried Out

Thirty years ago Alison Moyet released "All Cried Out", one of her biggest hits to date and the best charting hit from her debut album 'Alf'. This album was her first official release after Yazoo disbanded. "All Cried Out" reached #8 in the UK charts. The song was written by Moyet and producers Jolley & Swain. Today, Alison Moyet is still active in music, last year she released her eight studio album 'the minutes' and coming up next month is her new album 'Minutes and Seconds- Live'.