Retrovision: The Communards- Tomorrow

Thirty years ago the Communards released their seventh single titled "Tomorrow" which was taken from bands's second album 'Red' released during the same year. For reasons unknown the single only went to # 23 in the UK charts.  It is one of the songs in the run for the 1987 Top 40 Singles. Don't forget to add your list.

http://burningflameblog.blogspot.rs/2017/07/1987-singles-draft.html

WAW: Marc Almond- How Can I Be Sure

Marc Almond has revealed a brand new video for the song "How Can I Be Sure" from the forthcoming album 'Shadows & Reflections', out 22nd September. The music video reminds of the old 60's music video and was directed Directed & Produced by Paul Green.

Best of 1987 - Top 50 Singles

This fall we will continue with our 30 year anniversary of 1987 with the selection of Best single releases. As mentioned, an interesting year which was still sort of a crossover year in which some music styles from the first half of the decade started to transform into new genres raising new musical opportunities and opening stages for new kids. The European market was mostly dominated by SAW releases while in the USA it was mostly Madonna, Whitney Houston, U2 who were holding top positions on the charts for several weeks.

Along the commercial level, creativity was also in bloom in all varieties of sounds from Jangle Pop all the way to new trends in electronic music.

Time has come to reveal the Top 40 singles of 1987, thirty years after as submitted by friends and readers of Burning Flame.

01. New Oder- True Faith

02. The Cure- Just Like Heaven

03. Pet Shop Boys- It’s a Sin

04. Depeche Mode- Never Let Me Down Again

05. Prince- Sign O’ the Times

06. The Jesus and Mary Chain – April Skies

07. Siouxsie & The Banshees - The Passenger   

08. Depeche Mode- Strange Love

09. Black- Everything is Coming Up Roses          

10. U2 - With or Without You

11. The House of Love- Shine On

12. Pink Floyd- Learning to Fly

13. The Pogues- Fairytale of New York

14. M/A/R/R/S- Pump Up the Volume

15. Suzanne Vega – Luka

16. INXS- Need You Tonight

17. The Smiths - Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

18. Madonna - La Isla Bonita

19. Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield ‎- What Have I Done to Deserve This?  

20. Sinead O’ Connor- Troy 

Instant Hit: Shoc Corridor- Travelling by Hand

“Travelling by Hand” was the final track on Shoc Corridor’s debut album Experiments in Incest which was released in 1983. In masterful way the album blends synth wave electronica with psychedelic oriental sounds and industrial acid. “Travelling by Hand” indeed catches and resumes album’s sound in one unique formula. Experiment in Incest was reissued in 2015 for the first time by Dark Entries.

New John Maus Releases Announced

John Maus has announced the release of a brand new album entitled ‘Screen Memories’. The album was written, recorded, and engineered by Maus over the last few years in his home in Minnesota and it will be his first album since 2011. ‘Screen Memories’ will be available on Limited Edition LP, Standard LP, CD and digitally and it will be out on October 27th on Ribbon Music. 

In addition to Screen Memories, a career-spanning six album box set is now available to pre-order, which includes the box set exclusive LP Addendum scheduled for delivery on April 20, 2018.

Martha and the Muffins mark a Forty Years Anniversary with New Song Release

Martha and the Muffins are celebrating a 40 years anniversary and to mark this occasion, they have revealed a new song entitled "Summer of Song" which is also available on CD Baby. We expect to hear more on the Martha and the Muffins reissues.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/marthaandthemuffins/

Next Wave: Ships in the Night

Ships in the Night is Charlottesville, Virginia based electropop act led by Alethea Leventhal. Alethea has started releasing music in 2015 and released two EPs as SitN. The music of Ships in the Night is well balanced and atmospheric dream pop which is poured down on you and true to the title, it is a perfect nighttime mate. This year sees the release of Ships in the Night debut album which is titled ‘Myriologues’ and includes 9 studio tracks. The album is available on Bandcamp.

Instant Hit: Neuland- Gehirnamputiert

"Gehirnamputiert" was the only release for the German NDW band Neuland. The song was released in 1982 and was featured on their only album Neuland. The album was released via Ariola and to this date it was not reissued.

China Crisis Reissues

Caroline International has announced the reissue of the first three albums by eighties Liverpool band China Crisis. This includes the 1982 debut 'Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms', the follow up from 1983 'Working With Fire and Steel' and 1985’s 'Flaunt The Imperfection'. All three albums were originally released on Virgin and have been remastered from the original tapes for these new expanded editions and have been produced with the full cooperation of the band. All three albums are due for reissue on 1 September 2017.

WAW: Boy Harsher- Motion

Boy Harsher are back with a brand new release. With the video for the song "Motion" they are announcing the release of their EP "Country Girl" which seems to continue with the sound they have started on their debut album 'Yr Body is Nothing'. The album will be available via http://ascetic.house/ from October 27th, 2017. The video is starring Kristina Esfandiari and it was directed by MJ Bernier!

Bronski Beat to Release the 'The Age of Consent' for a new Generation

Bronski Beat's founding member Steve Bronski has teamed up with singer Stephen Granville for an expanded reworking of 'The Age Of Consent'. The reworked version will be entitled 'The Age Of Reason' and will include reworked version of most of the songs from the original album plus three brand new tracks. The Age Of Reason comes seven months after original keyboardist Larry Steinbachek died. The original lead singer Jimmy Somerville left the band in 1985 and formed a partnership with Richard Cole as the Communards. After they disbanded he has enjoyed a successful solo career. The Age Of Reason will be released on 28 July 2017. 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHqkaoZzjGs

Retrovision: Jyl- Mechanic Ballerina

Even today in the era of reissues and remasters this act remains quite enigmatic. The project was fronted by by American female vocalist Jyl Porch while the production matters remained in the hands of Ingo Werner. The video is produced by Joachim Ballon and features footage of Jyl from 1985. The song was featured on Jyl's only album released in 1984.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFV15M8Agiw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFV15M8Agiw

Instant Hit: A.T.R.O.X.- Overture to the Tales

"Overture to the Tales" was the opening track from the second album by the Italian minimal wave act A.T.R.O.X. Like this tune, the album included eleven other tracks, in which the band explored synthetic electronic sound with a superb experimental vein. The album from which the singles was taken was titled Water Tales and was originally released in 1984 and reissued in 2015. 

Next Wave: Albertus Cabinet

In this Next wave feature we are taking a small trip to Argentina as our next duo is from Buenos Aires. They perform under quite enigmatic name Albertus Cabinet and consist of Juan Ruso and Roberto Massoni. To this date, they have released one EP in 2016 and this year saw the release of their debut album 'The Visible or Invisible' with nine new tracks. Their music is sort of ambiental electronic experiment exploring the atmosphere and darkness of space. Our preference track from the album are "Statistics, I Don't Feel Special" and "It Saves My Life". As for now the album is available on Bandcamp mp3 and FLAC. Hope you enjoy! 

Tuxedo Gleam Release New Album

California based minimal synth-pop duo have released a new studio album titled 'Subtleties' in April this year. The album contains ten brand new tracks including "Decay", the first single to be taken from the album. The band is just continuing with what they have started with their first releases in 2013. Their music is synthetic, cold and very dynamic. Aunt Gleam and Angel Marie are responsible for the whole music arrangements and the visuals. The album is available here

WAW: Chromatics- Shadows

Chromatics are back with a brand new release titled "Shadow". In the context of the return of Twin Peaks, after 25 years and the launching of Season 3, it pay tribute to the legendary Julie Cruise. In line with that Johnny Jewel has released 'Windswept'. It's atmospheric and dreamy, and fees like he is paying homage to the Angelo Badalamenti TV-soundtracks.

Swing Set's Second Album Reissue on Blackberry Way Records

Blackberry Way Records have announced the reissue of Swing Set’s second album ‘The Soul Remains’. The album was originally released on Blackberry Way Records in 1990 and garnered airplay and reviews around the world. Twenty seven years after the original release this great blend of Guitar pop/rock with a wonderful lead track "Dreamin' You" will be reissued. There are also rumors of a possible follow up release with new songs. To see more about this and other exciting releases, please follow the link below. 

http://www.blackberrywayrecords.com/

Schonwald Announce their Fourth Studio Album

Schonwald have announced their fourth studio album 'Night Idyll' to be released on June 1st via Manic Depression Records. The Italian duo consisting of Alessandra Gismondi and Luca Bandini still focus on a atmospheric and synthetic darkwave sound drawing inspiration from New Order, The Cure, Suicide with guitars echoing My Bloody Valentine and Curve. The new album is now available for pre-order via Bandcamp and the duo have released, “Love Collides” as a preface to their dark sound.
https://schonwald.bandcamp.com/album/night-idyll

The band is currently touring as part for the promotion for the new album.
May 19 Cueva Rock – Cagliari + Digital Disorder, Uncodified
June 8 Bus Palladium – Paris + Soror Dolorosa
September 8 NCN – Nocturnal Culture Night – Leipzig
November 25 SOUNDFIELDS WAVE – Deinze + Ash Code, She Past Away

OMD Announce New Album for September

OMD have announced the release of a brand new studio album ‘The Punishment of Luxury’. The album will be contain 12 brand new tracks including the possible single "La Mitrailleuse" which is available instantly on Album pre-order. The album will be available in 7 formats and it will be released on September 1st 2017. The band will also be heading out on tour in support of the album later in the year. Tickets go on sale on Friday 19th May.

http://www.omd.uk.com

Instant Hit: Rive Gauche- Friends Are Friends

Rive Gauche was a short lived minimal-synth duo from Belgium who only released one single during their brief existence in the mid-80’s. Both songs on the recorded featured the singer Carol who also released “Breakdown” in 1981 and who later made appearance on the cover of this song by Snowy Red. “Friends are Friends”/alt."Friends and Friends" was also featured on A Tribute to Some Bizarre Vol.12 compilation which was released unofficially.

Retrovision: Swing Out Sister- Twilight World

Thirty years ago “Twilight World” entered the UK charts. It was the fourth single release for the Manchester based Swing Out Sister. The single appeared on their debut album ‘It’s better to Travel’ which went straight to Number 1 on the UK charts.

The Orginal Bananarama Line up Reunites for a Tour.

Amazing news from the house of Bananarama! Siobhan Fahey will join the other two founding members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward after almost thirty years for a fifteen days tour in the UK. Although their reunion seemed very unlikely to happen, the ladies proved they still got the pop, the beat and the power for a 10's round. Who knows what else this great reunion might result in, new recording material perhaps. Let's hope for it! Until then, grab your tickets. 

https://twitter.com/VivaBananarama

Saint Etienne announce new Album for June

Saint Etienne are back with a brand new studio album 'Home Countries'. This is their first release since their "World and Music' from 2012. The new album was produced by Young Gun Silver Fox’s Shawn Lee along with other collaborators. It will feature 19 tracks with "Heather" being the lead track and it will be released in June on Heavenly.