Latest
Essential 4AD in FACT
FILED UNDER: GeneralTuesday January 31, 2012
There’s an interesting personal selection of 10 essential (early) 4AD releases in the latest edition of FACT magazine. I’m sure everyone could tweak it to their own tastes and preferences (good to see some left-field choices like Dif Juz and Pieter Nooten / Michael Brook (recently re-issued on a limited pressing, folks ) but I have to agree that each release mentioned has it’s merits and if you disagree then you can do your own list.
FACT magazine – 10 essential 4AD releases
Comment [5]
This Is For When...
FILED UNDER: BauhausMonday January 16, 2012
The Bauhaus live album, This Is For When… is released as a download today (and can be streamed on Spotify). The concert was specially mixed for the Mask Omnibus Edition (which has now sold out) by Mark Wallis and captures the original incarnation of the band at the peak of their powers. Hell of a racket for just a voice, a guitar, a bass guitar and a drum kit. No backing hard-drive samples back then folks – what you saw played was what you got and all the better for it. A great show.
Incidentally, the title comes from a poem written by another Northampton resident, ‘Brilburn Logue’, better known these days as Alan Moore. His recitation of the piece (with backing sounds by David J) was used on stage to introduce the band, but this is the only recorded release. Ever graphic comic fans, the name Love And Rockets was a tip to the Hernandez brothers’ publication.
Comment [15]
Back In Stock
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday January 6, 2012
One intention of this site is to let people know when CDs become available again and, following the fire at our distributors back in August, we’re finally working on replacing deeper catalogue titles. Initially we’ve located overstocks in Greece (including some titles that have been long unavailable) and these are being booked into our UK distributor.
If you’re interested in any of these get them now as there’s generally only 25 copies going to the distributor (some will sell out again quickly) and we don’t know when more can be located or manufactured.
Try ordering them from SISTER RAY
PS. The last copies of the This Mortal Coil Box set are going to the distributor this week so order it now or regret it forever!
Antony & The Johnsons – The Crying Light
M.I.A. – Kala
Charlatans – Songs From The Other Side
Cat Power – Jukebox
The White Stripes – Under Great White Northern Lights
Beirut – The Flying Club Cup
Celebration – Celebration
Fifty Foot Wave – Bug
Lisa Gerrard – The Best Of Lisa Gerrard
Scott Walker – The Drift
Stereolab – Chemical Chords
This Mortal Coil – It’ll End In Tears (last copies in Jewel cases)
This Mortal Coil – Filigree & Shadow (last copies in Jewel cases)
Various Artists – Dark Was The Night (Red Hot Compilation)
Various Artists – 1980 Forward
Bob Mould – District Line (last copies)
John Cale – Artificial Intelligence (last copies)
Tindersticks – The Hungry Saw
Spoon – Gimme Fiction
Times New Viking – Move To California
Yo La Tengo -Prisoners Of Love 1986-2002
Arthur Russell – World Of Echo
Eddi Reader – Sings The Songs Of Robert Burns – Expanded
Masters In France – Mad Hatter
Electric Six – Fire
Giggs – Let Em Ave It
To My Boy – Messages
Go Betweens – Best Of
Antony & The Johnsons – Another World
Beck – One Foot In The Grave
This Mortal Coil – Blood (last copies in Jewel cases)
Cocteau Twins – Lullabies To Violaine (Volume 1)
Cocteau Twins – Lullabies To Violaine (Volume 2)
Bauhaus – Mask (Omnibus Edition) (last copies)
Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing In The Hands
Bauhaus – The Skys Gone Out
Throwing Muses – Real Ramona
Belly – Sweet Ride – The Best Of Belly
Oceansize – Everyone Into Position
Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard – ‘Em Are I
TV On The Radio – Desparate Youth Bloodthirsty Babes
The Charlatans – Some Friendly – Expanded
Fields Of The Nephilim – Revelations
Frank Black – Teenager Of The Year
Devendra Banhart – Nino Rojo
Super Furry Animals – Hey Venus!
Modern English – Mesh & Lace (last copies)
Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
Budd & Frazer & Guthrie – Moon & The Melodies
Shearwater – The Golden Archipelago
Layo & Bushwacka – Night Works
Bauhaus – In The Flat Field (Omnibus Edition) (last copies)
The Mountain Goats – The Life Of The World To Come
Throwing Muses – House Tornado (last copies)
God Help The Girl – God Help The Girl
The Hold Steady – A Positive Rage
Electralane – No Shouts No Calls
Serena Maneesh – S-M 2: Abyss In B Minor
Throwing Muses – Hunkpapa (last copies)
Cave Singers – Welcome Joy
Shooting At Unarmed Men – Soon There Will Be…
Breeders – Mountain Battles
Hope Blister – Underarms & Sideways (last copies)
Robert Foster & Grant Mclennan – Intermission: The Best Of The Solo Recordings 1990-97 (last copies)
Jaguar Love – Take Me To The Sea
Matmos – The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth Of The Beast
Times New Viking – Rip It Off
Super Furry Animals – Dark Days/Light Years
Tapes n Tapes – Walk It Off
Various Artists – Serious Times
Devendra Banhart – Cripple Crow
Comment [3]
New year releases
FILED UNDER: GeneralWednesday December 21, 2011
We’re delighted to be issuing the Cocteau Twins’ compilation Stars And Topsoil as a double vinyl LP on 6th February. Based around the artwork for the original CD release, there are notes by the author Alan Warner (read this man! Try The Sopranos) and this first edition is pressed on heavy, white vinyl. Disc mastering is by John Dent
One thing that was never corrected from the original sleeve is the players’ credits. Robin is listed as ‘guitars’ and Simon as ‘bass’ but in reality both contributed piano, bass and guitars (and more) across the history of the recordings. So now you know.
In the USA the release is on regular, black vinyl but there will be copies of the European white vinyl edition available from the 4AD STORE
UK based stores include
ROUGH TRADE
JUMBO RECORDS
PICCADILLY RECORDS
DIVERSE VINYL
NORMAN RECORDS
RECORDSTORE>CO>UK
DOWNLOAD NEWS
As regular readers know, we’re not fans of the quality of mp3 but the reality it’s uneconomical to make (and keep) many items available in physical format, so it’s a practical compromise. The first release has a story attached…
PARCHMAN SINGLES and PARCHMAN DYSTOPIA – Download only
Ivor Perry was in the band Easterhouse) who released albums on Rough Trade in the 80’s (and was considered as a replacement for Johnny Marr in The Smiths). Influenced by the Manchester club scene, he moved into a dark electronica, releasing two singles on CityBeat (from whence sprang XL Recordings) and, after the demise of CityBeat, a further two releases on the Vector imprint. Only a couple of these were on CD, so now all the recordings have been collected on a singles compilation. Earlier this year Ivor got in touch requesting digital copies of his recordings (he only had vinyl) and he also mentioned an unreleased album. If memory serves, there was a staff change at the label so the album was shelved. While sorting through the DAT’s there was seemingly a track called Dystopia but it transpired this was the potential title for the album, which was all there, mixed and sequenced. Consequently, nearly 20 years later, we are finally releasing the music.
BAUHAUS THIS IS FOR WHEN – Download only
Now that the MASK Omnibus box set has sold out, we’re making the live album available as a download. This was recorded in London in 1981, when Bauhaus were arguably at the pinnacle of their power, it is the entire show remixed by Mark Wallis with Pete Edwards in 2008 and featuring some of their most intense recorded performances. A treat.
Comment [7]
A patchy plethora of releases to finish the year
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday November 25, 2011
It’s a bit of a catch up really.
PIETER NOOTEN and MICHAEL BROOK – Sleeps With The Fishes
This has been re-available as a limited pressing for a while, but that information got a bit lost with the warehouse fire on the week of scheduled release. There’s a problem with Amazon UK getting the release listed, so maybe you should ask your local indie store to order this excellent music.
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS – Tallahassee
Long unavailable but now re-packaged in a jewel case, we’re happy to welcome it back-in-the-rack on 28 November.
PEACHES -Teaches Of Peaches VINYL
Re-formatted as a single album, and in time for the 10th anniversary next year, this slab of floor shaking, potty-mouth electro is released 5th December. Dirty in sound, dirty in content but resplendently pretty in pink vinyl, let Peaches show you there’s a better way of pain relief than asprin.
oops, Amazon seem to be in a muddle over this release as well…
and coming next year…!
COCTEAU TWINS – Stars And Topsoil VINYL – a vinyl debut !!
THE AVALANCHES – Since I Left You VINYL !!!
GOTAN PROJECT – La Revancha Del Tango VINYL !!!!
BIFFY CLYRO – Blackened Sky Expanded VINYL !!!!!
AND FINALLY
Check out this months MOJO magazine for a feature on This Mortal Coil
Song To The Siren
FILED UNDER: This Mortal CoilFriday November 18, 2011
An interesting article by Martin Aston in today’s ‘The Guardian’ on Song To The Siren
Posted by Back CatComment [2]
THROWING MUSES Anthology released in a standard edition
FILED UNDER:Monday November 7, 2011
The acclaimed Anthology (see the reviews in the releases section) is now available in a single disc edition.
We’re also working on getting a definitive list of what is available from the Beggars Group catalogue. You’d think this would be fairly straightforward but it’s something that hasn’t been done since 2006 and there is no one source of information. What has come to light is that there may be stock of some long deleted (and in-demand) items tucked away in foreign lands. These are not in quantities that would make it worth re-activating them generally so we’ll probably offer them as exclusives through the 4AD store. If the information is correct, then the biggest surprise is a stash of the Dead Can Dance Japanese SACD releases for which dealers are asking up to $89 each on Amazon.
Posted by Back CatComment [6]
new pricing for the UK
FILED UNDER: This Mortal CoilThursday October 27, 2011
Amazon UK have belatedly lowered their price on the This Mortal Coil pre-orders. Slightly more than Amazon in Germany, but otherwise unbeatable. They should be able to supply the stock if the orders are placed now as we have enough allocated to cover it.
Posted by Back CatComment [19]
overdue round-up
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday October 24, 2011
Too busy to blog, that’s the problem.
We’re finally getting close to the release of the This Mortal Coil box. It looks like the orders have been over-subscribed again, with some territories holding adequate supplies and others (USA / Germany) looking a bit shaky. We want to at least supply all pre-orders but, as the demand builds, this may not be possible. The only source we’re guaranteeing will supply is the 4AD online store .
It’s also time for Throwing Muses to be over in Europe playing dates. As announced on the 4AD site , the anthology compilation will be made available in a standard edition, as a single disc and there’s a grand interview with the Muses in the ever-excellent The Quietus. There are still copies of the double disc set at the 4AD Store
Some of you have been asking about the Mass CD – hopefully I’ll have news before too long on how to purchase it.
I’m very excited by the next big project due in 2012 (catalogue number CAD3204). I listened to a test disc at the weekend and got quite carried away. It’s a totally under-rated band whose songs could easily be hits today. OK, that’s enough teasing.
And finally… the two Fall Omnibus Editions have been put on a shortlist for best catalogue releases at the inaugural AIM Awards
Comment [7]
Hot tip - act now
FILED UNDER: This Mortal CoilThursday September 22, 2011
Amazon UK have just announced their pricing for the THIS MORTAL COIL box set and it’s a realistic £106. HOWEVER, Amazon Germany are aggressively chasing market share and selling below cost at €68 !!
If you’re in Europe I’d advise pre-ordering NOW. Orders are fulfilled on a first come first served basis and I don’t think this price will be available for too long. ORDER FROM HERE
We can’t pay tax (20% vat) / outsource fulfilment and shipping and offer the set at anywhere near that price selling from the UK. Should the Amazon.de price go up before release, you can still order the set from the 4AD store in the USA for around £80
To quote Smokey & The Miracles out of context, “You better shop around”.
Posted by Back CatComment [28]
Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares
FILED UNDER: GeneralTuesday September 13, 2011
On Tour Autumn 2011
Internationally renowned vocal ensemble Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares blend traditional songs with contemporary arrangements. Formerly known as the Bulgarian State Radio & Television Female Vocal Choir, the group was created in Bulgaria by Philip Koutev, aka ‘the father of Bulgarian concert folk music.’
It was the release of “Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares Vol.1” in 1986 on 4AD that brought the choir to the attention of the wider world. The album had first been released in 1975 on Disques Cellier, a small label run by Swiss ethnomusicologist and producer Marcel Cellier who had been working on the project for some 15 years by then. In the 80s, Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of 4AD, was introduced to the choir from a third or fourth generation audio cassette lent to him by Peter Murphy, singer from the band Bauhaus. Watts-Russell became entranced by the music, and tracked down and licensed the recordings from Cellier.
The Observer wrote about the release” “When this thrilling, spine-tingling soundtrack first struck Western ears, back in 1986, the effect seemed almost frightening in its intensity, like a Greek tragedy. The women’s voices combine in a haunting mixture of harshness and purity, the very opposite of the Western notion of a ladies’ choir although many of them were, in fact, members of the Women’s Chorus of Bulgarian State Radio. This is not simple folk music. The songs themselves are ancient, mostly dating from the years of Turkish domination, but shaped and refined over the years by the singers themselves, working with some of Bulgaria’s leading composers. If you have not yet experienced the mystery of Bulgarian voices, don’t let the chance pass by.”
Now conducted by Dora Hristova, the Grammy Award-winning ensemble have toured the globe to great acclaim, carving a distinctive voice within the rich heritage of Bulgaria’s folk song. Following a sold-out tour last year, the choir return to the UK to play a special one-off London concert in September (as part of the Barbican’s Transcender Festival), before going on to tour the country in October 2011.
PRESS QUOTES:
“This is strange music, managing to plumb the depths of sadness and scale the heights of ecstasy.” The Guardian
“They conjure up the most magical spell when they start to harmonise – sheer suspension of self and time takes hold of you when these women sing.” Time Out
“A breathtakingly beautiful sound like nothing else in the history of music.” NME
“Timeless melodies and rich, strange harmonies that make every hair on your body stand on end.” Time Out, New York
“Bulgarian music is stunningly beautiful, the voices are exceptional, the melodies are extraordinary and I think people are stunned by it. The vocal style is just magic. The choir and its arrangements are consistently, continually astonishing.” New York Times
“a mystical, other-worldly revelation of primal wisdoms, an almost shamanic vision, with the voices themselves the path to the revelation. .. The voices are indeed wonderful, and strange. Their powerful, penetrating and resonant sound, produced by an open but carefully focused vocal projection, free of vibrato but amenable to embellishments such as trills, glottal ornaments and falsetto, fits the unfamiliar modes, rhythms and harmonies of the songs. The singers sometimes break into wild slides, whoops, and sudden bursts of speech or showers of nonsense syllables, creating a sound-world which is at once alien yet strangely familiar.” Songlines
Their sound “plumbs the depths of sadness and scales the heights of ecstasy” (Guardian) with strange, spine-tingling harmonies and heart-wrenching melodies drawn from traditional Bulgarian songs in contemporary arrangements. Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares’ 4AD records have enraptured the world, and this Grammy award-winning choir brings their spell-binding music back to the UK for a tour this Autumn.
September
Sat 24 LONDON Barbican As part of the Transcender Festival 020 7638 8891October
Wed 19 BELFAST Ulster Hall As part of the Belfast Festival 02890 971197Thu 20 EDINBURGH Usher Hall
0131 228 1155
Fri 21 MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
0161 907 9000
Sat 22 GATESHEAD The Sage Gateshead
0191 443 4661
Mon 24 CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
01223 357851
Tue 25 BRISTOL Colston Hall
0117 922 3686
Fri 28 LEEDS Town Hall
0113 224 3801
Sun 30 BIRMINGHAM Town Hall
0121 780 3333
November
Tue 1 BRIGHTON Dome 01273 709709Wed 2 BASINGSTOKE Anvil
01256 844244
Update
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday September 12, 2011
Just back from a week off and things don’t seem to be running smoothly! Firstly apologies for those confused by why Amazon isn’t listing The Mountain Goats – Tallahassee and Pieter Nooten / Michael Brook – Sleeps With The Fishes. Although I was told that stock destroyed in the PIAS warehouse fire would be replaced, it seems this hasn’t been done and no-one thought to move the release date from 5th September. I’ve no idea when this will be corrected – I’ll post when I find out.
Also THROWING MUSES – Anthology stock finally arrived but there have been a flurry of late orders so they will sell out on release (and won’t be re-pressed). Currently Amazon UK don’t seem to be taking any further pre-release orders but you can check the status on the release page
Some good news, though. Keep an eye on the 4AD site for an announcement about This Mortal Coil Japanese box set (and yes, we’ve probably under-manufactured on this one too…)
We seem to have a history of under-estimating demand on box sets. Prices on Amazon UK for The Rare Cult set (£220 used / nearly £500 new), the Cult Demo box (£200 used / £944 new) and the Dead Can Dance SACD box (£450 used) seem to bear this out.
Posted by Back CatComment [11]
Gonna Get You
FILED UNDER: GeneralTuesday August 23, 2011
1982 – 1983 was an odd time for Beggars Banquet. There were musical differences developing between the two partners who owned the label which resulted in some releases which would alienate the narrow tastes of the post-punk audience. The band Freeez typified this division when Beggars released the single and album, Southern Freeez. Coming out after Gary Numan’s ‘Telekon’ and Chrome’s ‘Red Exposure’ (and before Spirit’s ‘Potatoland’), the alt-rock image was blown by this spear-heading release of British Jazz-Funk. Remember that? – Light Of The World, Level 42, Incognito, Beggar & Co., Shakatak, Cayenne – not the coolest music for proto-indiekids, ferchristsake – these people spent the night dancing!
Cast aside the prejudices and connections do exist. Much as the original scene with Punk (where the label started), bands like Freeez were outsider, street kids with a can-do attitude towards combining the American jazzers they admired with the dancefloor. The slogan on their debut album summed it up, New wave Jazz Funk – Play loud.
Like any street scene, it withered quickly under the commercial spotlight, but Freeez followed their muse over to New York and asked Arthur Baker to produce the next album – Gonna Get You. SFE / Cherry Red are re-issuing an expanded, 2 disc version (good sleeve notes, too) and I must say, it’s a lot more enjoyable than I remembered. There’s an amusing observance by Arthur Baker regarding the other UK band who contacted him at the time – New Order. Of course, they didn’t approve of Southern soul boys. Some great early electro sounds and production before that scene became over-exploited and stale.
PS. The Freeez albums are also available on 29 August for download as well as the Luxuria re-issue set.
PPS. Throwing Muses Anthology is still at sea somewhere (talk about a slow boat from China), so the release has been put back to 19 September. A limited quantity of the double album set will be available in the USA, both from Throwing Muses and Beggars USA
Comment [2]
vinyl re-issues
FILED UNDER: GeneralThursday August 18, 2011
After nearly 30 years, a couple of 4AD artists have a limited re-issue on vinyl.
There’s a compilation of In Camera‘s EP IV and their single Die Laughing and the only Mass album, Labour Of Love.
Both are released as a ‘labour of love’ by the French independent, Desire. For more information and ordering click here
On other vinyl news, there are some Matador titles that have been imported from the USA and are now available in Europe, including Guided By Voices, Cat Power, Fucked Up and Yo La Tengo.
We are planning other vinyl re-issues from across the Beggars Group labels, some we’ll be doing ourselves (The National, Interpol, Gotan Project, Avalanches and, hopefully, Biffy Clyro) and some through licensed partners like Music On Vinyl and Vinyl 180
PS. I just noticed the silly prices being charged for copies of Mass – Labour Of Love on CD at Amazon. We actually have a small amount of stock of this release but, since the demise of our mail order, no official way to sell it to you! If anyone is interested please get in touch and we’ll work something out.
Posted by Back CatComment [19]
Antebela
FILED UNDER: BauhausTuesday August 16, 2011
We don’t usually promote outside works but Andrew, who did the research for the Bauhaus Omnibus boxes (both now unavailable since stocks were sadly destroyed in the Enfield fire), has diligently uncovered the ancient roots of Bauhaus. Take it away Andy…
The Shadow Is Cast – Unravelling the grey and complex world of life before BAUHAUS
This extensively researched feature was written with a particular publication in mind, despite strong encouragement from that magazines staff, unfortunately the editor did not share our enthusiasm, so with that in mind, here, published for the first time are the results of an eight month research project into the often complex and rarely discussed world of life before Bauhaus and Bela Lugosi’s Dead. Anything used, borrowed or stolen from this feature must be obtained in writing from the publisher prior to use please.
Andrew J.Brooksbank
www.myspace.com/factorytown
Comment [1]
Kristin in Edinburgh
FILED UNDER: Throwing MusesFriday August 12, 2011
Any of you fortunate enough to be attending the Edinburgh festival have four opportunities to see Kristin Hersh promoting her memoir, Paradoxical Undressing, performing / reading / talking and singing. OK, I’m not really sure what structure her appearances will take; all the more reason to go and find out. Here’s the information
Paradoxical Undressing is available in Hardback, Paperback and Kindle
Upheaval
FILED UNDER: GeneralTuesday August 9, 2011
Our uk distributor, Sony dadc was burnt down in last night’s riots, so all our UK stock is gone.
Alternative arrangements are being set up, and we’ll be moving in stock from Europe to cover, as well as remanufacturing as rapidly as possible.
Although we’re well stocked at retail with key current titles, there will inevitably be some stock shortages in the near term, so please bear with us while we work on this.
That’s the bottom line in a succinct announcement, and it will impact on the catalogue availability and new releases. We kept much of our bulk holdings at the Sony warehouse but fortunately the This Mortal Coil boxes and Throwing Muses sets are still in transit, so we haven’t lost those.
My sympathies go out to the smaller independent labels who will be hard pressed to survive a loss like this.
Comment [6]
Update
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday August 5, 2011
It’s been a few weeks since we posted, so there’s a few new things coming out.
Firstly there are some titles that are scheduled for release on CD by Cherry Red, though I don’t have definite dates. However, these will be issued as downloads on 29th August 2011
LUXURIA – Unanswerable Lust / Beast Box
The very under-rated Howard Devoto / Noko collaboration produced two albums which are presented here as a double package and include all the B sides from the vinyl only releases.
LUXURIA – Live 1988
While researching the tapes for the above re-issue, we discovered a stereo feed mix of the show ay Leicester Polytechnic on 9th March 1988. They only played one live tour and it’s a shame we didn’t record the London show where Morrissey joined the band on stage.
FREEEZ – Southern Freeez
New Wave Jazz Funk – Play Loud were the instructions on the sleeve and the street beats were captured on this 1980 pioneering release. Surprisingly, it has never been re-issued digitally before now.
FREEEZ – Gonna Get You
Freeez Mk. 2 ditched the jazz funk and moved to New York to be the first British band to record with team Arthur Baker and developed the electro dance sound typified by I.O.U.
Next up in our occasional revival of titles that have been long out-of-print are a couple of classics from 4AD to be re-issued on CD on 5th September 2011
PIETER NOOTEN and MICHAEL BROOK – Sleeps With The Fishes
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS – Tallahassee
Finally some news on the THROWING MUSES – Anthology. 4AD do not have rights to release the album in the USA, but we are in talks with the rights owners to allow our NY office to import a limited quantity which we can sell direct at a domestic price. More as we know it.
And we’ve been promised an advance delivery of the THIS MORTAL COIL box next week, so we’ll get photos and a pre-order site set up as soon as possible.
Fun times…
Comment [7]
Peter Murphy's expanded debut
FILED UNDER: BauhausThursday July 7, 2011
Now there’s a headline. Cherry Red are issuing a two disc set of Should The World Fail To Fall Apart on either 18 or 22 July. It has been re-mastered from the original tapes so sounds good. Disc one is the original vinyl album and disc two re-creates most of the sequence using alternative versions and mixes. The Cherry Red web site contains an early version of the track listings (with the omission of Canvas Beauty at the start of disc one) and all these inaccuracies have now appeared in online stores.
Here’s the correct sequence. It will be available for download on 1st August worldwide.
DISC ONE
Canvas Beauty (Romance Version)
Light Pours Out Of Me
Confessions
Should The World Fail To Fall Apart
Never Man
God Sends
Blue Heart
The Answer Is Clear
Final Solution
Jemal
DISC TWO
Canvas Beauty (Fast Version)
The Light Pours Out Of Me (Original Version)
Confessions (Remix)
Should The World Fail To Fall Apart (Version 3)
Stay
Tale Of The Tongue (12” Version)
Blue Heart (12” Version)
The Answer Is Clear (Version)
Final Solution (Club Mix)
Jemal (Version 2)
Should The World Fail To Fall Apart (Unreleased Version)
Final Solution (Full Version)
Final Solution (Third and Final Mix)
Most of the second disc appeared on B-sides. The download version also includes the Tale Of The Tongue 7” edit at the end.
Canvas Beauty (Fast Version) is a longer version than the (Up Version) which was released in Canada.
STWFTFA (Version 3) is the one that was on the B side of BEG 179T
STWFTFA (Unreleased Version) is a newly discovered tape.
STWFTFA (Version 2 – which was on BEG 174T) – the tape is missing so it’s not included.
I hope that’s all clear – we’ll be testing you on it later!
Just realised Cherry Red are releasing the expanded version of The Icicle Works Blind on 11 July. They tell me nothing….
Posted by Back CatComment [14]
Throwing Muses - Anthology
FILED UNDER: Throwing MusesTuesday June 28, 2011
On the 25th anniversary of *Throwing Muses* debut album release, 4AD are issuing the first ever compilation of the band’s work, simply entitled *Anthology*, on 5th September 2011.
Founded by step sisters Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly and featuring the unconventional drumming of David Narcizo, Throwing Muses have consistently created challenging music. Compiled by the band, the first American act to sign to 4AD, the twenty-one track selection eschews most of the singles in favour of personal favourites, and enjoys a non-chronological sequence which makes for interesting juxtapositions and encourages a reassessment of the music.
The initial limited release comes in a hardback book with a bonus twenty-two track CD of B-sides and rarities. ‘Hillbilly‘ is a previously unreleased track and ‘If‘ and ‘Heel Toe‘ were only released in the USA. Additionally ‘Back Road (Matter Of Degrees)‘ is an early version used in the movie and featuring Tanya while ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Manic Depression’, ‘Ride Into The Sun’, ‘Crayon Sun’, one version of ‘Cry Baby Cry’, ‘Jak‘ and ‘If‘ are all covers. This is also probably the only release which features two different songs with the same name (‘Cry Baby Cry’).
In light of the release of Anthology, Kristin Hersh had this to say:
”It’s beautiful and substantial, thanks to awesome David Narcizo / Lakuna Design – a chunky, 28 page hardcover booklet and two CDs – one CD consisting of a hand-selected retrospective track-list by Kristin, David and Bernard, and on the other the collected B-sides, including the original Lonely is an Eyesore version of ‘Fish’, the long-lost ‘Hillbilly’ and the original version of ‘Back Road (Matter of Degrees)’. And yes, the release will be supported by Throwing Muses live dates.”
Disc One
1. Garoux Des Larmes
2. Finished
3. A Feeling
4. Marriage Tree
5. Fish
6. Hate My Way
7. No Way In Hell
8. Colder
9. Tar Kissers
10. Mr. Bones
11. Limbo
12. Summer St.
13. Furious
14. Bright Yellow Gun
15. Pretty or Not
16. Flying
17. You Cage
18. Two Step
19. Vicky’s Box
20. Mania
21. Cry Baby Cry
Disc Two
1. Hillbilly
2. Same Sun
3. Amazing Grace
4. Cottonmouth
5. Cry Baby Cry
6. Manic Depression
7. Snailhead
8. City of the Dead
9. Jak
10. Ride Into The Sun
11. Handsome Woman
12. Like A Dog
13. Crayon Sun
14. Red Eyes
15. Tar Moochers
16. Serene Swing
17. Limbobo
18. If
19. Heel Toe
20. Take (Live)
21. Finished (Live)
22. Back Road (Matter of Degrees)
click here for more on Throwing Muses
and the news from Japan regarding This Mortal Coil is very encouraging – looks like we’ll definitely have the box set out for November.
Posted by Back CatComment [7]
July Releases
FILED UNDER: GeneralTuesday June 28, 2011
There is a flurry of releases (good expression) which have been in the pipeline for ages but have finally been allocated release dates. Starting with the VINYL RELEASES
TONES ON TAIL Weird Pop – 18 July 2011 – double vinyl also on download.
You’re probably thinking “How can they do another compilation when the band only released one album and the last one, Everything!, contained everything?”
Well this is on vinyl, it doesn’t contain everything, but it does have 2 tracks from Glenn Campling’s personal archive that we weren’t previously aware of. There’s the original version of Performance which Glenn prefers to the re-recording and a studio take of Heartbreak Hotel, so we don’t need the live-from-cassette version anymore. The extended version of Twist isn’t the full six minute version but rather the regular 12” cut, though the full one is on the download. Complicated isn’t it?
Side One
Go! (Single edit)
War
Christian Says
There’s Only One
Performance (Original Version)
Copper
Side Two
Heartbreak Hotel (Studio version)
Burning Skies
OK, This Is The Pops
Instrumental
Movement Of Fear
Side Three
A Bigger Splash
The Never Never
Real Life
Rain
Side Four
Lions
When You’re Smiling
Twist
You, The Night and The Music
Though we first announced them back in January, it’s taken six months to organise a European release for…
THE CULT The Singles – 25 July 2011 – double vinyl
LOVE AND ROCKETS Sorted! – 25 July 2011 – double vinyl
BAUHAUS Crackle – 25 July 2011 – double vinyl (though I haven’t seen copies of this yet, so I hope it arrives in time).
Other vinyl titles for 25 July re-issue include…
GUIDED BY VOICES Alien Lanes
CAT POWER The Covers Record, What Would The Community Think? and Jukebox.
YO LA TENGO Painful and AndThen Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out
and finally … we’re bringing back two DVD’s which will be in NTSC format.
DEAD CAN DANCE Toward The Within – 25 July – DVD
FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM Revelations / Forever Remain / Visionary Heads – 25 July – DVD
Someone’s going to be very busy packing boxes on 25 July.
Posted by Back CatComment [7]
forget Glastonbury - go to Colchester
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday June 24, 2011
There’s always some trepidation when going to see a reformed band. Will they be any good or will it be a bit toe curling? Modern English never established themselves in Britain, as success in the USA kept them playing over there. So I didn’t know what to expect when when I went to a warm up show in a pub in Wimbledon. Well, I was blown away. It wasn’t nostalgia for the old folks, it was vital and contemporary – a performance of joy and passion. They’ve become experienced players and performers but there’s still a newness and spark. Good sound too, which helps highlight the oddness of the songs that came out of the early 80’s underground – dynamic and spikey. The only nostalgic feeling was seeing other old 4AD faces in the audience – ex-4AD Ray and Howard, the producer Hugh Jones, and the Young brothers from Colourbox.
Modern English, I salute you. Get to see them if you can – tonight in Tunbridge Wells then the big homecoming show in Colchester on Saturday. If their local peers Depeche Mode ever decide to tour again, then this is the band they should take with them!
Comment [3]
The European return of Modern English
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday June 13, 2011
It’s a low-key affair for such an important band in 4AD’s history, but Modern English will be playing some live shows, starting in Paris (any excuse for a party) and ending with a hometown celebration in Colchester (any excuse for a bigger party). Featuring all the original members except Richard, the drummer, the dates are…
18th June. Paris – Le Freche d’or.
23rd June. South Wimbledon – The Grove.
24th June. Tunbridge Wells – The Forum.
25th June. Colchester – Arts centre.
I do love a band who play close to the office…
I also forgot to mention last week that the Throwing Muses Anthology still seems to be on track for an early September release. Miracle.
Posted by Back Catfinally... an update
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday June 10, 2011
The release of the This Mortal Coil box set has slipped back to the end of the year. None more frustrated than myself, but this needs to be set up properly and the Japanese production process is taking way longer than anticipated.
So what actually IS coming out? There’s a few CD’s on Cherry Red either released or imminent.
CHROME – Red Exposure – proto industrial metal and a cult classic. Mastered from the original studio tapes
THE DOLL – Listen To The Silence – 2CD set of this new wave rarity, including loads of unreleased demos
THE ICICLE WORKS – Blind – another 3 disc set. A bountiful bevy of nuggets
We’ve also just finished mastering an expanded edition of PETER MURPHY – Should The World Fail To Fall Apart and, in the process, discovered yet another version (previously unreleased) of the title track. Additionally, for you funkateers out there, we have expanded remastered versions of the FREEEZ albums coming soon.
Another company that’s been keeping me busy is Music On Vinyl and the first fruits of our joint labours are released on 13 June
BUFFALO TOM – Let Me Come Over – a great rock album
MERCURY REV – Bosces – the musical madness of the Rev
OCEANSIZE – Everyone Into Position – an under appreciated gem
DEVENDRA BANHART – Cripple Crow – double disc and a side longer than the CD
MARK LANEGAN – Bubblegum (already released) – what’s to say? Godlike.
And more vinyl is imminent from Vinyl 180 who are taking orders for
DEAD CAN DANCE – 2nd box set
Check out their site where they are selling the very wonderful BAUHAUS live album – This Is For When – for under £20. Bargain.
Finally on the vinyl re-issues, Desire in France are going to release a 6 track IN CAMERA EP and the 1981 album from MASS
And for the USA viewers, the LOVE AND ROCKETS compilation, Sorted!, is to be deleted due to an expiry of a license. This means if you want to buy the recently issued vinyl get it now as it won’t appear again.
Comment [20]
Back on the tracks
FILED UNDER: GeneralWednesday June 1, 2011
Just returned from a long sojourn in the USA, which included the opportunity to browse for music. Apart from the many charity stores with a box or two of vinyl, it was revealing to find new stores that have opened, which are exclusively selling vinyl. It felt like an old addiction flipping through the racks (so much easier than browsing CD’s) and seeing familiar sleeves amongst some great new releases.
So a big heads up to Gwen at Melody Supreme and to Sidetracks in Charlottesville, VA. plus Deep Groove in Richmond, VA. – it’s brilliant that music retail is alive and well in stores fuelled by enthusiasm.
So sadly, bugger all has progressed in my absence. I had hoped that we’d have samples of Throwing Muses and This Mortal Coil, but the latter has still not gone into production yet. More when I know what’s happening…
Comment [5]
Brendan Perry & Robin Guthrie on tour
FILED UNDER: GeneralWednesday March 30, 2011
Brendan Perry and Robin Guthrie today announced a co-headline tour of the United States. Dates start May 30th in Washington, DC and the tour will end on June 14th in Solana Beach, CA. The tour marks Perry’s first Stateside shows since he toured with Dead Can Dance in 2005, and Guthrie’s first appearance since he performed at All Tomorrow’s Parties in New York in 2009. While the two artists were labelmates at 4AD several years ago, this marks the first time since, that they have toured together.
Tickets for all dates will go onsale on Friday, March 11th via digital outlets and venue box offices.
The tour will coincide with the release of Perry’s Ark on May 24th, as previously announced this week. He had this to say regarding the tour and album release: “I am delighted to have found a suitable US label in The End Records and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with them. This new collaboration has also opened the way for me to perform again in North America, the prospect of which I am looking forward to with great anticipation and excitement.”
Robin Guthrie, founder, writer and producer of Cocteau Twins, who has been quietly building up a body of work over the last thirty years, including many instrumental releases and movie soundtracks, will be releasing a new album Emeralds via his US label Darla Records on the 15th of May 2011. As a sidestep to his usual one man live performance he will be performing with a three piece band which he feels may be more appropriate for the concert halls on this tour. As he explains “It’ll be lovely to share the stage with Brendan again, and performing as a three piece is an ideal opportunity for me to try something a little different.”
Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon-May-30 Washington, DC Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
Tue-May-31 New York, NY Fillmore at Irving Plaza
Wed-Jun-01 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
Fri-Jun-03 Montreal, QC Le National
Sat-Jun-04 Toronto, ON Opera House
Sun-Jun-05 Chicago, IL Metro
Wed-Jun-08 Seattle, WA Neumos
Thu-Jun-09 Vancouver, BC Venue
Fri-Jun-10 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
Sun-Jun-12 San Francisco, CA Bimbo’s 365
Mon-Jun-13 Los Angeles, CA El Rey
Tue-Jun-14 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up
BACK IN STOCK - March / April
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday March 18, 2011
The next instalment of revived titles are ready and it’s a really mixed bag this time.
THE PRODIGY – Experience VINYL
THE PRODIGY – Music For The Jilted Generation VINYL
THE PRODIGY – Fat Of The Land VINYL
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY – Mutiny / The Bad Seed – CD
THE GO-BETWEENS – Bellavista Terrace (Best Of) – CD
THE CHARLATANS – Tellin’ Stories – CD
LISA GERRARD / PATRICK CASSIDY – Immortal Memory – CD
MODERN ENGLISH – Life In The Gladhouse (Best Of) – CD
and a very limited supply of…
MODERN ENGLISH – Mesh And Lace – CD
MODERN ENGLISH – After The Snow – CD
MODERN ENGLISH – Ricochet Days – CD
In other news, the production of the This Mortal Coil box set in Japan has understandably been delayed, but we’ve also signed a deal with Music On Vinyl to release catalogue titles on, you guessed it, vinyl. The first issue will include Mercury Rev(Boces), Buffalo Tom (Let Me Come Over), Fields Of The Nephilim (Elysium), The Prodigy (Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned), Basement Jaxx (Remedy), Devendra Banhart (Cripple Crow), Mark Lanegan (Bubblegum) and Ocensize (Everyone Into Position).
The Throwing Muses anthology is coming together and we should be able to set a release date next week. And the good news for This Mortal Coil is we’ve had a test Blu-ray disc for Tears In The Dropbox and it sounds superb (and all works as it should). Talking High Resolution audio, we’re also preparing a dozen titles for download release – more on this when it’s closer to completion.
And finally, have you seen Norwegian Wood? Mixed reviews but I thought it was a fine piece of work.
Comment [7]
It'll End In Tears
FILED UNDER: This Mortal CoilTuesday March 1, 2011
A little This Mortal Coil news. Finally we’re expecting proofs on the CD box set so, if they are approved, we can move into production for release in the Summer. I’ve also heard that the Blu-ray disc, Tears In The Dropbox, is authored and ready for a final test. As that’s a technological first, incorporating HD pure audio, video and mshuttle, it’s been a labour of love in the programming department.
Something that is ready for pre-order is the vinyl for It’ll End In Tears. This is being released in the USA by ORG Music in a newly designed gatefold sleeve in a limited, white vinyl edition (exclusively available from insound.com ) and a regular black vinyl edition. You can pre-order these now.
WHITE VINYL
BLACK VINYL
Comment [8]
The Icicle Works and Thee Hypnotics
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday February 28, 2011
More good news for those who appreciate The Icicle Works. Not only are there a handful of 30th anniversary concerts, but Cherry Red will be issuing three of the Beggars’ albums in expanded editions. What they’ve forgotten to mention is that these have been re-mastered from the original analogue tapes and sound way better than any previous digital releases. They sound like muscular ROCK albums with all the energy restored. The first release, The Small Price Of A Bicycle, has been expanded into a 3 CD set and will be released on 21 March. Apart from the original album on disc one there are all the singles and different mixes, unreleased tracks, the BBC sessions, demo versions and some live tracks.
If You Want To Defeat Your Enemy, Sing His Song is scheduled for April and is also a re-mastered 3 CD set which features all the singles, some unreleased single mixes and a CD of a live show from 1986.
Additionally, Cherry Red are issuing Thee Hypnotics first three albums, again re-mastered and sounding better than ever. There’s also a brilliant article on the band in the latest edition of SHINDIG. Their debut studio album is available now with bonus tracks.
Posted by Back CatComment [2]
Back In Stock
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday January 17, 2011
I think I may have posted this before but then anything pre-Christmas has been purged from my memory.
Some items that have been un-available for a while on CD have been re-pressed and, for as long as stocks last, you can avoid paying collectors prices (£62.38 for the first X-Mal Deutschland album anyone?). We’ll be doing this on a monthly basis and here’s the first lovely titles. Let us know if there’s any title you think would be worth reviving, Frankenstein – stylee.
RED HOUSE PAINTERS – RED HOUSE PAINTERS (1)
RED HOUSE PAINTERS – RED HOUSE PAINTERS (2)
RED HOUSE PAINTERS – OCEAN BEACH
BRENDAN PERRY – EYE OF THE HUNTER
FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM – THE NEPHILIM
X-MAL DEUTSCHLAND – FETISCH
X-MAL DEUTSCHLAND – TOCSIN
THE FALL – THE WONDERFUL AND FRIGHTENING WORLD OF THE FALL
Amazon also have the last copies of the box set for sale
THE ICICLE WORKS – THE ICICLE WORKS (EXPANDED EDITION)
THE ICICLE WORKS – THE BEST OF THE ICICLE WORKS
MARK LANEGAN – BUBBLEGUM
Comment [20]
Back in the trenches
FILED UNDER: The CultMonday January 17, 2011
For the appreciation of Road Filth across the UK, The Cult are back in the country to warm up the winter and play some shows with Masters Of Reality, starting in Leeds on Tuesday 18th January.
Though this isn’t a retro show (the band are currently releasing new recordings as capsules) Beggars are making a live set available again, recorded at a celebratory show at the most legend-rific Marquee Club back in 1991. The show is presented as audio-verité – what was there is what you hear, with no overdubs or track fixing – and that night The Cult were on fighting form.
It’s a double CD set; disc 1 was originally included as a bonus with their ‘best of’ release (Pure Cult) with disc 2 available on mail order. Since then copies have infrequently been in the shops, but here’s a chance to buy the set without paying collectors prices. You can hear it on Spotify or buy from Amazon.
For full dates on the UK / Netherlands 2011 tour CLICK HERE
Posted by Back CatUSA vinyl releases
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday January 7, 2011
In addition to Pixies – Wave of Mutilation being released on vinyl worldwide, the USA have three other ‘Best of…’ titles. All are double LP’s in a gatefold sleeve and pressings are on standard weight, black vinyl.
THE CULT – Pure Cult
To order Click Here
The Cult, unlike its predecessor bands the Southern Death Cult and the Death Cult, was unapologetic about its mainstream rock & roll aspirations, which makes PURE CULT: THE SINGLES 1984-1995 the best possible starting place for the group, and for many, the logical end point as well. The Cult was a singles band, and a pretty great one, too, as evidenced by the Stones-like “Love Removal Machine” and the blazing “Fire Woman”. The ensemble’s mixture of ’60s influences (no wonderIan Astbury became the lead singer of the reformed Doors) and hard-rock power (no wonder drummer Matt Sorum went on to join Guns N’ Roses) not only helped define a whole subset ofthe late-‘80s alternative-rock scene, it’s fair to say thatthe groups like Stone Temple Pilots owed at least some of their success to the Cult’s early flirtations with the rock mainstream. Although the set isn’t chronologically ordered, PURE CULT still gives a good sense of the band’s surprisinglyorganic shift in sound, ranging from the gothy neo-psychedelia of “She Sells Sanctuary” to the sneering rock of “Star”.
Pure Cult is a fitting testament to one of Britain’s finest rock bands. – Helen Marquis
LOVE AND ROCKETS – Sorted! The Best Of Love And Rockets
To order Click Here
Love and Rockets’ first career-spanning compilation is a treat for listeners who understand that the trio was yet another alternative artist of the ’80s (in similar company with the Smiths, the Cure, and Echo & the Bunnymen) capable of impressing with both their LP and 12” output. The trio’s full-length classics, Express and Earth.Sun.Moon, were majestic, ethereal, and exquisitely paced, while their singles of the same period displayed a breathtaking range — from dark rockers (“Kundalini Express,” “Ball of Confusion [That’s What the World Is Today]”) to lighter material (“No New Tale to Tell,” “Haunted When the Minutes Drag”). Much more than just a hits compilation, Sorted!: The Best of Love and Rockets also includes the best of the band’s album tracks, such as “It Could Be Sunshine,” the opener from 1986’s Express, and “Sweet Love Hangover” from 1996’s Sweet F.A.. John Bush All Music Guide
This vinyl release includes an extra track, “The Light”
BAUHAUS – Crackle • Best of Bauhaus
To order Click Here
CRACKLE is the second of Bauhaus’ greatest-hits albums, following the import-only 1979-1983. The major difference between the two sets is that CRACKLE eliminates most of the cover versions that appeared on the earlier collection. The tracklisting draws from Bauhaus’ entire career-from the defining first single, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (included here in the rare “Tomb Raider Mix”, all the way through “She’s In Parties” and the title track of the band’s final album, BURNING FROM THE INSIDE. All tracks have been remastered.This is especially evident on the band’s earliest work. “Dark Entries” and “Double Dare” are afforded a cleaner sound, adding to their power.
The lone cover included is a version of “Ziggy Stardust”, a David Bowie classic that clearly influenced the band. Though they will always be labeled as founding forefathers of the “Goth” rock movement, Bauhaus werenever constrained by the label. “Terror Couple Kill Colonel” features a gentle, swaying groove. “Silent Hedges” is built on a foundation of acoustic guitar and a chunky, distortedbass line. “Spirit” features dueling guitars and a harpsichord. The collection concludes with one of the band’s most emotive tracks, “Crowds”, a pretty piano-based song wherein tortured vocalist Peter Murphy wonders “What do you want of me?”
I'm Amazed
FILED UNDER: PixiesWednesday December 1, 2010
We just had finished copies of the best of Pixies – Wave Of Mutilation delivered on vinyl.
This European version is not released until January 17 but it sounds, feels and looks…gigantic. It’s most gratifying when the finished item is as good as you hoped. This first pressing is on coloured vinyl so future collectors take note. There’s a page up in releases but check out this pre-order price at HMV – retail madness…
and now matched by Amazon…
Posted by Back CatThe Fall in Uncut's best re-issues of 2010
FILED UNDER: The FallTuesday November 30, 2010
The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall has been included in Uncut magazine’s best 30 re-issues of 2010. Here’s what they say.
An Unusually high-end product among sundry baffling Fall re-issues, their 1984 classic resurfaced as a 4CD box with assorted sessions, demos and livetracks. Deserved, too, since it charted the band’s movement – aided by Brix Smith and producer John Leckie – towards mainstream notoriety, if not acceptance.
So will This Nation’s Saving Grace be remembered at the end of 2011..?
PS. For other reviews check the releases page.
Comment [1]
This Nation's Saving Grace - Release details
FILED UNDER: The FallFriday November 19, 2010
We’ve finally been able to set a release date for the second Fall Omnibus Edition. The 3 disc set of This Nation’s Saving Grace will be issued 24th January around the world except the USA where it will be a day later – 25th January. Check out the releases page for full details.
Posted by Back CatComment [4]
you were warned...
FILED UNDER: The FallThursday October 28, 2010
The shops really under-estimated demand for the new The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall – Omnibus Edition set. Consequently, 4 days after release, re-orders were unexpectedly heavy and the distributor has run out of stock. This means stores can’t be supplied and there won’t be anymore manufactured (that’s what limited edition means) so if you want it, but don’t already have it, then try to find a copy in stores asap.
PS. It looks like the online stores still have stocks
Comment [10]
Gary Numan guest edits Magnet
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanThursday October 21, 2010
To celebrate the current The Pleasure Principle 30th anniversary tour in the USA, Magnet (Real Music Alternatives) are featuring Gary Numan as ‘guest editor’. It’s not entirely clear what this entails but he does have some wry and amusing observations to make on an array of non musical topics. Well worth a read.
Posted by Back CatComment [1]
massive price drop
FILED UNDER: The FallWednesday October 20, 2010
I’ve just noticed that Amazon have dropped the price of The wonderful and frightening World Of The Fall – Omnibus Edition to a ridiculously low £12.93. No excuses – buy it now before the stocks run out!
There’s a purchase link on the releases page (click on the ad to the left…)
Comment [2]
History Repeating
FILED UNDER: Sound MattersWednesday October 20, 2010
Currently there’s a sideline in presenting 60’s recordings in their original mono mix. As ever, a front-runner for this sonic trend was Neil Young who re-issued the Buffalo Springfield albums, justifiably claiming it was “how the band mixed it at the time”. The gold standard Beatles followed last year and now Columbia have released a Bob Dylan mono box-set.
Which does pose the question, “WHY weren’t the bands interested in the stereo mix at the time?” After all, stereo discs had been around since the 1950’s and provided an enhanced listening experience. The first answer is straightforward – the vast majority of people listened to music on single speaker radios and record players. Stereograms were expensive and not portable like a transistor radio. By today’s standards, however, the transition from mono to stereo was very fast – from the first mass produced stereo albums in 1957 to the last mono albums in 1968. Is anyone really convinced that The Beatles’ “The Beatles” (aka. the white album) or Dylan’s “John Wesley Harding” is a better listening experience in mono rather than stereo? And it’s hard to believe that the artists were still concentrating on the mono mix and ignoring the stereo.
With hindsight it’s easy to wonder why the artists, producers and studios didn’t see this change coming sooner and be excited by the possibilities of stereo. My current experience may give a partial answer. The majority of music creators are actually pretty conservative and aren’t concerned with presenting the music in more interesting and satisfying ways.
If, like most people these days, your main source of music is mp3 on an ipod or equivalent then you’re potentially missing out on a much richer musical experience. Sure, it’s totally convenient (like the mono transistor radio back in the mid 20th century) and highly portable – no problem with that. It’s just that the technology is also in place to really create a really exciting sonic experience in the home.
For starters there’s Full HD sound (96khz / 24bit) – the quality of the original recording from the analogue source can be captured with so much more presence and detail than the current CD standard, yet very few artists are doing it.
There’s also surround sound which, when done well, can create a fabulously engaging musical soundscape. You would have thought that creative musicians would embrace the challenge of presenting their work in the best quality available and in three dimensional audio but no, like their 60’s counterparts, they seem to be happy with the status quo, doing what everyone else does and “mixing in mono”.
PS – For younger readers, ‘Mono” is short for ‘monophonic’ and is an audio source from a single channel. Learn all about it here. As ever you’ll need to click on the screen when the error message shows…
Posted by Back CatVinyl Releases
FILED UNDER: GeneralWednesday October 13, 2010
Catalogue CD sales seem to have gone into a Twilight Zone these days so, unless it’s some kind of de-luxe package (like our Omnibus Editions), there’s really a diminished demand. However, with the pick-up in interest in vinyl there are a few titles we’ll be issuing in that configuration.
We’ve been in cahoots with Vinyl 180 for a few years and they’ve been releasing top quality packages for several of our titles in Europe – check out their link at the end of this post. Unfortunately these are really expensive by the time they’ve been imported into the USA, so Beggars USA will be releasing some of the titles domestically. These will be using the same masters as Vinyl 180 but will be pressed on standard vinyl and the gatefold sleeves replaced with regular ‘single album’ jackets. The good news is that these savings mean they can sell at $15.98 rather than up to double that.
The first 3 titles are due 23 November 2010.
The Fall The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall
The Fall This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Cult Love
Additionally Beggars USA will be releasing some albums that have never before been on vinyl – starting with some ‘Best of’s..” from the last 10 years. These will be double LP’s in gatefold sleeves (not sure of the price or release date yet).
The Cult Pure Cult – The Singles 1984-1995
Love And Rockets – Sorted! The Best of…
Pixies – (Best of..) Wave Of Mutilation – this will be available worldwide
If these are well received then others may follow.
Having said we’re not planning any CD releases that’s not wholly true. We’re working with Cherry Red, who are catalogue specialists, so they can release some deep and deleted gems. I’ve just heard tests of the re-mastered Thee Hypnotics catalogue and it’s sounding magnificently filthy.
Just over a week until the release of The Wonderful and frightening World of The Fall – Omnibus Edition but we’re still awaiting stock. The slow boat from China was more tardy than anticipated but it has now docked in London. We’ve only made just over 5000 of these sets worldwide so expect them to sell out fairly fast.
And finally…*This Mortal Coil*. We have the costings for production in and… hmmm… it’s an expensive package (not helped by British currency weaknesses) and the artwork and mastering costs were high. Still, if you want top quality you have to pay for it. The not-so-good news is that the box sets will be around £80 in stores so if you want one, start saving.
Vinyl 180
Beggars USA
Cherry Red – beware: as they deal with older artists the news page is more akin to an obituary column!
Comment [4]
Just say no
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday September 24, 2010
Here’s a curio I found in a thrift store in South Carolina recently. It’s actually the same record but with slightly different front sleeves – it’s a bit like one of those ‘spot-the-difference’ games.
The record itself is full of naff jokes (What’s a hippie? Someone who looks like Jane, acts like Tarzan and smells like Cheeta) and hazardous tales of ruined lives and death-by-drugs, but the sleeves make it all look like a shopping list of fun.
Posted by Back CatHardware convergence...
FILED UNDER: Sound MattersTuesday September 21, 2010
…or another step on the ongoing quest to drag domestic sound usage back up to 20th century standards.
The development of software – the actual music carriers and delivery systems – is bubbling away just fine, with HD downloads and audio Blu-ray capable of delivering ear tickling’ 24bit / 96khz sound to your home.
Looking ahead, what’s really needed is a greater convergence in hardware and the development of a Hi-fi computer at the heart of the home entertainment system. Just imagine if Apple got REALLY serious about music and worked with a high end audio company to create the i-Fi.
What kind of beast could it be? You’d want it to download HD audio and movie streams like a regular computer but might it incorporate… – quality hi-fi components and digital to analogue converters
- full HDMI connectivity for 7.1 surround sound
- pure analogue circuits for a record deck
- Blu-ray player and burner
- big memory storage and connectivity with external hard-drives
- DAB radio receiver
- hard-drive recording
- option of wi-fi connections to all the speakers (so no wires around the room)
- touch screen remote
- please suggest your own features…
Sadly Apple don’t seem to want to incorporate Blu-ray drives but the field is wide open for other forward thinkers.
PS. I know these posts get the least response but wait until HD becomes a standard and you see what you’ve been missing.
Posted by Back Catthe never ending update...
FILED UNDER: This Mortal CoilTuesday August 17, 2010
There hasn’t been an update on the future releases for a while, mostly because of ‘Vacation Syndrome’. That’s the one where you need something done but the person is on holiday. Weeks later they return, job gets done, onto the next step and… that person’s now on vacation. Still, it’s my turn to break the chain next week so, while I’m trying to get everything into production before then, I doubt life works that well.
Which is the simple way of saying, despite being 95% there, the This Mortal Coil box set still isn’t in production and so we can’t set a release date.
Just to clarify (or probably confuse you) there are a few releases associated with this re-issue.
1. The Box Set. As previously mentioned, this is the three albums on CD, re-packaged in Japanese paper, gatefold sleeves with a fourth disc of the singles (entitled Dust & Guitars).
2. Vinyl Re-issue. The three albums will be re-issued, in newly designed gatefold sleeves, by ORG in the USA. These have been mastered from the HD audio transfers from the analogue tapes.
3. HD Audio Blu-ray. This will feature all the albums in High Definition stereo (24bit / 96khz) as well as the videos on one disc. It will also contain CD quality FLAC files and Mp3 which can be ripped to your computer and a BD live facility.
4. CD Re-issues. Once the box set has sold out, the current issue of CD’s in plastic jewel cases will be withdrawn and the three Japanese albums will be available separately. The fourth (singles) album won’t be on general release but fans who would like it but don’t want to buy the box set will be catered for in some way.
And that, hopefully, will be that.
The good news is that we’re finally able to set a release date for The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall Omnibus Edition. It will be available on 25 October 2010 – maybe a bit later in the USA.
Posted by Back CatComment [19]
Throwing Muses anthology
FILED UNDER: Throwing MusesWednesday August 4, 2010
It’s been a long time coming, but finally Throwing Muses have compiled an anthology release. As yet untitled, the two CD set will be a non chronological overview of a quarter of a century’s music from this under-appreciated band. It’s not a greatest hits – there weren’t any – and it’s not a collectors / rarities set; it’s the personal choice of the band, sequenced like a live show. A little more work is needed before we can announce the full details but it should serve as a fine introduction to their extensive catalogue.
For those wanting new music from Kristin Hersh you should check her website and there’s also a big buzz about the soon-to-be-available book, Rat Girl
which will be published outside the USA (and with a different title) next year.
“Ultra-vivid writing and intense honesty is what you’d expect from Kristin Hersh, one of America’s finest songwriters. But Rat Girl is also a startlingly funny and touching memoir of her mid-Eighties moment as the bi- polar, pregnant, intermittently homeless frontwoman of a rising indie-rock band. It’s a gripping journey into mental chaos and out the other side.”
-Simon Reynolds, author of Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-84
And, because we can do this, here’s Throwing Muses live in 1989 playing Dizzy…
(as ever, click on the screen when the error message shows)
Comment [2]
Bauhaus and Numan rarities now on sale in the USA
FILED UNDER: GeneralThursday July 22, 2010
Here’s a head-up for USA fans – you can now also buy…
BAUHAUS ….And Remains
GARY NUMAN – The Live EP’s
from the Beggars USA site (each $10). There are limited quantities so don’t leave it too long. Either click on the button to the right or CLICK HERE
Posted by Back CatNuman die-hard
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanFriday July 16, 2010
We’ve had so many mails about this ad. As usual, click on the screen if it says the link isn’t working and try later…
There’s also a new interview with Gary in Rolling Stone
Posted by Back CatGary Numan to tour USA in October
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanTuesday June 29, 2010
With an appearance at the Coachella festival cancelled due to the volcanic ash (remember that one?), Gary Numan has rescheduled a North American tour for the 30th anniversary of his rather splendid album, The Pleasure Principle.
Full dates and lots of big-ups here
over 2 million people have watched this… oh and the embedding doesn’t work on this blog, so when it says an error occured, please try again later just click on the screen and it’ll take you to the video.
Posted by Back CatFor Fall fans only...
FILED UNDER: The FallMonday June 14, 2010
For those of you who notice this sort of thing, there’s going to be a deliberate mistake on The Fall’s ‘Wonderful And Frightening’ box set. It’s on the track No Bulbs. Knowledgeable Fall fans (they know this sort of thing, you know) are aware there are two versions of the track – a long version (7m 50s) on the Call For Escape Route EP and an edited version that appeared on the 7” single (BEG 120A) which was called No Bulbs 3 and is also included on The Fall’s A Sides compilation.
That earlier compilation was created using the ‘cutting master’ tapes – that is the tapes that incorporate all the compression and levels that were used on the original vinyl cut. Since CD doesn’t have the sonic limitations of vinyl when it comes to mastering, it’s best to use the studio tapes (studio master) before they were worked on for the vinyl. Thus we re-mastered from the tape shown above, which, as you can see, indicates that the ‘short version + edits’ take of ‘No Bulbs’ is BEG 120A – the 7” track. Except, of course, this being The Fall, it’s not. It’s actually 30 seconds longer than the 7” edit. For whatever reason, when they came to cut the track, it was decided to do a further edit – probably why the final track was called No Bulbs 3.
On the omnibus box set we’re sticking with the un-edited edited version – possibly the missing No Bulbs 2!
They say damp records the past If that’s so, I’ve got the biggest library yet.
If you click on the play button below it’ll probably say something like ‘Error please try again’. If so, just click on the screen and it’ll take you to an external link – bleedin’ YouTube!
You may also enjoy this one…
Posted by Back CatComment [3]
Round-up
FILED UNDER: Sound MattersFriday May 28, 2010
A few projects are within sight of the finishing post so an update is in order.
The new artwork for This Mortal Coil is done – a collusion of the talents of Ivo, Vaughan Oliver and original photographer Nigel Grierson. Each of the original albums is in a gatefold sleeve and I must say, they look peachy. There’s a new continuity to the type and, along with a fourth album of singles, they’re in a special box – all made in Japan. Production has to be carefully overseen but the set could be released by September; start saving now.
Re-mastering has presented it’s own problems. Although Blood was recorded on analogue tape, the final assembly at the original mastering session in 1991 (cross-fades between tracks etc.) was only archived digitally at CD quality. Since we’re planning to re-issue the catalogue in HD Audio (see below) this meant the original sequencing had to be repeated using the analogue sources – hopefully it’s all correct!
We seem to be getting ever closer to the adoption of Blu-ray discs (BD) as a format for HD audio which is great news. It’s ridiculous that an industry selling sound recordings has only CD quality (good as it is) as its non-specialist, high end audio format. For more information read this article
And finally on to The Fall whose Wonderful And Frightening World thereof is also being readied for new visitors. If all goes to plan (though it rarely does) this exhaustive 4 disc Omnibus Edition should also be ready for a September release.
This Nation’s Saving Grace will now be running in the next race but should be ready to bring some Christmas cheer.
And really finally this time, we’re looking forward to a well earned kneE’s-up on Monday when The Charlatans bring their Some Friendly show to The Roundhouse in London. The re-issue is doing well – its not had any reviews yet but, then again, copies were sent out a bit late – so maybe next month!
Posted by Back CatComment [3]
Brendan Perry releases a new album (finally!)
FILED UNDER: GeneralWednesday May 19, 2010
It’s been an 11 year wait, but ex 4AD alumni Brendan Perry has finally scheduled a release for the follow-up album to ‘Eye Of The Hunter’. It’s being released by those fine folk at Cooking Vinyl and here’s what they have to say about it… (plus there’s a link to a free track download at the end).
Brendan Perry releases his second solo album, Ark, on Monday 7th June. As one half of Dead Can Dance for nearly three decades, Brendan’s music has been heard by fans around the world and Dead Can Dance remain the biggest selling artists to ever grace 4AD.
Recorded in his own studio in Ireland, ‘Ark’ is a truly solo album, Brendan playing every instrument, writing all the lyrics and being the sole creative force across the eight tracks. All of the instrumentation on ‘Ark’ is derived from samples and synthesisers and, in its creators own words, is predicated on a theory of creating ‘a neutral electronic soundscape which would in turn mirror a world that is becoming increasingly more dependent upon machines to perform tasks for us’. In its range of influences, the album encompasses music from all four corners of the globe to create a global soundtrack for global themes.
Babylon ~ The Bogus Man ~ Wintersun ~ Utopia ~ Inferno ~ This Boy ~ The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea ~ Crescent
Whilst ‘Ark’ is not a concept album in the original sense of the term, it combines themes which run throughout its eight tracks. The lyrics of opener ‘Babylon’ focus on the current conflicts within the Middle East and combine with ‘The Bogus Man’ and ‘This Boy’ to put a human face on those charged with waging war on behalf of politicians. Concurrently with the investigations of conflict and political corruption are considerations of the detrimental effects of human behavior on the natural world and the alienation caused by an increasingly machine driven world.
Whilst such dystopian themes could be seen to make for a very bleak experience, ‘Ark’ is shot through with an emotional warmth and a belief in the redemptive power of humanity from which the album title is derived, ‘Ark’ being not just the refuge of the world but a starting point for a better society and a more organic way of life.
To accompany ‘Ark’, Brendan Perry has announced a series of dates in the UK. These shows are the first solo Brendan Perry shows since 2000 and follow rapturously received concerts throughout mainland Europe earlier in the year.
June
Monday 7th Oxford, Academy 2
Tuesday 8th Glasgow, Oran Mor
Wednesday 9th Manchester, Deaf Institute
Thursday 10th London, Union Chapel
Tickets for all shows are available from usual outlets.
Full tour details plus a download of Utopia, a track from ‘Ark’ is currently available for a limited period from www.brendanperry.com
Record label – Cooking Vinyl
Posted by Back CatComment [4]
The Charlatans Xfm Special
FILED UNDER: The CharlatansThursday May 6, 2010
Tim, Martin and Jon have recorded an XFM special for the 20th anniversary of Some Friendly. The show broadcasts on Xfm (London & Manchester) on Sunday 16th May at 10pm. Listen online xfm.co.uk.
And for all things Charlatans click here
Posted by Back CatGrant McLennan
FILED UNDER: GeneralWednesday May 5, 2010
It’s been four years since Grant McLennan died on 6 May 2006 so, if you have access to Spotify or any of the streaming services, you should treat yourself to some of his timeless work either solo or with The Go-Betweens, Jack Frost or Far Out Corporation. Much missed.
Posted by Back CatComment [1]
Download re-issues
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday April 30, 2010
Beggars Archive release four albums on 3 May as downloads
SCALA – To You In Alpha
Initially a one-off project involving most of Seefeel plus Mark Van Hoen (aka Locust), Scala gradually took on the feel of a major operation with the apparent dissolution of Seefeel during 1997. At the outset, the group involved vocalist Sarah Peacock, percussionist Justin Fletcher, and bassist Daren Seymour of Seefeel with Van Hoen in the producer’s chair. Scala released an EP and a full-length album during 1996 -1997 while Mark Clifford – Seefeel’s nominal frontman and the only member not involved in the new project – worked on his own Disjecta project. More indebted to noise and trip-hop than the looped sound-wash Seefeel had been known for, the quartet also focused on a somewhat tighter song structure and emphasized Peacock’s vocals. In early 1996, Scala released the Lips & Heaven EP, followed the next year by the debut full-length Beauty Nowhere, on Britain’s Touch Records. Though Seefeel had released their third record Ch-Vox in late 1996, it was their last. Scala returned with two additional albums, released almost simultaneously in 1998: To You in Alpha and Compass Heart. – John Bush / All Music
JACK – Pioneer Soundtracks (Expanded Edition)
The band was formed in Cardiff in 1992 by singer-songwriter Anthony Reynolds and guitarist Matthew Scott. The pair moved to London in 1993, where they recruited Richard Adderley (guitar), Audrey Morse (violin), Patrick Pulzer (drums), Colin Williams (bass) and George Wright (keyboards).
They signed to Too Pure in 1995, with their first release for the label being the limited-edition “Kid Stardust” single, released in November that year. Their debut album, Pioneer Soundtracks, was released in June 1996. Produced by Peter Walsh, the album garnered excellent reviews, but despite considerable touring both in the United Kingdom and Europe, the four initial singles drawn from the album, “Kid Stardust” (a tribute to Charles Bukowski), “Wintercomessummer”, “White Jazz”, and “Biography Of A First Son”, failed to pick up any serious airplay and as a result sales were modest. The album was reissued in a belated ‘Tenth Anniversary Edition’ on the Spinney label in March 2007, with an additional CD of alternative versions, B-sides and live tracks.
Chrome was an experimental rock group founded in San Francisco, California in 1976 by Damon Edge and Helios Creed.
One of the original forefathers in the industrial boom of the 1980s, Chrome’s amalgam of distorted guitars and vocals, samples from TV, and a raw punk aesthetic (inspired by the Stooges) became much more popular in the early ’90s than it ever was while the band was around in the ’70s and ’80s.
CHROME – Blood On The Moon
First released on the Beggars imprint ‘Don’t Fall Off The Mountain’ in 1981, this was one of two albums recorded for the label.
With the Stench brothers on board as the rhythm section, Chrome veered towards creating more ‘regular’ rock music, if only conceptually. While still never playing live, it’s easy to imagine many of the songs on Blood kicking out the jams live, especially since in the punk/new wave-crazy scenes of the times they would have cut a truly unique path. No matter how near to three-chord catchiness some of the numbers get, something about them always sounds just off enough. Edge maintains his usual mix of electronic weirdness – at this point he had the knack for never making his keyboards sound cheap or or cheesy, a good talent – while Creed is all over the place as usual, his seemingly effortless but always fantastic soloing ripping through the songs. “Perfumed Metal” is one fantastic example of many, with both his strong rhythm crunch and his freeform work turning everything into one powercharged feedback frenzy. Another winner is the massive solo halfway through “The Strangers” – only a few seconds long, but better than most songs in their entirety. Meanwhile, Edge feeds his voice through effects processors and keeps on the strange lyrical path – thus, from “Inner Vacume,” this couplet: “Buildings built like beaches/Dripping off the land.” It’s not all aliens from Mars or anything – often it seems to just be about the strange people down the street or a bad dream – but Chrome do have a way of making it all sound like something not quite of this planet, musically and lyrically. The Stench duo do a more than fine job for their part, keeping everything almost danceable on their end on a number of songs, otherwise creating staccato, jerky rhythms and deep space when needed. Wrapping up with the nicely fried instrumental title track, Blood is another proper Chrome keeper. – Ned Raggett – All Music
CHROME – 3rd From The Sun
The Edge/Creed/Stench line-up still holds sway on this release, which was in fact the original band’s final proper album excluding a variety of compilations and collections of unreleased material. Given how good this line-up was, the fact that they never properly toured outside two dates – one in San Francisco and the other, bizarrely, in Italy – is all the more regrettable. Continuing the blend of straight-up rock crunch and crumbling weirdness that made the Chrome name, 3rd is both just accessible and just gone enough. Opening track “Firebomb” sets the stage well – Edge sings in deep basso profundo mode, the Stench brothers keep the beat going, and Creed unleashes more incredible, strong soloing to go with his crisp rhythm work. It’s another shoulda-been new wave classic that would still seem out of place amongst its fellows. From there it’s another trip into the not-quite-right – “Armageddon” is especially strong, an eight-minute slow burn towards doom overly appropriate downbeat rhythms. Creed once again shines with his heavily-treated fretwork; when towards the end he tracks two separate solos playing off each other, things really go to town. Another spooky highlight of his work is “Off the Line,” where more upfront death dirges are alternated with buried, creepy effects in the background. Creed gets in some vocal fun as well – at least, assuming it is him given the constant production treatments – on “Heart Beat,” his distorted words sneaking around the crisp beat and wheezing keyboards as well as the usual addition of feedback crunch. The title track was suitably freaked out and heavy enough for Prong to cover it years later on its Beg to Differ album. Though Hendrix’s “Third Stone From the Sun” may seem an obvious source of inspiration, the distorted vocals and steady beats come much more from Chrome’s collective brain. – Ned Raggett / All Music
Posted by Back Cataudio HD manifesto
FILED UNDER: Sound MattersTuesday April 13, 2010
I haven’t done a ‘Sound Matters’ post for a while but big developments are around the corner and it would be great to have any feedback on your views about quality sound.
There’s a new format for high definition (HD) audio. Actually it’s not new at all – but the way it’s used could be the answer for quality sound in your home. It’s audio Blu-ray – yes exactly the same Blu-ray that brings you sound and vision in HD – but you don’t have to turn on a TV screen to select the music you want. Otherwise the discs will work in any Blu-ray player, with or without the screen. A further advantage is that people who invest in Blu-ray are also interested in having good cinema sound, so they probably already have a reasonable amplifier / speaker system.
WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT AUDIO HD?
Music is an abused medium these days – It’s heard as background in public spaces and there are so many other types of home entertainment that very few people actually find time to LISTEN. Probably the most popular way for people to hear recorded music is through headphones on a portable player or in the car. Conventional wisdom tells that most people don’t care about sound quality and that’s probably right – most people don’t care about food quality either. That’s not the congregation I’m preaching to.
Ever since CD appeared with its digital sound, the high-end users compared it unfavorably to the analogue vinyl experience. Thirty years later and digital technology has improved tremendously and, while I’d say these days that a well recorded and mastered CD can sound pretty damn good, we can now have much better.
What was ‘better’ about vinyl? The words ‘warmth’ and ‘presence’ are often mentioned – they’re not sonic terms but describes a feeling and, for me, that’s what’s been missing from digital sound. In order to compromise with the storage and delivery demands the sound waves have been compressed and manipulated so the notes and basic sounds are still there but the bits that the senses can feel – not necessarily hear – have been removed. Quality sound draws the listener in – it can breathe in your ears or deliver a sonic punch to the solar plexus or send a shiver up your spine – it’s physical.
WHY AUDIO BLU-RAY COULD MATTER
There hasn’t been a successful launch of a high end audio format since CD in 1980. This isn’t the place to discuss why various new formats failed to gain acceptance in the past (though there are many lessons there), here’s why audio Blu-ray may catch on.
• The suitability of the disc – it’s a 5 inch silver disc, just like CD, just like DVD but it has a far greater memory capacity so can hold WAY more information.
• This time it’s not being promoted as a purely audio format. With the memory to carry full HD picture and multiple channels of HD surround sound the movie companies are selling it as the high end, home entertainment system. They have far greater resources to market the format than audio software manufacturers.
• The players are backwards compatible – this means you can play your old music CD’s and your movie DVD’s. When the time comes to replace a CD or DVD player the natural choice should be a Blu-ray – the prices are dropping into the affordable zone and they can also deliver much more than previous hardware.
ADVANTAGES OF AUDIO BLU-RAY
Digital sound has grown up – the quality that is achievable is way superior to when CD was launched, even to 10 years ago. I’d argue that we’ll look back on the last 25 years as a dark age for sound. There’s a convergence of technology happening that makes it easy to include all the participants.
• Digital recording interfaces like pro-tools can handle HD sound – it’s available as regular studio technology.
• There’s an upside for the music industry – these are very large files and it’s inconvenient for most people to download and store them.
• Apart from audio HD there is enormous potential for further information on the disc. Not just one album but 3 or 4, Video, BD-live, or other future developments to enhance the value. All on one disc.
• It really sounds better.
A WAY TO SUCCEED
I do know this is probably the last chance to engage the public with an audio HD format in my career – it would be such a shame to see it thrown away. I won’t detail anything here but there are many lessons to be learnt from past failures – sadly both hardware and software companies don’t seem to learn them since many have been repeated over the last 40 years. Basically don’t confuse the public, don’t make exaggerated claims and don’t try to rip them off and treat them like idiots (*). Simple, hey? Clear labeling, good packaging, fair pricing – value. Let the format grow naturally at first – don’t try to force it / hype it (especially by sales people who don’t appreciate it).
There are many interested parties – musicians, studios, hardware manufacturers, hi-fi sellers, software manufacturers, copyright owners, media and audiophiles wherever they reside – these are people who can do something about establishing audio HD and they have viewpoints worth considering. Listen to them and include them.
(*) have you seen the HP 15 ENVY beats launch? Temporary turd polishing in excelsis…
Posted by Back CatComment [6]
Pre-release promotion
FILED UNDER: Rave OnMonday April 12, 2010
There’s currently a debate in the UK music industry regarding early servicing of records to the media (especially radio) who play the music whilst it’s still unavailable to purchase – (some argue that this creates a demand for illegal downloads; a fair point) – but this has also created the culture of ‘first and exclusive’.
I become aware of most catalogue releases when I read about them in the press, especially the monthlies. Again, most of these are reviewed prior to release when they aren’t available. The other problem is that there are probably 20+ titles each month that get above average reviews and look interesting but let’s face it, who has the money or time to invest in them?
I’ve come up with my own solution. All the magazines are purchased at our office then discarded when the next issue arrives. Rather than get my copy on the day of issue I wait for the week / month old discards. So I’m not first with the news but actually that’s jurassic thinking – I get my news before publication from the internet.
No, what I want is to read a review then, if something looks interesting, check it out on Spotify. Leave it a month and most releases are available there.
Where does this leave the monthly publications? For years they have insisted on reviewing albums prior to release (sometimes we even have to lie about release dates) otherwise they are unwilling to look ‘out-of-date’. My point is, from the catalogue perspective, it would be much better to service everyone with the complete finished copy (possibly a week or so prior to release) rather than asking them to download the tracks for review or sending out a CD-R two months earlier.
In the modern world the monthly music magazines can’t hope to compete with the internet for breaking news. What they can do is become a digest of the previous couple of months and rather than worry about being first with reviews they could provide the most considered, most insightful and best reviews. There’s a challenge. I respond to literate, entertaining. informed writing on a broad front of music related articles and I still prefer to read a magazine casually over the month.
So guys, don’t worry about being first, just be the best.
Lush
FILED UNDER: LushFriday April 9, 2010
Just in case you missed it, The Quietus ran an article ‘All That Useless Beauty: 20th Anniversary Of Lush’s Mad Love’, which features quotes from Emma, Miki and Phil.
Which brings us to another catalogue related happening, although there’s no release date yet, as it’s still in the early stages – but we have plans to make an expanded edition of ‘Spooky’, and include as many extras as we can all find.. I’ve always fancied ‘Rupert The Bear’ on CD….
20 years though. God, time flies…
Posted by JoLost Tracks
FILED UNDER: This Mortal CoilThursday April 8, 2010
When I was locating the tapes for This Mortal Coil’s re-issue there was one odd anomaly. It had two tracks on it and also included all the line-up tones – a feature normally associated with studio masters that are used for producing records. The second track was marked as Thais (Bird Of Paradise) – presumably a variation of the track on the second album (1987). Though there was no date on the tape the other track, a cover of Neil Young’s ‘We Never Danced’, was an unreleased out-take from the third album (1991) that Ivo remembered as being unfinished.
So why were these two songs on a tape that looked like a single master? The answer was on this insert…
Originally intended for the Rough Trade Singles club in 1992, it was mixed and scheduled but never released. Which means that the tracks fit perfectly into the concept of the box set bonus disc that gathers together all the singles (and is entitled Dust & Guitars).
Regarding the re-issues, Vaughan Oliver and Ivo have done a graceful job of re-working the art for the Japanese paper sleeves using material from Nigel Grierson’s original photo sessions and the sonic re-mastering is superb, especially in HD audio.
A fitting tribute for 4AD’s 30th anniversary.
Comment [13]
Some Friendly ready to go
FILED UNDER: The CharlatansThursday April 8, 2010
Kim Peters, the man who created the original sleeve art for The Charlatans, has been involved with the Expanded re-issue and has done a great job – it’s really sharp. The re-mastering of the recordings from the original master tapes is also an improvement over the original CD, with more presence and punch. This is the re-interpretation of the cover – the album is released on 17 May and the best pre-order price is a bargain £7.99 from Play.com
For full details, check out the RELEASES link at the top right of the page.
Posted by Back CatDeletions and Reductions
FILED UNDER: GeneralThursday March 18, 2010
One of the things we want to do with this site is to give you a heads-up when the physical CD stock of certain titles runs out and it’s not economical to re-manufacture them (thus they slip out-of-print). They are probably still available from on-line stores, so if you want an original CD, now is the time to buy it! It’s always possible that these may get a re-issue at some point in the future (perhaps on audio Blu-ray HD – that’s high definition 24/96 sound) but there are no plans for these at present. All titles are, of course, still available to download.
The Go-Betweens – Liberty Belle And The Black Diamond Express
The Go-Betweens – Tallulah
The Southern Death Cult – The Southern Death Cult
John Cale – Artificial Intelligence
Nico – Camera Onscura
Peter Murphy – Should The World Fail To Fall Apart
Peter Murphy – Deep
Peter Murphy – Cascade
Grant McLennan – In Your Bright Ray
Modern English – Mesh And Lace
Lush – Spooky
Michael Brook – Cobalt Blue
Xmal Deutschland – Fetisch
Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – Spanish Dance Troupe
Since we don’t like to think we’ve made you miserable, here’s some good news. Online pricing has become a lot more flexible and we’re no longer forced to sell a double album download at twice the price of a single album – this is a wonderful thing. To celebrate, all 21 (count ‘em) of these albums should now cost just a little more than a single download from the usual stores. Splendid stuff.
Gene Loves Jezebel – Promise
Gene Loves Jezebel – Immigrant
Gene Loves Jezebel – Discover
The Cult – Love Expanded
Love And Rockets – Love And Rockets / Swing
Tones On Tail – Everything!
Luna – Best of (not USA)
The Icicle Works – The Icicle Works (Expanded Edition)
Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle (Expanded Edition)
Gary Numan – Replicas (Expanded Edition)
Gary Numan – Living Ornaments ’79
Gary Numan – Living Ornaments ’80
Gary Numan – Living Ornaments ’81
The Fall – B sides
Cocteau Twins – Lullabies To Violaine
Throwing Muses – In A Doghouse
The Prodigy – Experience (Expanded Edition)
The Prodigy – More Music For The Jilted Generation (Expanded Edition)
Dead Can Dance – Wake (Best of)
Laika – Lost In Space (Best of)
Hope Blister – Underarms & Sideways
Comment [1]
Now and then
FILED UNDER: The CharlatansTuesday March 16, 2010
Almost 20 years to the day between the shows and what’s changed?
Doors… 7.00 pm – check!
Ticket price 1990… £5.00
Ticket price 2010… £25.00
WHAT, five times as much! Must be inflation.
Cost of Some Friendly CD in 1990… around £12.00 / LP around £7.00
Cost of CD in 2010 at Amazon… let’s see, around £60.00? – don’t be daft, it’s £5.00
hmmmm… how long can this go on before it’s really not worth making the CD…?
well i never...
FILED UNDER: This Mortal CoilThursday March 11, 2010
Mick Conroy, from Modern English (and Moose, Stereolab, This Mortal Coil), came by the office today for the first time in decades – still a few people here that he remembered and it was good to catch up on current activities and survival strategies of many ex-4AD folk. One story I didn’t know concerned the cover for This Mortal Coil – It’ll End In Tears.
Evidently this image was originally going to be a Modern English cover – the lady shared a flat with Mick at that time. However other band members thought that made it inappropriate to use, so the idea was vetoed. Luckily it didn’t go to waste… and she starred on every subsequent TMC album.
Posted by Back CatComment [3]
The Wonderful and Frightening Fall omnibus
FILED UNDER: The FallTuesday March 9, 2010
The Fall are set to release a new album, Your Future Our Clutter on Domino Records in late April, so that gives a time frame for the Omnibus Editions of The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall and This Nation’s Saving Grace – August / September feels about right.
The mastering of TWAFWOTF continues apace and we finally have the session and live material that’s licensed in from radio stations. An interesting contrast between the BBC who short-sightedly transferred their tape archive onto digital, so can only provide copy masters at CD quality and the Dutch station VPRO who still have their original analogue tapes so can supply high resolution 24bit / 96khz transfers which sound so much better. Not only that, they also kept tapes of the whole show and not just what was broadcast at the time. VPRO…2 BBC…0
So for Fall fans, here’s an exclusive peek at the track listing (provided it all fits onto the discs).
CD1 The Wonderful And Frightening World of The Fall
Lay Of The Land
2 By 4
Copped It
Elves
Slang King
Bug Day
Stephen Song
Craigness
Disney’s Dream Debased
CD2 Singles / Rough Mixes
Oh! Brother
God-Box
O! Brother
c.r.e.e.p.
Pat – Trip Dispenser
C.R.E.E.P.
New Fiend (2 By 4)
No Bulbs 3
Slang King 2
Draygo’s Guilt
Clear Off!
No Bulbs
Lay Of The Land (Rough Mix)
Pat – Trip Dispenser (Rough Mix)
New Fiend (Rough Mix)
Slang King (Edits Version 1)
CD3 BBC Sessions
Creep (BBC Peel session)
Pat – Trip Dispenser (BBC Peel session)
2 By 4 (BBC Peel session)
Words Of Expectation (BBC Peel session)
God Box (BBC Jensen session)
Lay Of The Land (BBC Jensen session)
Oh Brother (BBC Jensen session)
Creep (BBC Jensen session)
No Bulbs (BBC Long session)
Draygo’s Guilt (BBC Long session)
Stephen Song (BBC Long session)
Slang King (BBC Long session)
Copped It (BBC Saturday Live)
Elves (BBC Saturday Live)
Fortress / Marquis Cha Cha (BBC Saturday Live)
CD4 Live at Pandora’s Music Box Festival – VPRO Radio
Lay Of The Land
Craigness
2 By 4
Draygo’s Guilt
No Bulbs
Kicker Conspiracy
Stephen Song
Copped It
Pat – Trip Dispenser
Middle Mass
To finish off this visit to the Wonderful And Frightening archives, here’s a great interview with ‘friendly visitor’ Gavin Friday’ in The Quietus
Posted by Back CatComment [9]
New higher quality download partner
FILED UNDER: Sound MattersThursday March 4, 2010
We’ve partnered with HDtracks to offer CD quality, uncompressed downloads of the Beggars Group catalogues (which also includes Beggars Banquet, Mantra and Nation). The range of titles is currently a little limited, with no deep catalogue, but it’s an ongoing process. As more albums become economically impractical to keep in print on CD, this kind of a service is a way forward, especially as they are also interested in offering genuine HD with 96khz/24bit recordings. This is actually ‘Stunning Hi Res Sound’ but confusingly that’s not what’s on offer here. There again, the music industry has exhibited a genius at creating discombobulation amongst the public when selling sound formats, so no real surprise. I think what they are trying to say is that your Hi Res mp3’s are nowhere near as good as your Hi Res CD’s. Confused? – I warned you.
But I’ll let them gush for themselves – here’s the press release…
HDtracks welcomes 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade and XL Recordings in stunning HI RES SOUND!
HDtracks, the world’s premiere high-resolution digital music download store, is pleased to announce the addition of some the greatest, cutting-edge indie rock labels in the world to our catalog through a deal with the Beggars group of labels. Now fans can hear their favorite rock bands in CD-quality 44.1 kHz/16-bit downloads with full liner notes and cover art.
Beggars was founded in 1977 by Martin Mills, owner of the Beggars Banquet record shops. It is made up of the premiere indie rock labels 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade, and XL Recordings. These labels feature artists such as Lou Reed, Thom Yorke, Ratatat, Yo La Tengo, The National, Cocteau Twins, The Pixies, Cat Power, Belle and Sebastian, Jarvis Cocker, Pavement, The Libertines, Vampire Weekend, Sonic Youth and many more.
All four of the labels are dedicated to bringing the newest and freshest cutting-edge bands to the fore. And now, they are proud to join forces with HDtracks and its superior downloading technology, allowing fans to hear all of the energy, timbre, pulse and vocal nuance of this exciting music. You need to hear Beggars’ recordings in Hi-Res to hear what you have been missing!
About HDtracks
Founded by multi Grammy-nominated jazz and classical composer and inventor of new sound technology David Chesky, and his brother, Norman, also founders of the world renowned audiophile label Chesky Records, HDtracks raises the bar for digital download sound quality and enjoyment. Developed by musicians for musicians, HDtracks provides a superior listening experience in purity, tone, and expression, presenting uncompressed, CD and DVD audio quality, crystal-clear recordings of each world-class musician, vocalist, and ensemble. HDtracks presents artists in the best possible light, allowing listeners to experience the true depth of their talent and individuality. David says, “The tone is what moves us. It is the poetry of the music. It is what gives artists their own identities.”
HDtracks deepens the listeners’ experience beyond the music by also providing complete liner notes with every download. As David Chesky says, “Listening to an album without liner notes is like going to a concert without a program. The writers add to and enrich the musical experience.”
Posted by Back CatThe Charlatans' Some Friendly to be re-issued
FILED UNDER: The CharlatansThursday February 18, 2010
Since The Charlatans are planning a live performance of their debut album in May, it seems appropriate to mark the occasion with a wash and brush up of the recorded work. Though not as ambitious as the original Omnibus concept, the release will fit splendidly into the extended format – one disc with the re-master of the original album, and a second with the singles and sessions. Something akin to…
SOME FRIENDLY
You’re Not Very Well
White Shirt
Opportunity
Then
109 pt2
Polar Bear
Believe You Me
Flower
Sonic
Sproston Green
BONUS DISC
The Only One I Know
Imperial 109
Everything Changed
Then – Peel Session
Always In Mind – Peel Session
You Can Talk To Me – Peel Session
Polar Bear – Peel Session
Some Friendly – Goodier Session
Indian Rope – Goodier Session
The Only One I Know – Goodier Session
White Shirt – Goodier Session
Then (alternate take)
Taurus Moaner
Polar Bear 12” mix
Over Rising
Way Up There
Happen To Die
Opportunity Three
All with loving sonic restoration at Metropolis Mastering… tasty.
Posted by Back CatComment [5]
Sod's Law
FILED UNDER: The CultFriday February 12, 2010
Ain’t it always the way… After failing to locate tapes by The Charlatans, Blood Sausage and Skinned Teen on the regular shelves, I decided to go through some of the stacked boxes. And there, 9 months too late, I find multi-tracks and 7 reels of mixed masters for The Cult’s concert on 6 December 1985 at The Ritz in New York. If I’d found them earlier we could have included the gig in the Love Omnibus edition instead of licensing a show from the BBC. I’d previously tried MTV, who filmed the concert, but they only had the 25 minutes that were broadcast. Just to add to the coincidence, I met the man who mixed the show, The Cult’s producer Steve Brown, coming back from the storeroom. Yes, you guessed – he’d completely forgotten about it which is why he’d never told me!
Posted by Back CatComment [13]
The Charlatans to perform Some Friendly
FILED UNDER: The CharlatansWednesday February 3, 2010
The Charlatans have announced they are going to be playing their debut album, Some Friendly, with a special show at the Roundhouse, London on 31 May 2010. Which is, well… nice but also disappointing, as we were talking to the band since two years ago about tying in an Omnibus Edition style re-issue of the album (the first two albums in fact) but their new management weren’t keen, so the idea of celebrating the 20th anniversary was shelved. A shame, since a box set with a re-mastered album, singles, sessions, all the demo material and live recordings would have done the album justice and been a special bonus for the fans, which would have been nice too.
It should be a cracking show though, if you’re lucky enough to get a ticket.
Comment [3]
Numan / Little boots repeat
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanMonday February 1, 2010
The BBC 6 music session recordings featuring a collaboration between Gary Numan and Little Boots was repeated on the Mark Jones show this weekend.
You can listen to the show for the next week on the BBC iPlayer
There are scribblings and mutterings regarding a red button on the TV which either detonates your toaster of let’s you view the session but I’ll leave that to the dedicated viewer and stick to burnt bread myself. I’m not sure if the service is available outside the UK. Serves you right for pissing off to somewhere warm and sunny.
Posted by Back CatComment [2]
The Return Of Throwing Muses
FILED UNDER: Throwing MusesSunday January 24, 2010
Or at least, the start of the return of Throwing Muses – Kristin Hersh announced yesterday that we’ve a new year, so new Throwing Muses tracks will be made available in demo-form via CashMusic. ‘Sunray Venus (demo)’ is available now. (and if you head there, don’t forget to put something in the tip jar!)
Here’s what Kristin said :
The band I started when I was fourteen, Throwing Muses, never broke up. We never suffered “creative differences,” we didn’t get complacent and sucky; we’ve always adored each other and were driven to play good music together. But touring and recording both cost money and don’t always make enough to pay the bills, so eventually, we could no longer afford to work. Happily or sadly, we were at the top of our game when we made the decision to stop.
Songs don’t care how much studio time you can afford, though; they just keep singing themselves at you. And I know a Muses song when I hear it: intricate and dynamic, they’re easy to spot. When one came to me, I would learn it and then put it away. The Muses songs I’ve collected over the years had nowhere to go, so they just sat — on demos, in notebooks, in my head. There are dozens of them. Sometimes, I’d play them solo, but I knew better…they needed to be in the Muses’ hands. I just didn’t believe that was an option.
When we got a chance to play a show, we’d jump at it. But the songs we played were a decade old or more—some I’d written when I was a teenager. During shows, whenever I looked down at the set list at my feet, I was haunted by the unheard music waiting in the wings.
Now with the help of CASH and my Strange Angels, it looks like the Muses may work again. We’re certainly willing — breathless with anticipation, actually — and the songs are just as vital as I remember them. If this band that never belonged in the music industry could finally make music without the industry, it’d be a real coup. Bernie and Dave are hearing these songs for the first time here, when they’re posted and will be working out their parts long distance, Bernie in Seattle and Dave in Rhode Island. I’m in New Orleans, of course, so we definitely have some details to iron out, but for now, we’re just thrilled to be thrilled again. There’s nothing we love more than working.
This song, “Sunray Venus,” is the first in a series of demos that the band will be hearing, playing along with, tearing apart, etc. We can’t wait to throw it up in the air and let it come crashing back down again, falling into place as the dust settles. We love that.
Even at fourteen, we knew that striving for success in music was inherently tragic, as success in the music industry was, for the most part, ugly and devoid of substance. We still wanted to play for people, though, so we did. Our shows were crazy, magic parties where the listeners played as big a role as the musicians. Music happens between people. We never forgot that.
So here we are again, amazed by the power of listeners, making music happen between us. Thank you.
Love,
Kristin
P.S. — As usual, please share this music — keeping in mind that theses ARE only demos. Repost these songs, use ‘em in podcasts or torrent them. Help us tell the story of what’s happening here. This is going to be a more comprehensive project and we need all the help we can get to spread the word about this CASH project. My Strange Angel subscriptions will help ensure that the Muses project is brought to fruition.
Posted by JoComment [4]
What's been happening?
FILED UNDER: GeneralWednesday January 20, 2010
The year’s started at a hectic pace with progress on several projects.
Firstly some self congratulation as the Bauhaus Omnibus package was selected as one of the re-issues of the year in Record Collector – “A host of bands followed in their glam / goth wake and Beggars now deliver definitive box sets of their albums”.
THE FALL – The tapes have been transferred, licenses to issue radio session material applied for, no objections from Mark E. Smith, so we’re almost ready to announce a track listing. The releases won’t come out before the new Fall album on Domino but ‘Wonderful And Frightening’ will be a 4 CD set and ‘This Nation’s Saving Grace’ expanded into a 3 disc set.
THIS MORTAL COIL – The first two albums have been re-mastered and approved. Initially all three albums will be issued in newly artworked (by Vaughan Oliver) gatefold, Japanese paper sleeves and also put into a box along with a 4th CD of all the singles. The analogue master tapes are also being transferred to digital at 24 bit / 96khz (as is our standard practice) but with the emergence of Blu-ray audio we may do a release so that you can bathe in the wonderment of genuinely improved sound quality.
PIXIES Doolittle Omnibus Edition – The surround mix of ‘Doolittle’ is slowly coming together and we’re looking to interview everyone involved with the album for the Omnibus booklet. The demo tapes will be mastered soon (or as soon as The Fall is finished). I can feel another Blu-ray coming on…
GARY NUMAN will be appearing on Sunday 18 April at the Coachella Festival in Indio California, so that’s a treat for American fans on the West coast.
The Icicle Works, Thee Hypnotics, Chrome and The Doll – Just a few bands that will be re-issued later in the year on Cherry Red records. Speaking of Thee Hypnotics, I’m hoping to get a preview of the long awaited documentary next week
And finally… congratulations to Vampire Weekend and XL Recordings / Beggars in the USA and Canada for getting the first indie no.1 album since… well, before most X factor contestants were born (obviously excluding Susan Boyle).
Posted by Back CatComment [10]
January Clearance Sale
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday January 4, 2010
Happy New Year! We have limited surplus stock from some of the recent online promotions* and will be offering these discs for sale exclusively from the Archive site from 11th January. See the releases pages for more details – orders can now be taken (sorry for the delay).
- and a collectible Bauhaus disc from 12 years ago!
Comment [14]
30 years of re-issues
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday December 4, 2009
It’s odd what you find, tucked away in a filing cabinet, when looking for something else. Here’s a handbill from 1979 advertising our first ever re-issue campaign. All done with Letraset and rotring pens…
Comment [2]
free gary numan tickets
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanThursday December 3, 2009
Apologies for the short notice, but we have 4 surplus tickets for the Gary Numan’s show TONIGHT – Thursday 3rd December at Indigo2 in London. You’d have to collect the tickets at 8.30pm (Gary is onstage at 9.00) but if you’d like a pair then post a comment beneath this article on the main archive website and we’ll sort it out. First come, first served.
Posted by Back CatComment [5]
Friday round-up
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday November 27, 2009
Lots of small news. Firstly we’re talking to Cherry Red who are interested in re-issuing albums from our archives. It would be wonderful to do these ourselves but we don’t have the resources of a specialist catalogue label. Artists currently under discussion are The Icicle Works (and don’t miss out on Ian McNabb’s current album and tour ), Luxuria, Thee Hypnotics, Chrome and The Doll.
Michael Allen, from The Wolfgang Press, is exhibiting his paintings this weekend at Wimbledon Art Studios – there’s some great work on show and I’d highly recommend the trip.
Another visitor today was Nigel Grierson, the original partner in 4AD’s design affiliates, 23 Envelope. Nigel arrived with a box of original images and out-takes from the This Mortal Coil albums (see above) and he’s been hours in the art dept. scanning them for the re-issues.
Finally next week sees the release of an Elizabeth Fraser 12”. There’s an exclusive new interview in The Guardian which is linked from the Rough Trade website.
Posted by Back CatComment [2]
Gary Numan - Pleasure Principle Tour getting great reviews
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanTuesday November 17, 2009
A selection of reviews for the early dates from The Telegraph The Independent and The Guardian
This is from Gary’s NuWorld website
14 November 2009
The Pleasure Principle 2009 tour rehearsals are nearly finished. I have a day in Nottingham tomorrow with Ade Fenton programming the lights and projections for the tour and then we have one final day of rehearsal on monday. After a great deal of uncertainty about how to play the Pleasure Principle songs on this tour I have decided to play them as they were originally recorded. The arrangements are the same, the sounds as close as we can get, no guitar, no loops, no industrial versions. Everything has been stripped back to the way it was in 1979. I finally decided that as it’s the 30th Anniversary of the album I should celebrate the album as it was, not a heavy revamped version of it. I hope that meets with the approval of most of you. The Pleasure Principle songs take up, roughly, the first 50 minutes or so of the show. The rest will be a mix of new and old. The London show will be filmed and recorded for a special 30th Anniversary DVD.
Click the Pleasure Principle Archive page for full tour dates
ALSO there’s an interesting new interview with Gary in The Quietus where he discusses flying.
Posted by Back CatSecession • Touch
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday November 13, 2009
Occasionally the Archive, armed with a lantern and canary, goes back into the deep vaults to restore lost recordings to the digital age. Secession didn’t really do much in the UK but ‘Touch’ (and it’s predecessor ‘Fire Island’) won a big audience in New York’s dance clubs in 1985.
Echoing shades of New Order, the track was produced by John Rocca, whose work with Arthur Baker in the group ‘Freeez’ influenced… New Order.
With the upswing of interest in 80’s electro it’s as good a time as any to re-introduce the tracks.
TOUCH part 1 = 7” A side
TOUCH part 2 = 7” B side (instrumental)
TOUCH part 3 = 12” A Side (extended)
TOUCH part 4 = 12” B side (extended instrumental)
All are newly available from your local iTunes store
Secession performing Touch on a UK TV show in 1985
Posted by Back CatComment [2]
Fall's gold
FILED UNDER: The FallThursday November 12, 2009
The Fall re-issues are slowly making their pilgrimage towards a release date. The choice of tracks for This Nation’s Saving Grace has been made and discs sent to MES for his blessing. There were 14 reels of studio recordings digitally transferred for TNSG. Most of these contained original master recordings but there were 4 reels of out-takes. These actually proved to be a bit disappointing since there is little difference between performances on the alternative takes. More interesting were 2 reels of early, rough mixes of the album recordings which lack the polish off the final mixes but have an accessible… well, roughness. Roughsticity. Rough-a-loogability – somesuch lack of refinement. There’s a tape with an extended version of Barmy which was recorded at the March ’85 sessions along with Cruiser’s Creek, Rollin’ Dany and Couldn’t Get Ahead. It’s the same basic version that was used on the album but with subtly different sonics.
One of the ideas behind the Omnibus releases is to include a contemporaneous live recording of the songs but this won’t happen on this release as the master tapes for two radio recordings, from Clitheroe Castle and Bremen, have been lost or thrown out. Careless. It’ll still be a 3 disc set though, with a second disc of the rough mixes and selected out-takes and a third disc of singles and relevant tracks from John Peel sessions. Also found is a completed master for Ma Riley, an unreleased, Bo’s beat song originally intended as the bonus track on the Cruiser’s Creek 12”. Hopefully The Wonderful And Frightening World digital transfers will be delivered soon.
To end on a topical note… Here’s how MES looks forward to the New Year – 25 years ago…
Comment [5]
Peter Murphy of Bauhaus to Cameo in Next Twilight Movie
FILED UNDER: BauhausMonday November 9, 2009
The New Moon soundtrack is out now on shelves and on the charts, so it’s time to start speculating about the next Twilight movie! The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third film in the series, is currently in production. MTV reports that it’ll include a cameo from former Bauhaus frontman and all-around goth-rock deity Peter Murphy.
In a totally shocking bit of casting, Murphy will play a vampire. Unprecedented!
The news comes from actor Billy Burke, who plays the character of Charlie Swan in the Twilight series. Burke told MTV, “He plays a vampire in a flashback sequence. I didn’t get to see any of it, but all reports from the director David Slade and everyone around say he just kicked ass. I’m real excited to see it … [His role] started out as an old Spanish, sort of unrelated vampire, in a flashback sequence. Billy Black’s talking and telling the story of the werewolves, how they evolved, and how they met the vampires and stuff. [Murphy’s cameo is] in a sequence that involves that.”
Eclipse director Slade is a horror vet, having previously helmed the sort-of gross psycho-kid story Hard Candy and the underrated vamps-in-Alaska saga 30 Days of Night. MTV speculates that his decision to cast Murphy could be a sign that he wants to push the franchise in a more adult direction. I don’t know about all that, but it would be pretty cool if he found ways to throw Robert Smith and Siouxsie Sioux in there, too.
This won’t be the first time Murphy has appeared in a vampire movie, though. Bauhaus showed up in Tony Scott’s arty, incomprehensible 1983 flick The Hunger, performing “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” during the opening credits.
Posted by Back CatComment [2]
Conceptually edible art
FILED UNDER: The FallMonday October 26, 2009
Back in May I attended ‘Paintwork 2’, an exhibition of art inspired by The Fall. Among the many highlights was David Alker and Peter Liddell’s The Fall Record Collection : The Top 20 where the sleeves had been painted onto cream crackers – yes, that’s right, the ones you eat with cheese. The artists have kindly allowed us to use two of the paintings in the forthcoming Omnibus edition re-issues but here’s a sneak preview.
A third showing, unsurprisingly entitled ‘Paintwork 3’ is running in Hamburg between 31 October and 21 November at Galerie Borchardt and The Fall themselves are playing the city on 5 November.
Comment [3]
We've been rumbled...
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanMonday October 26, 2009
For all conspiracy theorists, we’re loving this post on Amazon UK…
“As a massive fan of Gary’s since 1978 when he was just a shy retiring boy called ‘Veleriun’in in a small unknown post punk band called Tubeway Army. Over the long years I have brought almost everything twice and in different formats just because i like him that much. His cold vocal approach and delivery against the searing synth sounds and warm pads has always been his appeal to me but i wonder if this album like the Replicas ‘Redux’ album of last year with all these never heard demos suddenly appearing from thin air are original recordings? And i will tell you why i think their not! In the early eighties i was a very good friend of one of the band members and i remember having a detailed conversation regarding unknown versions or demos of earlier albums to which he believed there were none this got me thinking when hearing Redux album that something didn’t sit right for me regarding the Vocal style and the lack luster keyboard playing on the demos sounded a little contrived and a little less analogue and more digital which makes me wonder with the release of The Pleasure Principle Expanded that Gary has just recently recorded many of these “demos” on both albums to bag a few more shillings for his pocket which is fine by me and I’m sure for many other Numanoids reading this but what i feel is the biggest giveaway is that you can’t disguise the age of the anyone’s voice with any amount of tech so what am i trying to say about this new album! If you are a big fan of Gary’s as i am you won’t mind digging into your pockets as i feel you are not getting older versions of old tracks but new tracks for older ears and for me money well spent 10/10 even if these are new recordings which is my opinion and not that of Amazon”
There’s more but as an un-named spokesperson for Beggars, all I can reveal is… no comment
Posted by Back CatComment [1]
Bauhaus competition
FILED UNDER: BauhausFriday October 23, 2009
Well, we couldn’t just leave the wonderful Record Collector un-thanked after they awarded the Bauhaus releases the accolade of ‘Re-issue of the month’ in their latest edition. So here’s a chance for any greedy Bauhaus fan who’s famished for their music but starved of funds to win copies of both Omnibus Editions (and the collectible ‘… And Remains bonus disc) ABSOLUTELY FREE. Just be ready to answer an extremely difficult question then click on the Record Collector link
Posted by Back CatShip-shape and shipping
FILED UNDER: BauhausTuesday October 13, 2009
The boat docked, the discs unloaded and mailed so hopefully everyone will get the Bauhaus Omnibus Editions with the bonus disc before the postal strike. Again, apologies for the delay. The disc is shipping separately in the USA.
Meanwhile the positive reviews are coming in. We’ve had Mojo (4/5) and here’s Classic Rock
And an excellent ‘Re-issue of the month’ in Record Collector
Comment [13]
Now that's what I call monumental fame...
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday October 9, 2009
Some musicians have a blue plaque. Some have streets of their town named after them. John Lennon even has an airport. But no popster has ever has a bridge to their name. Until now…
At 11 am Tuesday 29 September 2009, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman announced the new name chosen by the people of Brisbane for the bridge formally referred to as the Hale Street link bridge.
After more than 5000 votes on the 11 short-listed names, The Go Between Bridge emerged as the overwhelming favourite. The name was originally short-listed for two reasons. Firstly as a cross-river link connecting the culturally vibrant communities of Milton and South Brisbane, and secondly as a reference to The Go-Betweens – the influential Brisbane band who inspired others internationally and locally alike. Like the bridge, they connected.
To see some wonderful footage of the typically droll Mr. Robert Forster modelling the latest in hipster headware go to Go-Betweens honoured in bridge naming on YouTube.
Posted by Back CatOn stage with The Cult
FILED UNDER: The CultFriday October 9, 2009
Back in 2008, AIM (Association of Independent Music) held a charity auction on ebay with member labels and groups donating a wondrous array of prize lots to bid on.
Billy Duffy, guitarist with The Cult, offered a unique opportunity for budding strummers to join the band at a sound-check and blast a few riffs with them. A certain amount of faith was needed when bidding as The Cult weren’t performing at the time and had no plans to do so in the future. Regardless, Sean ‘Smuff’ Lee outbid all-comers and over £1000 was raised for the causes. Then he had to wait… and wait and wait, uncertain whether his wages had been blown on a scam or fool’s errand. Eventually it was announced earlier this year that The Cult would be touring Europe and, to make it even more special, would be performing their career defining Love album plus one of the few UK dates would be in Wolverhampton, Smuff’s home town. You may be thinking “Why did this bloke pay to play with Billy?” – the answer is that Smuff is a guitarist in a band, more precisely in The Love Cult the UK’s premier Cult tribute band!
And it came to pass that yesterday was the day. Accompanied by his wife (who he met through a Cult connection) and band members, Smuff arrived with trepidation and two guitars at the Civic Hall.
I can’t describe his feelings but everyone involved with The Cult – Billy, the band, Mitch the tour manager and the crew were the epitome of hospitality and their generosity made it a memorable event.
I hope Smuff will record his recollections on The Lovecult site but he was certainly buzzing afterwards and his opinion of Billy? “Top banana”.
You can’t say fairer than that.
PS – The show was a corker as well
Pixies perform 'Doolittle' in London
FILED UNDER: PixiesFriday October 9, 2009
Some rather complimentary reviews of the London shows from the Daily Telegraph and The Guardian…
and also The Times and The Fly
Posted by Back CatSynth Britannia - Friday 16 October
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanTuesday October 6, 2009
Gary Numan contributes to this BBC 4 show about the rise of synth-pop. From today’s perspective it’s amazing to appreciate what resistance and controversy it stirred, with the Musician’s Union trying to ban the use of synths and Erik Satie’s estate calling Numan’s version of Gymnopedies No.1 a ‘scandalous denaturlisation’ and getting its release banned in France. Should be a good show.
There’s also some great footage of Gary on stage with Nine Inch Nails performing Cars and Metal
There’s an interview with Gary in The Times
Also an excellent previews for Synth Britannia in The Guardian
The Telegraph
The Times
More excellent reviews for Gary Numan
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanFriday October 2, 2009
They’re much better than the original ones 30 years ago..! Mind you, none of these magazines were around then.
Pixies Minotaur
FILED UNDER: PixiesWednesday September 30, 2009
As many Pixies fans know, all four of their 4AD albums (and Come On Pilgrim) are being re-packaged in multiple formats for a ultra de-luxe box set called Minotaur.
This is not a Beggars Archive or 4AD production – it is being done by Artists In Residence – check their site for full details of the package.
The ‘Doolittle’ tour also kicks off in Dublin tonight – Pixies will be performing their legendary album in full – and continues through the UK and Europe then on to the USA during November.
If we get a chance to meet up with the band we may be able to discuss doing an Omnibus Edition of ‘Doolittle’ – now that would be a treat!
more old cuttings
FILED UNDER: The CultFriday September 25, 2009
Stumbled across an advert for The Cult show that’s included in the Omnibus Edition. If I’d found it a few months ago I would have included it in the artwork but it was lurking on the rear side of another band’s cutting. Tickets £4.00 and £4.50. Let’s see… back then the vinyl album would have been £5.00 and the CD £15.00. These days the concert is £30.00, the 4 x CD box set £15.00, the vinyl around £18.00 and the regular CD you can pick up for £5.00… no comment!
… and not a Ticketmaster / Live Nation even on the horizon.
A couple of good online reviews as well…
The Quietus
BBC Music
Webcuts Music
Also back in those mid ’80’s cuttings was John Peel’s Festive 50 so here’s what he was enjoying 25 years ago, back when the Archive was the Front-line (with 14 entries – not a bad score).
Comment [1]
Going Fast
FILED UNDER: The CultMonday September 21, 2009
Day of release (finally) and The Cult Omnibus Edition is, as predicted, selling out FAST. Our UK distributor is now out of stock although there should be more supplies arriving next week – these will still be limited so we’ve extended the pre-order offer from this site for fans who missed out initially. Don’t hang around though – I’m sure stocks will all be gone by the time The Cult come to Europe to play Love Live.
Posted by Back CatComment [4]
The Instrumental
FILED UNDER: Rave OnFriday September 18, 2009
I played Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle album last night and for the first time in 30 years it struck me how odd it was for him to open with an instrumental song. True, his previous album had a couple of instrumentals too and he used them on B-sides but generally vocal artists seem to deem words necessary. Instrumental singles were a staple of the charts in the early 1960’s (many of them were long running No. 1’s) but fell out of fashion (unless it’s a TV or movie theme). Though The Beatles and Rolling Stones both have instrumentals in their canon, I can’t think of any vocal-based Pop acts since the Sixties who have favoured them – I now invite a torrent of comments giving examples! *
Meanwhile Airlane is a great start to the Numan album and the campaign starts here – Bring back the instrumental..!
- thought of one… Edgar Winter – Frankenstein
Comment [9]
Bauhaus ordering problem
FILED UNDER: BauhausThursday September 17, 2009
It seems that some of you have tried to order the Bauhaus sets with the bonus CD and been informed that you can’t place the order as there’s insufficient stock. This is an administrative / system glitch which should now be fixed so please try again. Computers, hey!
Posted by Back CatFirst reactions
FILED UNDER: The CultWednesday September 16, 2009
Those fans who pre-ordered The Cult’s Omnibus Edition of Love from this site got the added bonus of having it shipped a week before release. While positive press reviews are great to have (there’s another good 8/10 in Classic Rock this month) it really is the fan’s reactions that matter to us – they are the people who are hardest to please and who have to buy the album. So it’s rewarding after all the work that went into the project to see positive feedback.
There has been a great deal of confusion regarding this release and the accompanying Expanded Edition, especially on the big online stores who have combinations of the wrong release dates, wrong pack shots and errors in the track listing. We’ve tried to get it amended but without success so it’s great that the fans finally have a chance to assess the package for themselves. Thank you all.
NIN and the Archive crew
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanMonday September 7, 2009
Seems like Trent Reznor’s been paying his respects to a couple of our Archive artists on the final NIN tour.
First there was Peter Murphy from Bauhaus arriving upside down for an encore at the New York show then Gary Numan reprised his London guest appearance at the Los Angeles show
And it’s rumoured that Peter will be out on a joint tour next year with another Archive favourite.
Gary Numan has always been a collectible artist but one of his rarest releases is currently being auctioned on ebay. It’s a test pressing of I Die : You Die that has been previously valued at over £1000. This is the first time it has come up at auction – though there seems to be some doubt about its provenance – so it’ll be interesting to see what the final selling price is.
Comment [1]
The Charlatans embed and breakfast man
FILED UNDER: The CharlatansSunday September 6, 2009
For those of you who don’t follow ‘No Rock N Roll Fun‘, you’ll have missed this – several Charlatans links from the internet taken from ‘Some Friendly’. So I’m linking to it, so now you have to (follow it, that is)…
Posted by Jo25 years ago yesterday
FILED UNDER: The FallThursday September 3, 2009
I was scanning some of The Fall’s artwork yesterday and came across this letter from Mark Smith (25 years later!) – this is where the jumbled track sequence for ‘The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall’ originated as the cassette listing was later used on the CD. Oh well, at least we should be able to correct that one after a quarter of a century.
Comment [4]
Box set shortage
FILED UNDER: The CultTuesday September 1, 2009
We’ve just been informed by our production team that there will probably be an initial shortage of The Cult’s Omnibus Edition. It is being produced in the Far East and, in order to make the 21 September release date, we’re freighting the initial quantity by air. To keep the costs down we’re only bringing in the quantities that we already have orders for and these are quite small. Since many shops have under-ordered (or not even placed orders yet) I suspect supplies will run out on the day of release. Don’t panic as the rest of the stock is due mid October and we should be able to fulfil back orders then.
On this subject it should be noted that the USA have only ordered 2000 sets in total so I’d predict that they will sell out fast with no guarantee of any further copies.
And, of course, anyone pre-ordering direct will have priority.
Comment [1]
Pre-orders and reviews
FILED UNDER: The CultWednesday August 26, 2009
The pre-order links for The Cult and Bauhaus Omnibus Editions are finally in place – click on the releases for details.
Reviews for The Cult are published in the latest editions of mojo and Q Magazine.
and also a Gary Numan review in Uncut.
Comment [2]
Bauhaus exhumed
FILED UNDER: BauhausWednesday August 19, 2009
Andrew Brooksbank, who collaborated on the two Bauhaus Omnibus Editions, has written an account of the experience ‘Ancient Earthwork – the 2009 exhumation of Bauhaus’. It’s a good insight into the work that goes into these releases – too long to blog here, but pour a measure of your favourite tipple, make yourself comfortable then click over to his MySpace blog
Posted by Back CatComment [3]
Love Live kicks off today
FILED UNDER: The CultWednesday August 19, 2009
Great felicitations to The Cult whose Love Live 34 date tour opens today in San Diego, CA. They’ll be performing their breakthrough ‘Love’ album and yes, it’s the one with ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ on it. The tour travels through the USA and Canada before reaching Europe at the end of September.
Beggars Banquet are re-releasing the album as both a 2 disc Expanded Edition and limited 4 disc Omnibus Edition (see the RELEASES link)
Limited editions
FILED UNDER: GeneralSaturday August 15, 2009
A quick observance on this subject as all our Omnibus box set editions will only be manufactured once, so will be ‘limited editions’.
The perceived industry wisdom is that marketing a release as a limited edition will galvanize the fans into a release-date-purchase. This has elements of a good idea. It makes commercial sense to get fans to purchase within a short time span as it’s expensive to store box sets.
For Beggars archive it’s always been about economy of scale. There’s a big expense in setting up the manufacture and print of a box set. The greater the number manufactured the more this cost is spread, so the less the final unit cost. Basic economics. However, to make an additional couple of thousand would probably double the unit cost and increase the retail price disproportionally – thus we don’t do a second edition.
Actually I like this. Music has always been a bit exclusive and so it is with our Archive releases. Buy on release or pay a premium later. We have to be conservative on judging demand so we always under-estimate the quantities manufactured. This has meant many of our releases have become in-demand collectors items. While I don’t condone it, that’s the nature of the market. A quick look on amazon.com reveals…
Rare Cult box set – $185
Rare Cult demos – $500
Cult singles box set – $130
Dead Can Dance SACD box set – $900
Way above the original cost and somewhat crazy prices but that’s capitalism, folks. I will add that we have no intention of making the Omnibus sets available for downloads. These recordings need to exist within a certain context to be appreciated for what they are – outside these packages they become early drafts / rejected takes and, judged against the official releases, inferior recordings. That does the band no favours, so we will only release this one time, in a box set designed for fans and only fans.
damn.. this sounds like a really bad soft sell… not intended… hey ho…
Comment [13]
Memorabilia and Cult Heroes
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanThursday August 13, 2009
Just had a mail from Andy, a Numan collector, asking whether this is a Beggars Banquet flyer. Evidently it sold for £12 on ebay a year or so back but most fans questioned whether it is genuine.
It is and I remember it because I ‘designed’ it over 30 years ago! Purloined images from Max Ernst (sadly I can’t remember the name of the painting but I think it was in the Tate – can anyone help?) to Astounding Stories or one of the other black and white pulps. All topped off with Letraset. And all cut out and pasted onto board – no computers, graphic programmes or photoshop back then. How did I ever find time to do that stuff? It had nothing to do with the record sleeve either, except I used the same sheet of Letraset. Wonder if Gary approved or even saw it…
Also just seen the September issue of that splendid publication, The Word. They have a feature on 20 Cult Heroes, with small interviews and I’m pleased to say that two of the Beggars archive artists are featured – Gary Numan and Ian McNabb (once of The Icicle Works) – (with an extra half point apiece for Roy Harper and Yo La Tengo). Always worth reading what Ian has to say (get his auto-biography!) and hearing what he has to play.
Posted by Back CatComment [7]
Cult release date changed
FILED UNDER: The CultThursday August 6, 2009
While we hoped to get The Cult Love – Omnibus Edition manufactured for an early September release it’s looking unlikely that we can get the full quantity made and shipped in time. As the USA demand has been estimated at only a small quantity (and the band are on tour) we’re hoping to stick with the release date there but it is now 21 September for the rest of the world.
Posted by Back CatComment [3]
The Beggars Badge Collection, number 2.
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday August 3, 2009
I’m holding my hands up here, I know nothing – zero – about Flesh For Lulu. I have another confession – this badge isn’t mine. But it’s an oldie, and it was given to me to carefully save as I do with almost everything I’m given, by Pete. So here it is.
See, I always had Flesh For Lulu down as being a bit of a goth band. Back cat tells me I’m wrong, and they’re much more rock n roll. I blame the haircuts!
‘I Go Crazy’ was even on ‘Some Kind Of Wonderful’ – and being someone who grew up alongside all those great Brat Pack films, that has to be a thumbs-up moment, right?
Anyway, back in 2007, Beggars Banquet made sure that all the Flesh For Lulu albums were available again – albeit digitally – and they’re all up at iTunes. We’ve even put up two videos! Re-live those mid-eighties moments again, over here.
Finally, although never having watched it, (and I wish I had now) I can’t not mention ‘A Place In Spain : Costa Chaos’ which featured Rocco and his former girlfriend, Dawn redesigning a house in the hills in Spain. Will Channel 4 ever repeat it….
Oh, and because I know nothing about this band, my Spotify playlist consists of the ’12” Singles – 1986-1988’ album which I figure is as close to a ‘Best Of’ as you’ll get, and you can work your way around their music from there.
Definitely not goth, though. I stand corrected.
Posted by JoComment [3]
net trawling...
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday August 3, 2009
As she’s not currently working, Jo has the luxury of time, and that means sorting out her badge collection and hunting down ‘What are they doing now’ news on our archive artists…
Firstly, the excellent Slicing Up Eyeballs site has an exclusive interview with Daniel Ash as well as spreading the word on the Omnibus releases.
Then there’s Gary Numan demonstrating why this man is a legend and finally there isn’t Modern English (see post below).
Modern English...
FILED UNDER: GeneralSunday August 2, 2009
…were booked to play some dates in the US, but they’re not any more – Brooklyn Vegan explains more about this. Basically, because it’s not really them!
So instead, here’s a link to ‘I Melt With You’ which us archivers recently uploaded to YouTube, and put up for sale at iTunes. There’s a few other Modern English videos up at iTunes too, in case you missed them…
Posted by JoNuman bonus disc
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanFriday July 31, 2009
Just received printed samples of 1979 The Live EP’s and it looks great. The outer sleeve is on thick board with a 2mm spine, there’s a printed inner sleeve and the disc is in a plastic protector. No expense spared. With the powerful re-mastering I’m thinking this sounds even better than the re-mixed show – though it lacks the cohesiveness and presence of the ‘audience’ style mix it sounds like studio recordings and the detail in the performances really shines. Well worth having, though I say so myself. Coincidentally I found a note last night that Gary wrote mentioning that he had ‘the mixes for the EP’ so there was definitely a plan to issue the disc back in the day.
Posted by Back CatThe Beggars Archive Badge Collection, Part 1 of a series of quite a few
FILED UNDER: GeneralMonday July 27, 2009
These badges are from my old 1980’s stash, reacquired in the last couple of years from the loft back home. I believe I saw The Icicle Works three times in the space of 12 months (not bad when you’re only seventeen), going from Leeds Poly, to the Reading Festival 1987 (when there were still two stages), to Leeds Astoria, a venue I can’t even remember (where you could buy socks with the luminous eyes on them – for ‘Blind’ maybe?). Ah, happy times.
So I’ve created an hour long Icicle Works playlist in Spotify, for those of you who use it – feel free to listen, I hope you enjoy it… and yes, there’ll be omissions, but hey, I can’t please everyone…
Oh, and while I’m here, if you didn’t already know, Ian McNabb has a book out… go and buy it!
Love lives on
FILED UNDER: The CultThursday July 23, 2009
Beggars Archive are releasing two editions of The Cult’s classic breakthrough album, Love. In addition to a newly re-mastered CD of the Love album, the Expanded Edition has a second disc that features all the non-album tracks and mixes released on singles in 1985. For the more committed fans there’s the Omnibus Edition which features a further 2 CD’s of unreleased ‘Demonstration’ recordings and a 1985 live show from London. For full details click on the banner to the right or on the ‘Releases’ link.
The Cult will also be doing very special shows on the Love Live Tour 2009 where they will perform the album in it’s entirety – it promises to unique event.
Comment [1]
This Mortal Coil re-issue plans
FILED UNDER: This Mortal CoilThursday July 23, 2009
Working with Ivo Watts-Russell, the Archive are planning to re-issue all three TMC albums in special Japanese card gatefold sleeves with re-configured artwork by Vaughan at V23. The existing CD versions were mastered back in the 80’s and early 90’s, so re-mastering should reveal a significant improvement to the sound. These will hopefully be ready for release early next year.
Posted by Back CatComment [15]
The Charlatans re-issue plans
FILED UNDER: The CharlatansThursday July 23, 2009
Anticipating the success of the Omnibus Edition series, Beggars Archive are planning to issue the first two Charlatans albums, Some Friendly and Between 10th And 11th as multiple disc sets. It’s early days and the band are helping locate rare material to use but so far demos have surfaced of Polar Bear, Sonic and The Only One I Know. And we’re still looking for good live recordings.
Meanwhile the band have announced a USA tour for September / October
Audio lectures
FILED UNDER: Sound MattersThursday July 23, 2009
Last June the British section of the Audio Engineering Society invited George Massenburg to give a lecture on Critical listening / evaluation – a path to the future of quality music. Always encouraging and enlightening to hear his opinions and his audio demonstration of the ‘noise’ introduced into recordings by ‘lossy’ compression techniques (eg. Mp3) was particularly revealing. For a summary click here
Hopefully a transcript of the talk by Phillip Hobbs from Linn Records on How to make a high-resolution record label will be available soon.
Still loving Spotify
FILED UNDER: Rave OnWednesday July 22, 2009
Just a quick user experience. How good is it that you can dredge up a song or artist from the dark recess of memory and hear it / them again? Satisfy the curiosity of hearing albums you missed or discovering new genres that you could never afford. What a great way to discover catalogue and new releases. Straight forward interface and not too advert cluttered. Sound quality is acceptable for what it is. Full marks to the record companies who are supporting the service. Obviously the idea is for it to become an accepted part of your life then to move over to subscription as this kind of service won’t deliver sufficient dividends from advertising. I believe the subscription model will only work eventually when ALL your entertainment needs are catered for but for the transition period I hope Spotify succeeds. I’d never heard of Mercury nominees Sweet Billy Pilgrim before (evidently 4AD passed on them) but I have now…
Posted by Back CatTape trouble
FILED UNDER: Sound MattersTuesday July 21, 2009
Problems do seem to like company. After years of getting away with trouble free tape transfers we seem to have hit all sorts of gremlins. First there were a couple of tracks on a unique Gary Numan demo that were damaged beyond repair (see the Numan post) though at least they were over 30 years old and now it’s the digital masters that are going awry. We were hoping to master The Cult‘s Love album from the digital masters as opposed to the analogue master made in 1985 when the conversion from A to D was much cruder. As it turned out the digital masters were the album multi-tracks and not a stereo mix. The bad news is that they are in terrible shape. From two sources about half the tracks have been saved intact but there’s selective instrumental distortion on the rest. All isn’t lost yet as there’s a further set of digital masters but they’re on a redundant format and there’s only 2 studios left in the world Paris and New York) to attempt the transfers. Here’s hoping the album can be saved. (She Sells Sanctuary was recorded earlier on an analog 2” multi-track and is fine.)
Yesterday we found that sonic glitches have developed on some Pixies digital video masters and today I found a note from 1992 saying that the This Mortal Coil masters for It’ll End In Tears were ‘shedding’ – Hopefully it shouldn’t be a problem but I do wonder, with the headlong rush into digital recording and masters on a variety of temporally untested formats – DAT / Hard drive / 1630 etc. – how durable they really are and how many will be beyond salvation in the next 20 years.
BAUHAUS pre-orders
FILED UNDER: BauhausSunday July 19, 2009
The Omnibus Bauhaus releases of In The Flat Field and Mask are beginning to be available for pre-order online (release 19 October). Though they are limited editions there’s no need to order so soon as we’ll be offering a very competitive deal if you purchase both sets through this site and we will include a free bonus CD of additional unreleased tracks that won’t be available elsewhere.
We’ll also guarantee that you get the box sets if demand outstrips supply! Fulfillment will be by a third party specialist and hopefully we’ll be able to take orders very shortly.
PS – We’ve had a finished sample in and I’m delighted that it has met with all the exacting specifications. The box is robust and well finished, the book is on a good stock and perfect bound, there’s a 2 mm spine on the CD sleeves – something I’ve not been able to get from European print companies who make them too wide or with no spine at all – the inner sleeves are good and the discs are protected in a plastic jacket. Well fantastish.
Additionally, the newly mixed live album included in the Mask Omnibus edition is to be issued separately on double album by Vinyl 180 – for those of you who like old school plastic. BTW, this is a brilliant recording – very visceral.
Posted by Back CatComment [14]
Sound matters (1)
FILED UNDER: Sound MattersSaturday July 18, 2009
What a strange industry this ‘music business’ is.
Everyone declares a love of music but interest in the sound of music appears marginal.
Where do I start? I promise this won’t get too technical (I don’t know enough about that) but I believe my ears. If you want technical then I’ve added links.
When the old analogue masters were transferred to digital it was generally done at a sampling rate of 48 khz / 16 bit then, through an awkward mathematical equation (‘cos digital is all mathematics), ‘down rated’ to 44.1khz – the sampling standard of a compact disc
Back when CD’s were first launched (1982) the technology capable of doing this was in place but it had severe shortcomings – the music sounded thin and lacked depth. So why did it supplant vinyl within 8 years? Convenience. Vinyl at that time was re-cycled and shoddily manufactured (don’t give me that nostalgia for clicks ‘n’ pops shit) – cassettes had already primed listeners for a longer listening experience away from home and on the move – and CD’s gave instant track access with non deteriorating sound. The sonic shortcomings were overlooked in the marketing hype.
The irony is that, after 25+ years of development, CD’s can sound well acceptable these days for 90% of the general public’s sonic needs. Just as they are becoming unloved and dumped. Hey-ho.
This was the last ‘hurrah’ for the audio hardware industry. Audio had been at the frontline of home entertainment but by the 1990’s video, computers and gaming were more important to the consumer and manufacturer.
Audio still tried to stay in the game and probably the last sonic progression was Sony’s SACD. (though I’m not a fan – it sounds too polite and restrained for dirty music and the bass doesn’t growl and move enough air). A rival format was marketed at the same time, the offshoot-from-video, DVD-A, which succeeded in totally confusing the market (shades of Betamax and VHS for those who remember, or BluRay and HD DVD for younger readers). With unconvincing marketing and confusing specifications the result was public apathy and failure of both of the last of the audio high resolution digital formats.
So what did the public go for? The LCD, Maccie D of fine dining of course – the MP3. Even though it has massive sonic shortcomings it sounds good enough through computers, consoles and wee headphones that don’t move air to trompe le monde. And even better, there are players that hold hours of music – which was available for free off the internet and you can listen to anyplace. Now that’s what I call convenience.
The irony is that currently many recording studios are working in 96khz / 24bit higher resolution sound. Neil Young’s damn right – it does sound better and matters. There’s all the depth and dimension, warmth and growl of vinyl and a bit more besides. When our master tapes are transferred to digital they are done at this resolution and damn, they sound good. I wish you could hear them and be converted to quality sound. Sadly the audio hardware industry is struggling to establish a recognized, standard carrier in these times where other technologies make concepts redundant overnight.
It could be the BluRay disc (but please – (yes, you DVD-A) – don’t try to exploit the video capabilities just because you can. It was a pain-in-the-ass to have to turn on a TV to navigate to play the audio). Additionally most homes use speakers designed more for movie soundtracks than hi-fi and the audio component of BluRay players isn’t a major concern when you’re trying to get the price as low as possible.
It may be a hard drive (but memory capacity needs to be virtually unlimited for high resolution use).
It may be an online repository and we re-define the concept of ownership (but the need for fast streaming excludes a huge part of the market). Older buyers – the ones who still care and can afford to be interested – may need persuading. They’re an anal bunch, bless ‘em.
I’d love to find a solution soon because the re-masters we’re doing sound just too peachy not to share and I welcome any comments on this subject.
to be continued….
meantime here’s an ongoing sculpture entitled ‘Tower of Redundancy’
Falling in love again
FILED UNDER: The FallSaturday July 18, 2009
As many fans are aware from The Fall site
Beggars Banquet will be releasing Omnibus Editions of two of their finest albums – The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall (1984) and This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985)
Master tapes were sent to Loud Mastering – our studio of choice – back in January but with the log jam caused by our Gary Numan / The Cult / Bauhaus packages (not to mention Franz Ferdinand) we’re still awaiting for the digital transfers to be done. The virtues of patience.
However, our friends at Vinyl 180 have jumped the gun and used the new masters to release This Nation’s Saving Grace on – you guessed it – 180 gram vinyl.
And a very handsome package it is too – sounding wonderful (and a little frightening). I’m really looking forward to working on these two albums…
Posted by Back CatComment [10]
Revisiting The Pleasure Principle
FILED UNDER: Gary NumanSaturday July 18, 2009
Following on from last year’s successful Replicas tour and expanded re-issue (and now that The Pleasure Principle 2009 tour has been announced) we’re free to talk about this new project. All the possible master tapes were located back in January and sent to Loud mastering for evaluation and digital transfer. Though Loud mastered TPP from the same tapes over 10 years ago, there have been significant refinements in the studio gear and more detail is being captured off the analogue tapes, especially at 96khz / 24bit sampling. So, until there’s an accepted industry standard carrier for high resolution digital audio, the re-mastered CD is the best sound you’ll get.
Most of the tracks on the second disc have never been released and, once again, we were lucky that Gary made demo recordings of every song so that we could replicate TPP with alternative versions. Actually it’s debatable whether these were originally intended to be demos. As “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” wasn’t yet a hit, the budget for recording the next album would probably be comparable to ‘Replicas’ and Freerange Studio was a step up from Gooseberry. The recordings weren’t circulated on cassettes for record company evaluation and Gary moved straight on to the more expensive Marcus Studios to complete the album.
Unfortunately the less-than-ideal storage conditions of the Beggars ‘archive’ is taking its toll and the only master tape was irreparably damaged on two songs – ‘Tracks’ and ‘Cars’ – because they had been spooled too tightly. There was a second demo recording of ‘Cars’ that we’ve used on the CD but for ‘Tracks’ we only had a later studio out-take. ‘Trois Gymnopédies No.1’ was also defective, but luckily only on the left hand channel, so we have doubled up the good right hand channel for a mono version.
The Freerange demos in full are:-
Session tape one (9-12 April 1979) – Tracks, Cars, Metal, Airlane, Satie (Trois Gymnopédies No.1), Observer, Conversation, Engineers, Asylum, Oceans and Photograph.
Session tape two (date unknown) – Cars, Films, Complex, Random, M.E. and Conversations (sic).
Other out-takes that were transferred were of M.E. (used at the end of disc 2), Engineers, Complex, Airlane and Cars.
Here are the damaged sound files so you can see why they can’t be released. The tape has stuck together producing an echo effect when played. Parts are OK so you’ll get an idea of the performance.
CARS Damaged Demo recording
TRACKS Damaged Demo recording
Thanks to Steve Roper (who is working on a book about this period in Gary’s career) and Nick Wilkinson we are able to use some photos taken during the Marcus recording sessions in the booklet along with new liner notes from Gary’s biographer, Steve Malins. Cheers guys!
The other aspect of the project is the bonus disc, 1979 – The Live EP’s, that is exclusively available with pre-orders from the Gary Numan online store
When sorting through the masters we looked at the 1979 live recordings. As many fans know, the original multi-tracks for the concert were missing for years but finally surfaced in the archive of video director Derek Burbidge. However, we have never located the mixed master that was done for ‘The Touring Principle’ VHS. We have the masters for the original 1981 release of Living Ornaments ’79 and, in addition, there were two other tapes. The second tape (a picture of which is on the cover of this CD) indicated that it was the assembled studio master for a live EP:-
Down In The Park / On Broadway / Every Day I Die / Remember I Was Vapour
The first tape, dated November 1979, was also 4 tracks and included ‘Down In The Park’.
Me, I Disconnect From You / Conversation / Metal / Down In The Park
It was only after listening to these tapes that it became apparent there were some different mixes to previous releases. Initially we supposed that both were try-outs for a potential live EP – probably intended to keep the momentum going into 1980 following the release of Complex. However, Gary quickly wrote and recorded ‘We Are Glass’ and the window was lost. In these matters Gary is an unreliable witness as he’s forgotten most details! The theory that now makes most sense is that the four 1979 tracks are the tape that was used for miming at the ‘Year Of The Child’ charity concert – maybe you fans know whether ‘Conversation’ was actually performed.
This will also be the version of DITP used in the movie Urgh! A Music War
Having had the big TV exposure it may have seemed like a good idea to re-promote ‘Down In The Park’ alongside two unreleased songs, ‘Broadway’ and ‘Vapour’. As it was, those two were finally included as a free 7” with initial copies of ‘Telekon’, Gary’s next album.
These original mixes sound phenomenal – way more powerful than on the vinyl release and with added depth and clarity. Wish we had The Touring Principle VHS master!
PS Did you catch Numan and Nine Inch Nails performing Metal and Cars at the NIN London show?
Posted by Back CatComment [4]
Omnibus Editions
FILED UNDER: GeneralFriday July 17, 2009
BEGGARS ARCHIVE launch a new series of Omnibus Editions in September with a re-issue of The Cult’s groundbreaking album Love.
This series is intended to expand and enlighten the development of classic albums bringing together all the relevant single releases with previously unreleased studio, session and live recordings.
Omnibus Editions are presented as limited edition box sets and include CD’s in the Japanese-style paper sleeves, reproducing the original vinyl cover art, with a 48 page book.
Love has been expanded into a 4 disc set – apart from the re-mastered original album the box also includes the singles, the demos and a live recording from 1985.
The Cult embark on a world tour performing Love live in mid August and will appear in the UK and Europe during September / October.
Future releases projected for this full-fan treatment include albums from Bauhaus, The Fall, Pixies and The Charlatans.
BEGGARS ARCHIVE will also be releasing 2 disc Expanded Editions which will be more widely available. These include The Cult – Love and Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle
Posted by Back CatComment [2]