• NEW VINYL EDITION OF THE STEPHEN W TAYLER REMIX OF THE CLASSIC 1976 ALBUM BY BE-BOP DELUXE, CUT AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS.
• WITH RESTORED ORIGINAL ARTWORK OF THE 1976 LP RELEASE.
Recorded in the Autumn of 1975 at Abbey Road studios (with some sessions also taking place at AIR studios in London), “Sunburst Finish” was the third album by Be-Bop Deluxe and the first to feature the line-up of Bill Nelson (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Charlie Tumahai (bass, vocals), Andy Clark (keyboards) and Simon Fox (drums). It was also the first Be Bop album to be co-produced by Nelson and John Leckie. An album of immense musical inventiveness and creativity, “Sunburst Finish” was one of the finest albums of its era, a perfect cohesion of ten classic songs written by Bill Nelson (featuring his highly imaginative guitar playing) and a stylized and striking artwork package.
Featuring such classic material as “Heavenly Homes”, “Crying to the Sky”, “Sleep that Burns”, “Life in the Air Age”, “Crystal Gazing” and “Blazing Apostles”, the album also spawned the hit single “Ships in the Night” and launched Be-Bop Deluxe as one of the major breakthrough acts of 1976.
This new vinyl edition features the remix of the album by Stephen W Tayler and has been cut at Abbey Road Studios and restores the original LP artwork.
Track Listing: Side One 1 Fair Exchange 2 Heavenly Homes 3 Ships in the Night 4 Crying to the Sky 5 Sleep That Burns
Side Two 1 Beauty Secrets 2 Life in the Air Age 3 Like an Old Blues 4 Crystal Gazing 5 Blazing Apostles
Featuring Former Members of Sparks, Devo, Buffalo Springfield and More!
San Francisco, CA – REVOLUSHN is an experimental psych rock group from California formed by longtime friends and collaborators NO Mansfield and David “Dekay” Kendrick. They recorded dozens of songs together for other artists as part of a studio group in Los Angeles, and in 2016 began writing and recording their own material for what would become REVOLUSHN. They enlisted the talents of multiple friends for their debut release The Freshman (2016) and their follow-up Further!! (2018) and have now solidified their lineup around NO (guitar/vocals), Dekay (drums, percussion), Olga Schubert (keys), and Neil Nyberg (bass guitar/vocals) for their new album 3, set for release September 30, 2022!
REVOLUSHN is extraordinarily versatile and showcase an assortment of styles, leaning into experimental art rock along with their love for dance rock and loud guitars and drums. Produced by NO Mansfield and Arron Connor (Bone Thugs and Harmony, Cher, Ed Sheeran, Dr. Dre), their new album 3 also features Scott Page (Pink Floyd, Toto, Supertramp) on sax and Harlan Spector (Redbone, Buffalo Springfield) on keys on the track “Electric” as well as Kim Aston on backing vocals. This incredible new REVOLUSHN album highlights their influences including Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Black Keys, Lady Gaga, Manaskin, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and more. 3 was recorded at Swamptone Studios in Northern California, Cypher Sound Studios in Kansas City, MO, Hailer Studios in Los Angeles, and Coast Mastering in Berkeley, CA, and the album was mastered at Coast Mastering by Michael Romanoff (Pentatonix, Nine Inch Nails, The Who).
NO Mansfield lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and has written several hundred songs since he picked up the guitar at six years old. NO is a respected studio musician and multi-instrumentalist that has recorded music for television and film and has played with dozens of artists including Aretha Franklin, Berlin, DEVO, and many more. NO Mansfield also recently scored the horror movie The Beast Inside.
David “Dekay” Kendrick plays drums/percussion and writes many of the song’s lyrics. Dekay lives in Los Angeles, CA. A lifelong musician, Dekay has played everywhere from the Hollywood Bowl to Madison Square Gardens. He has been a member of Sparks, DEVO, Gleaming Spires and Xiu Xiu. Dekay and NO write the songs for REVOLUSHN and have been playing together in different bands for over 25 years.
Olga Schubert plays keyboards and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was born in Russia and studied classical piano during her youth before going on to medical school to become a doctor. After moving to America, she studied art and became a respected and internationally known painter. NO and Olga are married and when NO realized how good she was at keyboards she was drafted into the group. Since joining REVOLUSHN she has also become a talented videographer and now creates all their videos.
Neil Nyberg plays bass guitar and sings for REVOLUSHN. Neil lives in Berkeley, CA. He has been a musician since a young age and has played in several prominent San Francisco Bay Area bands. He also plays guitar and sings for his band Nalamora. Neil is also creating a fashion brand.
To release their newest album 3, REVOLUSHN signed with the bay area independent music label Candy Gram Music Company. With a mission to promote the SF Bay Area music scene as a world class entertainment center in California for mind-blowing music and art, and as an inspiring place for artists to live and love, the label is cultivating a San Francisco sound reminiscent of the 60s summer of love that is also firmly rooted in the present day. CGM is embraces street artists as well as established professional musicians, helping them to develop live shows, professional recordings, PR, online presence, and more. Rock, alt, blues, indie, emo, psychedelic rock, pop punk, world beat, and singer/songwriters all have a place with Candy Gram Music Company.
REVOLUSHN has performed at notable venues and festivals across the US and have an October 2022 tour planned that will bring them to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Kansas City, Chicago, and New York. They will soon release a music video for their song “The Beast Inside” from the upcoming new movie of the same name. The band is featured in the film and NO even performed a speaking role. REVOLUSHN has been called “Electrifying!” by the LA Weekly Times, “Incredibly catchy!” by the Huffington Post, and “Magnificent!” by Melody Maker.
For more information about REVOLUSHN and tour dates please visit: www.revolushn.com
• A NEW SIX DISC BOXED SET OF THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS MADE BY BILL NELSON’S RED NOISE – COMPRISING FOUR CDs AND TWO DVDs (NTSC/REGION FREE).
• FEATURING A NEWLY REMASTERED EDITION OF THE ALBUM ‘SOUND ON SOUND’, ALONG WITH NEW 5.1 SURROUND SOUND AND NEW STEREO MIXES BY STEVEN WILSON.
• INCLUDES A PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED CONCERT RECORDED IN LEICESTER IN FEBRUARY 1979 NEWLY MIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK TAPES, PLUS BILL NELSON’S HOME DEMOS, ADDITIONAL SESSION TRACKS AND A BBC RADIO SESSION FROM 1979.
• WITH BONUS VIDEO CONTENT OF THE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO OF ‘REVOLT INTO STYLE’ AND A SESSION FILMED FOR BBC TV’S OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST IN 1979.
• INCLUDES A LAVISHLY-ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH EXTENSIVE ESSAY BY BILL NELSON AND A FOREWORD BY STEVE WILSON, A FACSIMILE TOUR PROGRAMME, POSTER AND FOUR POSTCARDS.
Following the release of the album “Drastic Plastic” and tour, Bill Nelson disbanded Be-Bop Deluxe. Aware of the emergence of the New Wave artists and out of a desire to continually evolve, he announced the formation of Red Noise.
Working with co-producer John Leckie, Bill recorded a new wave masterpiece, a record that would influence a new generation of musicians with its intelligent and punchy material. “Sound On Sound” and the subsequent live shows would divide opinion of both fans and critics, but with the passage of time, the album is now regarded as one of Bill Nelson’s finest works.
This boxed set features the complete Red Noise recordings; the original album newly remastered by Steven Wilson from the original master tapes, along with stunning new stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound mixes.
The set also includes an outstanding complete live concert recorded in Leicester in 1979, newly mixed from the original 24-track tapes, a session recorded for BBC Radio One and a further Red Noise studio session from May 1979 plus a bonus CD of Bill Nelson’s home demos. The set also includes video material, including the video for “Revolt Into Style” and the band’s session for the BBC TV show “The Old Grey Whistle Test” from February 1979.
Track Listing:
DISC ONE SOUND ON SOUND REMASTERED 1 Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) 2 For Young Moderns 3 Stop / Go / Stop 4 Furniture Music 5 Radar in My Heart 6 Stay Young 7 Out of Touch 8 A Better Home in the Phantom Zone 9 Substitute Flesh 10 The Atom Age 11 Art / Empire / Industry 12 Revolt into Style Bonus tracks 13 Wonder Toys That Last Forever 14 Acquitted by Mirrors (B-side of ‘Furniture Music’ EP) 15 Stay Young (BBC session 17.02.1979) 16 Furniture Music (BBC session 17.02.1979) 17 Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) (BBC session 17.02.1979) 18 Out of Touch (BBC session 17.02.1979)
DISC TWO LIVE AT THE DE MONTFORT HALL, LEICESTER 1979 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 1 Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) (live) 2 For Young Moderns (live) 3 Furniture Music (live) 4 Out of Touch (live) 5 Stop-Go-Stop (live) 6 Atom Age (live) 7 Possession (live) 8 Superenigmatix (live) 9 Substitute Flesh (live) 10 Phantom Zone (live) 11 Radar in My Heart (live) 12 Art / Empire / Industry (live) 13 Revolt into Style (live) 14 Stay Young (live) 15 For Young Moderns (Encore) (live)
DISC THREE SOUND ON SOUND NEW STEREO MIX 1 Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) 2 For Young Moderns 3 Stop / Go / Stop 4 Furniture Music 5 Radar in My Heart 6 Stay Young 7 Out of Touch 8 A Better Home in the Phantom Zone 9 Substitute Flesh 10 The Atom Age 11 Art / Empire / Industry 12 Revolt into Style Bonus tracks 13 Wonder Toys That Last Forever 14 Acquitted by Mirrors 15 My Light (previously unreleased) Recorded for the “Sound on Sound” sessions 16 Instantly Yours 17 Ideal Homes 18 Disposable
DISC FOUR SOUND ON SOUND 96 kHz/24-BIT 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX NEW STEREO MIX ORIGINAL STEREO MIX 1 Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) (5.1 mix) 2 For Young Moderns (5.1 mix) 3 Stop / Go / Stop (5.1 mix) 4 Furniture Music (5.1 mix) 5 Radar in My Heart (5.1 mix) 6 Stay Young (5.1 mix) 7 Out of Touch (5.1 mix) 8 A Better Home in the Phantom Zone (5.1 mix) 9 Substitute Flesh (5.1 mix) 10 The Atom Age (5.1 mix) 11 Art / Empire / Industry (5.1 mix) 12 Revolt into Style (5.1 mix)
DISC FIVE ADDITIONAL RED NOISE SESSIONS 96 kHz/24-BIT 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIXES NEW STEREO MIXES ORIGINAL STEREO MIXES 1 Wonder Toys That Last Forever (5.1 mix) 2 Acquitted by Mirrors (5.1 mix) 3 My Light (5.1 mix) Recorded for the “Sound on Sound” sessions 4 Instantly Yours (5.1 mix) 5 Ideal Homes (5.1 mix) 6 Disposable (5.1 mix) RAK Studios, London May 1979
VIDEO CONTENT PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 1 Revolt into Style (Promotional video 1979) 2 Don’t Touch Me (I’m Electric) (BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test – 1979) 3 Furniture Music (BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test 1979) 4 Stay Young (BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test 1979)
DISC SIX BILL NELSON RED NOISE DEMOS 1978 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 1 Acquitted by Mirrors (demo) 2 For Young Moderns (demo) 3 Stop Go Stop (demo) 4 Furniture Music (demo) 5 Radar in My Heart (demo) 6 Stay Young (demo) 7 Out of Touch (demo) 8 A Better Home in the Phantom Zone (demo) 9 Substitute Flesh (demo) 10 The Atom Age (demo) 11 Revolt into Style (demo) 12 Waiting for the Night (demo) 13 My Light (demo)
Thirty minutes. A dozen songs. Ex Norwegian's album No. 13 brings it. Faithful to its tuneful and irreverent brand, the aptly named “Spook Du Jour” features the moody art rock of “Thot Patrol,” alongside tracks like “Burn It” and “Vicious Cycles” that can trace their influence back to Bowie and The Velvet Underground.
For 15 years, Ex Norwegian, with band mainstay Roger Houdaille, has been delivering quirky lyrics combined with an eclectic approach, while successfully resisting the momentary trends to create a more perennial sound.
“Spook Du Jour” is indeed another win for their catalog with plenty of choice cuts - from the driving glam-meets-Krautrock of “For Your Conveniences” to the Bolan-esque charmer “Ciancia.” On an early 90’s alt-rock mixtape, “Teen Bakery” wouldn’t be out of place.
The albums’ straightforward instrumentation and organic arrangements create a vintage rock vibe with enough freshness and individuality to stand out.
At times, the melodies effortlessly stream out and chords go where they should. At other times, the album breaks out of the expected formulas with more adventurous compositions like “Paging Lisa” and the album's finale “Center Mario” reminding listeners that the band is not immune to oddity.
Released via Think Like A Key Music worldwide on CD, LP and streaming platforms.
TRACKLIST Teen Bakery Vicious Cycles Ciancia Burn It Airlash Thot Patrol Paging Lisa Crazy Paving Fresh ATM For Your Conveniences Save For No Future Center Mario
ABOUT EX NORWEGIAN
An arcane and adventurous indie rock band that mixes classic songwriting with popsike, garage prog and power-pop hailing from sunny Miami Beach are unlikely contenders to be named after a Monty Python sketch; yet the musical collective Ex Norwegian indeed are. The band is led by founder Roger Houdaille, who is responsible for their effortlessly catchy songs spanning across a constant stream of DIY releases. Drawing inspiration from the likes of the Kinks, Badfinger to Amon Düül 2, Family – the music and ethos of the 60s & 70s lives and breathes in their extensive catalog – from retro slacker garage jams, to quirky, deconstructive pop songs.
Featuring Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel), Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel), Sara Lee (Gang of Four, The B52s), Marc Shulman (Suzanne Vega), Bill Dillon (Robbie Robertson), Gerry Leonard (David Bowie), Daniel Weiss (Joan Osbourne) and Rupert Greenall (The Fixx)
Singer/songwriter/pianist Sarah Perrotta unveils her fourth studio album of original art-rock/dream-pop entitled “Blue to Gold” on 7D Media/Third Star Records this October 2021. Produced by world renowned drummer Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Sarah McLachlan). The songs and sonics of “Blue to Gold” were cultivated over the last several years at Dreamland Recording Studio in Hurley, NY by Perrotta and Marotta.
In addition to her lush vocals and melodic piano, Sarah utilizes a variety of keyboards and synths including the Mellotron, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Moog, and even a toy piano. The steady masterful drumming of Jerry Marotta sets the foundation for Sarah Perrotta’s captivating voice and songwriting.
Lifelong friends and musicians were enlisted to collaborate and enrich the textures of “Blue to Gold” that include Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel), Sara Lee (Gang of Four, The B52s, The League of Gentlemen), Marc Shulman (Suzanne Vega), Bill Dillon (Robbie Robertson), Gerry Leonard (David Bowie), Daniel Weiss (Joan Osbourne) and Rupert Greenall (The Fixx).
The album was mixed by Michael Cozzi and mastered by Chris Athens. While the limited edition, deluxe vinyl package, that will be released in November, was mastered by Chris Muth.
The final result of “Blue to Gold” is an ethereal sound that washes over the listener with swirling waves of dreamlike melodies and harmonies. From start to finish it’s a sonic journey that rewards the listener with a musical depth worthy of repeated listenings.
Sarah explains the meaning behind her new album, “To transform struggle into something of value and beauty. The songs are each like a prayer or meditation for me based on relationships and life experience. Topics include the awe and selflessness of parenthood, transition, embracing our primitive dark side, rising above conflict, not wanting a good thing to end, being open to following dreams, finding unity amid misunderstanding, a tribute to a friend who died suddenly, to live life fully and the cyclical beauty of it all.”
“Blue to Gold” will appeal to listeners of Heather Nova and Happy Rhodes to Sia and Billie Eilish as well as fans of one of rock’s most respected rhythm teams: Tony Levin and Jerry Marotta.
Lead Vocals/Piano/Keyboards: Sarah Perrotta Bass: Tony Levin, Sara Lee, Jerry Marotta Guitar: Marc Shulman, Gerry Leonard, Bill Dillon, Johnnie Wang, Jay Perrotta, Peter Calo Keyboards: Pamela Sue-Mann, Daniel Weiss, Rupert Greenall Drums: Jerry Marotta, Peter O’Brien Vocals: Heather Masse, Natasha Althouse, Erin Stewart, Jerry Marotta String Orchestrator: Enzo DeRosa Violin: Megan Gugliotta
In support of Sarah’s new album release she will be touring the northeast this Winter and Europe in the Spring of 2022. She also has several music videos in the works.
Esoteric presents Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” – an expanded edition of the classic 1977 live album!
• A DELUXE 16 DISC LIMITED EDITION BOXED SET OF THE CLASSIC 1977 LIVE ALBUM BY BE BOP DELUXE • THE ORIGINAL ALBUM IS NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES RESTORING THE CORRECT ALBUM RUNNING ORDER • WITH AN ADDITIONAL 14 CDs FEATURING EVERY CONCERT RECORDED ON THE BE BOP DELUXE UK TOUR OF FEBRUARY & MARCH 1977 ALL NEWLY REMIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK TAPES BY STEPHEN W. TAYLER • INCLUDES A BBC RADIO ONE JOHN PEEL SESSION FROM JANUARY 1977 • ALSO INCLUDES A DVD (NTSC / REGION FREE) OF THE STAR RIDER IN CONCERT TV FILM FIRST SCREENED IN 1977, RELEASED HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME • INCLUDES A LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH MANY PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS & NEW ESSAY BY BILL NELSON • ALSO INCLUDES POSTCARDS AND A REPLICA POSTER
Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce a new re-mastered super-deluxe expanded boxed set limited edition release (comprising 15 CDs and a DVD) of “Live! In The Air Age” by Be-Bop Deluxe. This legendary live album was released in July 1977 and would prove to be the band’s most successful album, peaking at number 10 in the UK charts. The album was issued at a time of growing commercial success for the band and followed on the heels of two highly acclaimed studio albums in thirteen months, Sunburst Finish and Modern Music, both of which reached the top twenty of the UK album charts. Live! In the Air Age would be the band’s only live record and was recorded on a series of dates in the UK in February and March 1977 on the Rolling Stones mobile unit with John Leckie, who had engineered and co-produced the band’s previous two albums, supervising the location recordings.
The band’s UK tour began in late January and was an audio-visual extravaganza that featured the use of projection screens and excerpts from the 1927 German silent film Metropolis, director Fritz Lang’s striking science fiction masterpiece. Continuing into February, the first concert to be recorded was at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester on the 12th of that month. The following two nights saw concerts at the Grand Theatre in Leeds which were both captured on tape and saw Bill Nelson perform to an enthusiastic home audience. However, at this juncture fate would intervene to cause a postponement to the remainder of the tour. Travelling to a concert in Bristol on 15th February 1977, Bill Nelson and John Leckie were involved in a car accident which resulted in them being hospitalized at Huddersfield Infirmary. Thankfully, all involved recovered quickly from their injuries, but as a result of the accident, the remaining concerts were postponed until the end of March. The tour began again with two concerts at Hammersmith Odeon in London on March 25th and 26th 1977 which revealed the band to be on top form, feeding off the tremendous warmth of the audience. Further shows in Bristol and Bournemouth on the 27th and 28th March respectively also contained many fine moments. Bill Nelson and John Leckie selected the best performances for mixing at Abbey Road and Advision studios in London and “Live! In The Air Age” was released in July 1977.
Research of all of the Be-Bop Deluxe master tapes revealed that multi track tapes of all the shows recorded on the UK tour of 1977 had survived. After digitizing and listening through to all of the Rolling Stones mobile unit 24-track tapes it was decided to include each concert in its entirety in this expanded boxed set. The concerts were mixed over a period of several months by Stephen W. Tayler and are presented here for the very first time. They reveal the improvisational side of Be-Bop Deluxe, particularly on pieces such as “Shine” and “Blazing” Apostles which made each concert unique.
This set features the original album, newly remastered from the original master tapes, and restores the correct running order of the original LP release and has three bonus tracks drawn from a BBC Radio One JOHN PEEL SHOW session from January 1977. This box also adds an NTSC / Region Free DVD of STAR RIDER IN CONCERT – BE-BOP DELUXE, which was first screened on television in 1977 and appears exclusively in this boxed set for the first time. Finally, this limited-edition boxed set includes an illustrated 68-page book with many previously unseen photographs and an essay of recollections by Bill Nelson. Additionally, the set includes postcards and a replica poster. This special deluxe limited-edition boxed set of “Live! In The Air Age” is a fitting tribute to a fine live band and the creative vision of Bill Nelson.
Esoteric presents Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” – an expanded edition of the classic 1977 live album!
• A DELUXE 16 DISC LIMITED EDITION BOXED SET OF THE CLASSIC 1977 LIVE ALBUM BY BE BOP DELUXE • THE ORIGINAL ALBUM IS NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES RESTORING THE CORRECT ALBUM RUNNING ORDER • WITH AN ADDITIONAL 14 CDs FEATURING EVERY CONCERT RECORDED ON THE BE BOP DELUXE UK TOUR OF FEBRUARY & MARCH 1977 ALL NEWLY REMIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK TAPES BY STEPHEN W. TAYLER • INCLUDES A BBC RADIO ONE JOHN PEEL SESSION FROM JANUARY 1977 • ALSO INCLUDES A DVD (NTSC / REGION FREE) OF THE STAR RIDER IN CONCERT TV FILM FIRST SCREENED IN 1977, RELEASED HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME • INCLUDES A LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH MANY PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS & NEW ESSAY BY BILL NELSON • ALSO INCLUDES POSTCARDS AND A REPLICA POSTER
Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce a new re-mastered super-deluxe expanded boxed set limited edition release (comprising 15 CDs and a DVD) of “Live! In The Air Age” by Be-Bop Deluxe. This legendary live album was released in July 1977 and would prove to be the band’s most successful album, peaking at number 10 in the UK charts. The album was issued at a time of growing commercial success for the band and followed on the heels of two highly acclaimed studio albums in thirteen months, Sunburst Finish and Modern Music, both of which reached the top twenty of the UK album charts. Live! In the Air Age would be the band’s only live record and was recorded on a series of dates in the UK in February and March 1977 on the Rolling Stones mobile unit with John Leckie, who had engineered and co-produced the band’s previous two albums, supervising the location recordings.
The band’s UK tour began in late January and was an audio-visual extravaganza that featured the use of projection screens and excerpts from the 1927 German silent film Metropolis, director Fritz Lang’s striking science fiction masterpiece. Continuing into February, the first concert to be recorded was at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester on the 12th of that month. The following two nights saw concerts at the Grand Theatre in Leeds which were both captured on tape and saw Bill Nelson perform to an enthusiastic home audience. However, at this juncture fate would intervene to cause a postponement to the remainder of the tour. Travelling to a concert in Bristol on 15th February 1977, Bill Nelson and John Leckie were involved in a car accident which resulted in them being hospitalized at Huddersfield Infirmary. Thankfully, all involved recovered quickly from their injuries, but as a result of the accident, the remaining concerts were postponed until the end of March. The tour began again with two concerts at Hammersmith Odeon in London on March 25th and 26th 1977 which revealed the band to be on top form, feeding off the tremendous warmth of the audience. Further shows in Bristol and Bournemouth on the 27th and 28th March respectively also contained many fine moments. Bill Nelson and John Leckie selected the best performances for mixing at Abbey Road and Advision studios in London and “Live! In The Air Age” was released in July 1977.
Research of all of the Be-Bop Deluxe master tapes revealed that multi track tapes of all the shows recorded on the UK tour of 1977 had survived. After digitizing and listening through to all of the Rolling Stones mobile unit 24-track tapes it was decided to include each concert in its entirety in this expanded boxed set. The concerts were mixed over a period of several months by Stephen W. Tayler and are presented here for the very first time. They reveal the improvisational side of Be-Bop Deluxe, particularly on pieces such as “Shine” and “Blazing” Apostles which made each concert unique.
This set features the original album, newly remastered from the original master tapes, and restores the correct running order of the original LP release and has three bonus tracks drawn from a BBC Radio One JOHN PEEL SHOW session from January 1977. This box also adds an NTSC / Region Free DVD of STAR RIDER IN CONCERT – BE-BOP DELUXE, which was first screened on television in 1977 and appears exclusively in this boxed set for the first time. Finally, this limited-edition boxed set includes an illustrated 68-page book with many previously unseen photographs and an essay of recollections by Bill Nelson. Additionally, the set includes postcards and a replica poster. This special deluxe limited-edition boxed set of “Live! In The Air Age” is a fitting tribute to a fine live band and the creative vision of Bill Nelson.
Los Angeles, CA - It’s a music hipster’s dream come true, a pairing that will make legions of fans weak at the knees. A recorded collaboration between the ever-innovating producer, songwriter and Rock Hall Of Fame nominee Todd Rundgren and one of the most eclectic, quixotic and highly celebrated musical acts in modern music, Sparks! Not since Sparks’ Rundgren-produced 1971 debut album have these two titanically talented acts worked so closely together.
And now Rundgren and Sparks are proud to release “Your Fandango,” the third single from Rundgren’s forthcoming Space Force album, which also features collaborations with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo and hip hop artist Narcy, and the timing couldn’t be better. Rundgren just recently completed a highly publicized and hugely successful virtual tour, the “Clearly Human” Tour, while Ron and Russell Mael have been generating their own buzz ahead of the Cannes premiere of the Sparks-penned movie musical ‘Annette’ (starring Adam Driver & Marion Cotillard) and the full-length, Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver) directed documentary ‘The Sparks Brothers’ about their career. In fact, it was the filming of Rundgren’s interview for the latter that reunited him with Sparks and formed the idea of a collaboration.
The result is a masterful piece of polyphonic pop that elegantly layers Spanish music, Neopolitan cantatas, baroque fugues and glam rock for one truly epic composition.
“It’s been a truly heartwarming experience to once again be working with Todd, our first-ever producer, after a brief 50-year hiatus.” - Ron and Russell Mael
“It’s been a long way since Simple Ballet, but we finally got the old dance troupe back together!” - Todd Rundgren
In addition to making the track available on all digital platforms, acclaimed Finnish media artist Liisa Vääriskoski has created a mesmerizing and eye-popping video. The video will be premiering on Sparks’ YouTube channel Friday (April 23) at 6pm BST/10am PST/1pm EST.
Watch the video on YouTube:
As a special treat for both Rundgren and Sparks fans, “Your Fandango” will also be released on gorgeous 7” vinyl later this year.
Los Angeles, CA - It’s a music hipster’s dream come true, a pairing that will make legions of fans weak at the knees. A recorded collaboration between the ever-innovating producer, songwriter and Rock Hall Of Fame nominee Todd Rundgren and one of the most eclectic, quixotic and highly celebrated musical acts in modern music, Sparks! Not since Sparks’ Rundgren-produced 1971 debut album have these two titanically talented acts worked so closely together.
And now Rundgren and Sparks are proud to release “Your Fandango,” the third single from Rundgren’s forthcoming Space Force album, which also features collaborations with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo and hip hop artist Narcy, and the timing couldn’t be better. Rundgren just recently completed a highly publicized and hugely successful virtual tour, the “Clearly Human” Tour, while Ron and Russell Mael have been generating their own buzz ahead of the Cannes premiere of the Sparks-penned movie musical ‘Annette’ (starring Adam Driver & Marion Cotillard) and the full-length, Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver) directed documentary ‘The Sparks Brothers’ about their career. In fact, it was the filming of Rundgren’s interview for the latter that reunited him with Sparks and formed the idea of a collaboration.
The result is a masterful piece of polyphonic pop that elegantly layers Spanish music, Neopolitan cantatas, baroque fugues and glam rock for one truly epic composition.
“It’s been a truly heartwarming experience to once again be working with Todd, our first-ever producer, after a brief 50-year hiatus.” - Ron and Russell Mael
“It’s been a long way since Simple Ballet, but we finally got the old dance troupe back together!” - Todd Rundgren
In addition to making the track available on all digital platforms, acclaimed Finnish media artist Liisa Vääriskoski has created a mesmerizing and eye-popping video. The video will be premiering on Sparks’ YouTube channel Friday (April 23) at 6pm BST/10am PST/1pm EST.
Watch the video on YouTube:
As a special treat for both Rundgren and Sparks fans, “Your Fandango” will also be released on gorgeous 7” vinyl later this year.
The man whose illustrious career began in the late 70s with synth-pop visionaries Japan and more recently as a member of influential art-rock band Porcupine Tree follows up 2017's Planets + Persona with new album Under A Spell.
Richard Barbieri didn’t plan to make an album like Under A Spell, originally intended his fourth solo album to be a direct follow from its predecessor, 2017’s Planets + Persona.
That record, made in different studios across Europe and heavily incorporating live performances from a range of musicians, was adventurous and bold, showcasing Barbieri’s endlessly inventive song writing and mastery of electronic music. The follow-up would pick up where it left off, journeying further into the expansive terrain he mapped out on the previous record. And then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and everything changed. “I wrote and recorded it in my studio at home, with all this strangeness going on outside,” says Barbieri of Under A Spell. “It became something completely different: this weird, self-contained dream-state album.”
On Under A Spell, Barbieri was intent on capturing the atmospheres and moods that his disconnected brain was conjuring rather than slaving over arrangements and melodies. Songs such as ‘Flare’, ‘Serpentine’, ‘Sleep Will Find You’ and its companion piece-of-sorts ‘Darkness Will Find You’ are sharply defined despite their dream-inspired genesis. He points to the evocative opening and closing tracks, ‘Under A Spell’ and ‘Lucid’, as the keys that unlock the album. “Those two tracks have the whole meaning within them,” he says. “The first song, ‘Under A Spell’, is leading you down a path, moving into places where you’re not sure what’s going on. There are whispers in the background, spells being cast in a deserted wood. Then the final track, ‘Lucid’, is the opposite. You’re in this comforting lucid dream, but then you're drifting further away from it, trying to come out of it. There are voices saying: ‘Wake up, wake up, come back alive...’”
Listeners will be able to make out those voices but there are no vocals, these voices, collaborators, include Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth and Swedish singer Lisen Rylander Love (who co-wrote ‘A Star Light’).
The album’s title perfectly encapsulates the haunting, evocative world Barbieri has created. Songs such as the skittering, billowing ‘Clockwork’ and ‘Sketch 6’s dub-inspired soundscape hang suspended in that strange half-world between sleep and waking – a subconscious reflection of the surreal state the planet has found itself in over recent months. “I was having a lot of bizarre, recurring dreams that were hanging around after I woke up,” says Barbieri. “They were based around this woodland pathway, which is really summed up by the album cover – this surreal, deserted, Blair Witch Project type of environment. You’re going through these woods, heading towards this light, almost like you’re leaving life. That’s where the title Under A Spell came from – it was a feeling of not being totally in control. Almost as if your dreams are pointing you in directions that sometimes you can control and sometimes you can’t.”
As ex-founder of Japan, the new-wave pioneers and one of the most ground-breaking bands of their era, Richard Barbieri helped spark the electronic music revolution that followed, his synthesiser sound not only defined the band but influenced the likes of The Human League, Duran Duran, Gary Numan and Talk Talk. Following Japan’s split, Barbieri joined Steven Wilson to form the legendary progressive outfit Porcupine Tree, that saw him play on nine of the band’s albums, including 1999’s Stupid Dream, 2002’s In Absentia and 2007’s acclaimed Fear Of A Blank Planet. Following PT’s hiatus Barbieri has pursued a solo career, releasing albums that include 2005’s Things Buried, 2008’s Stranger Inside and 2017’s Planets + Persona, as well as his recent EP series, Variant.1-5.
Barbieri's willingness to constantly redefine his own musical boundaries are never more evident than on the brilliant, hypnotic Under A Spell – the latest milestone on this utterly unique journey.
Under A Spell tracklisting 1. Under A Spell [07:19] 2. Clockwork [02:33] 3. Flare 2 [08:51] 4. A Star Light [03:50] 5. Serpentine [06:22] 6. Sleep Will Find You [02:51] 7. Sketch 6 [06:30] 8. Darkness Will Find You [04:58] 9. Lucid [06:14]
Under A Spell will be released on Kscope on 26th February, on CD, gatefold double black vinyl LP, limited edition gatefold double red vinyl LP (exclusive to the Kscope store) and digitally with pre-orders available HEREhttps://RichardBarbieri.lnk.to/UnderASpell
The man whose illustrious career began in the late 70s with synth-pop visionaries Japan and more recently as a member of influential art-rock band Porcupine Tree follows up 2017's Planets + Persona with new album Under A Spell.
Richard Barbieri didn’t plan to make an album like Under A Spell, originally intended his fourth solo album to be a direct follow from its predecessor, 2017’s Planets + Persona.
That record, made in different studios across Europe and heavily incorporating live performances from a range of musicians, was adventurous and bold, showcasing Barbieri’s endlessly inventive song writing and mastery of electronic music. The follow-up would pick up where it left off, journeying further into the expansive terrain he mapped out on the previous record. And then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and everything changed. “I wrote and recorded it in my studio at home, with all this strangeness going on outside,” says Barbieri of Under A Spell. “It became something completely different: this weird, self-contained dream-state album.”
On Under A Spell, Barbieri was intent on capturing the atmospheres and moods that his disconnected brain was conjuring rather than slaving over arrangements and melodies. Songs such as ‘Flare’, ‘Serpentine’, ‘Sleep Will Find You’ and its companion piece-of-sorts ‘Darkness Will Find You’ are sharply defined despite their dream-inspired genesis. He points to the evocative opening and closing tracks, ‘Under A Spell’ and ‘Lucid’, as the keys that unlock the album. “Those two tracks have the whole meaning within them,” he says. “The first song, ‘Under A Spell’, is leading you down a path, moving into places where you’re not sure what’s going on. There are whispers in the background, spells being cast in a deserted wood. Then the final track, ‘Lucid’, is the opposite. You’re in this comforting lucid dream, but then you're drifting further away from it, trying to come out of it. There are voices saying: ‘Wake up, wake up, come back alive...’”
Listeners will be able to make out those voices but there are no vocals, these voices, collaborators, include Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth and Swedish singer Lisen Rylander Love (who co-wrote ‘A Star Light’).
The album’s title perfectly encapsulates the haunting, evocative world Barbieri has created. Songs such as the skittering, billowing ‘Clockwork’ and ‘Sketch 6’s dub-inspired soundscape hang suspended in that strange half-world between sleep and waking – a subconscious reflection of the surreal state the planet has found itself in over recent months. “I was having a lot of bizarre, recurring dreams that were hanging around after I woke up,” says Barbieri. “They were based around this woodland pathway, which is really summed up by the album cover – this surreal, deserted, Blair Witch Project type of environment. You’re going through these woods, heading towards this light, almost like you’re leaving life. That’s where the title Under A Spell came from – it was a feeling of not being totally in control. Almost as if your dreams are pointing you in directions that sometimes you can control and sometimes you can’t.”
As ex-founder of Japan, the new-wave pioneers and one of the most ground-breaking bands of their era, Richard Barbieri helped spark the electronic music revolution that followed, his synthesiser sound not only defined the band but influenced the likes of The Human League, Duran Duran, Gary Numan and Talk Talk. Following Japan’s split, Barbieri joined Steven Wilson to form the legendary progressive outfit Porcupine Tree, that saw him play on nine of the band’s albums, including 1999’s Stupid Dream, 2002’s In Absentia and 2007’s acclaimed Fear Of A Blank Planet. Following PT’s hiatus Barbieri has pursued a solo career, releasing albums that include 2005’s Things Buried, 2008’s Stranger Inside and 2017’s Planets + Persona, as well as his recent EP series, Variant.1-5.
Barbieri's willingness to constantly redefine his own musical boundaries are never more evident than on the brilliant, hypnotic Under A Spell – the latest milestone on this utterly unique journey.
Under A Spell tracklisting 1. Under A Spell [07:19] 2. Clockwork [02:33] 3. Flare 2 [08:51] 4. A Star Light [03:50] 5. Serpentine [06:22] 6. Sleep Will Find You [02:51] 7. Sketch 6 [06:30] 8. Darkness Will Find You [04:58] 9. Lucid [06:14]
Under A Spell will be released on Kscope on 26th February, on CD, gatefold double black vinyl LP, limited edition gatefold double red vinyl LP (exclusive to the Kscope store) and digitally with pre-orders available HEREhttps://RichardBarbieri.lnk.to/UnderASpell
• A DELUXE 6 DISC LIMITED EDITION BOXED SET OF THE CLASSIC 1978 FINAL STUDIO ALBUM BY BE BOP DELUXE • NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES • FEATURING AN ADDITIONAL 88 TRACKS DRAWN FROM NEW 5.1 SURROUND SOUND & STEREO MIXES FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK MASTER TAPES, NON-ALBUM SINGLES, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BILL NELSON DEMOS, A BBC RADIO JOHN PEEL SESSION AND THE “SIGHT & SOUND IN CONCERT” PERFORMANCE FOR RADIO IN JANUARY 1978 • ALSO INCLUDES A VISUAL DVD FEATURING BILL NELSON’S HOME MOVIES OF THE DRASTIC PLASTIC SESSIONS AND THE 1978 BBC TV “SIGHT & SOUND IN CONCERT” BROADCAST • INCLUDES A LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH MANY PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS & NEW ESSAY BY BILL NELSON • ALSO INCLUDES POSTCARDS AND A REPLICA POSTER
Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce the release of a new re-mastered six-disc deluxe expanded boxed set limited edition (comprising 4 CDs and two NTSTC – Region Free DVDs) of “Drastic Plastic” the classic 1978 album by BE-BOP DELUXE.
“Drastic Plastic” would be the final Be-Bop Deluxe album and was recorded in the summer of 1978 in the South of France at The Villa Saint Georges, Juan-les-Pins, utilising the Rolling Stones mobile studio, with final sessions taking place at The Manor Studio and Abbey Road Studios. The record saw BILL NELSON (vocals, guitars, keyboards), CHARLES TUMAHAI (bass, vocals), ANDY CLARK (keyboards) and SIMON FOX (drums) venture into new musical styles, with the album being ground-breaking in its move to more “art rock” and “new wave” influences. In many ways it can be seen as the signpost to where Bill Nelson would head with his RED NOISE project with a desire to continue to progress as an artist by pushing musical boundaries.
Co-produced by BILL NELSON and JOHN LECKIE, “Drastic Plastic” was another hit album in both the UK and the USA and featured such classic material as “Electrical Language”, “Panic in the World”, “New Mysteries”, “Islands of the Dead” and “Surreal Estate”. The recording sessions produced many more tracks which would appear as singles (such as Japan) and others that were originally planned for release as an EP set (“Autosexual”, ‘Lovers are Mortal”, “Speed of the Wind”, “Quest for the Harvest of the Stars”, “Face in the Rain”), all of which eventually appeared on the retrospective compilation “The Best of & the Rest Of”… later in 1978.
This expanded deluxe reissue has been newly re-mastered from the original master tapes and features an additional 88 tracks, (43 of which are previously unreleased), drawn from stunning new 5.1 surround sound & stereo mixes from the original multi-track tapes by award winning engineer Stephen W. Tayler, previously unreleased out-takes from the album sessions, a BBC Radio John Peel Show session from January 1978, along with a CD of Bill Nelson’s previously unreleased demos for the album, “A Feeling of Playing”.
Also included is an additional DVD featuring Be-Bop Deluxe in the South of France, (a collection of Bill Nelson’s 8mm home movies shot whilst recording “Drastic Plastic”) and the band’s Sight & Sound In Concert performance for BBC TV from 1978.
Another highlight of this limited-edition boxed set is the lavishly illustrated 68-page book with many previously unseen photographs and an essay of recollections by Bill Nelson. Additionally, the set includes postcards and a replica poster. This special deluxe limited-edition boxed set of “Drastic Plastic” is a fitting tribute to the creative vision of Bill Nelson and the musicianship of Be-Bop Deluxe.
Track List:
DISC ONE: DRASTIC PLASTIC THE ORIGINAL STEREO MIX REMASTERED
1. ELECTRICAL LANGUAGE 2. NEW PRECISION 3. NEW MYSTERIES 4. SURREAL ESTATE 5. LOVE IN FLAMES 6. PANIC IN THE WORLD 7. DANGEROUS STRANGER 8. SUPERENIGMATIX (LETHAL APPLIANCES FOR THE HOME WITH EVERYTHING) 9. VISIONS OF ENDLESS HOPES 10. POSSESSION 11. ISLANDS OF THE DEAD BONUS TRACKS 12. JAPAN 13. FUTURIST MANIFESTO 14. PANIC IN THE WORLD (SINGLE EDIT) 15. BLUE AS A JEWEL 16. ELECTRICAL LANGUAGE (SINGLE VERSION) 17. LOVE IN FLAMES (SINGLE VERSION) 18. FACE IN THE RAIN (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON CD) 19. ISLANDS OF THE DEAD (TAKE FOUR) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED) 20. THE SAXOPHONIST (JUAN LES PINS VERSION) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
DISC TWO: ADDITIONAL TRACKS & SESSIONS
1. AUTOSEXUAL 2. LOVERS ARE MORTAL 3. BLIMPS 4. SPEED OF THE WIND 5. QUEST OF HARVEST FOR THE STARS
RECORDED AT THE MANOR STUDIO, AUGUST 1977 FOR AN INTENDED EP
6. NEW PRECISION (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 7. SUPERENIGMATIX (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 8. POSSESSION (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 9. DANGEROUS STRANGER (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 10. ISLANDS OF THE DEAD (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 11. PANIC IN THE WORLD (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 12. LOVERS ARE MORTAL (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 13. LOVE IN FLAMES (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 14. BLAZING APOSTLES (BBC IN CONCERT 1978)
BBC RADIO ONE “SIGHT & SOUND IN CONCERT” – 19th JANUARY 1978
15. SUPERENIGMATIX (JOHN PEEL SESSION 1978) 16. POSSESSION (JOHN PEEL SESSION 1978) 17. PANIC IN THE WORLD (JOHN PEEL SESSION 1978) 18. LOVE IN FLAMES (JOHN PEEL SESSION 1978)
BBC RADIO ONE JOHN PEEL SESSION – 30th JANUARY 1978
DISC THREE: DRASTIC PLASTIC THE NEW STEREO MIXES
1. ELECTRICAL LANGUAGE (NEW STEREO MIX) 2. NEW PRECISION (NEW STEREO MIX) 3. NEW MYSTERIES (NEW STEREO MIX) 4. SURREAL ESTATE (NEW STEREO MIX) 5. LOVE IN FLAMES (NEW STEREO MIX) 6. PANIC IN THE WORLD (NEW STEREO MIX) 7. DANGEROUS STRANGER (NEW STEREO MIX) 8. SUPERENIGMATIX (LETHAL APPLIANCES FOR THE HOME WITH EVERYTHING) (NEW STEREO MIX) 9. VISIONS OF ENDLESS HOPES (NEW STEREO MIX) 10. POSSESSION (NEW STEREO MIX) 11. ISLANDS OF THE DEAD (NEW STEREO MIX)
SINGLES AND EP TRACKS 12. JAPAN (NEW STEREO MIX) 13. FUTURIST MANIFESTO (NEW STEREO MIX) 14. BLUE AS A JEWEL (NEW STEREO MIX) 15. AUTOSEXUAL (NEW STEREO MIX) 16. FACE IN THE RAIN (NEW STEREO MIX) 17. LOVERS ARE MORTAL (NEW STEREO MIX) 18. SPEED OF THE WIND (NEW STEREO MIX) 19. QUEST FOR THE HARVEST OF THE STARS (NEW STEREO MIX)
• A DELUXE 6 DISC LIMITED EDITION BOXED SET OF THE CLASSIC 1978 FINAL STUDIO ALBUM BY BE BOP DELUXE • NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES • FEATURING AN ADDITIONAL 88 TRACKS DRAWN FROM NEW 5.1 SURROUND SOUND & STEREO MIXES FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK MASTER TAPES, NON-ALBUM SINGLES, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BILL NELSON DEMOS, A BBC RADIO JOHN PEEL SESSION AND THE “SIGHT & SOUND IN CONCERT” PERFORMANCE FOR RADIO IN JANUARY 1978 • ALSO INCLUDES A VISUAL DVD FEATURING BILL NELSON’S HOME MOVIES OF THE DRASTIC PLASTIC SESSIONS AND THE 1978 BBC TV “SIGHT & SOUND IN CONCERT” BROADCAST • INCLUDES A LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH MANY PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS & NEW ESSAY BY BILL NELSON • ALSO INCLUDES POSTCARDS AND A REPLICA POSTER
Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce the release of a new re-mastered six-disc deluxe expanded boxed set limited edition (comprising 4 CDs and two NTSTC – Region Free DVDs) of “Drastic Plastic” the classic 1978 album by BE-BOP DELUXE.
“Drastic Plastic” would be the final Be-Bop Deluxe album and was recorded in the summer of 1978 in the South of France at The Villa Saint Georges, Juan-les-Pins, utilising the Rolling Stones mobile studio, with final sessions taking place at The Manor Studio and Abbey Road Studios. The record saw BILL NELSON (vocals, guitars, keyboards), CHARLES TUMAHAI (bass, vocals), ANDY CLARK (keyboards) and SIMON FOX (drums) venture into new musical styles, with the album being ground-breaking in its move to more “art rock” and “new wave” influences. In many ways it can be seen as the signpost to where Bill Nelson would head with his RED NOISE project with a desire to continue to progress as an artist by pushing musical boundaries.
Co-produced by BILL NELSON and JOHN LECKIE, “Drastic Plastic” was another hit album in both the UK and the USA and featured such classic material as “Electrical Language”, “Panic in the World”, “New Mysteries”, “Islands of the Dead” and “Surreal Estate”. The recording sessions produced many more tracks which would appear as singles (such as Japan) and others that were originally planned for release as an EP set (“Autosexual”, ‘Lovers are Mortal”, “Speed of the Wind”, “Quest for the Harvest of the Stars”, “Face in the Rain”), all of which eventually appeared on the retrospective compilation “The Best of & the Rest Of”… later in 1978.
This expanded deluxe reissue has been newly re-mastered from the original master tapes and features an additional 88 tracks, (43 of which are previously unreleased), drawn from stunning new 5.1 surround sound & stereo mixes from the original multi-track tapes by award winning engineer Stephen W. Tayler, previously unreleased out-takes from the album sessions, a BBC Radio John Peel Show session from January 1978, along with a CD of Bill Nelson’s previously unreleased demos for the album, “A Feeling of Playing”.
Also included is an additional DVD featuring Be-Bop Deluxe in the South of France, (a collection of Bill Nelson’s 8mm home movies shot whilst recording “Drastic Plastic”) and the band’s Sight & Sound In Concert performance for BBC TV from 1978.
Another highlight of this limited-edition boxed set is the lavishly illustrated 68-page book with many previously unseen photographs and an essay of recollections by Bill Nelson. Additionally, the set includes postcards and a replica poster. This special deluxe limited-edition boxed set of “Drastic Plastic” is a fitting tribute to the creative vision of Bill Nelson and the musicianship of Be-Bop Deluxe.
Track List:
DISC ONE: DRASTIC PLASTIC THE ORIGINAL STEREO MIX REMASTERED
1. ELECTRICAL LANGUAGE 2. NEW PRECISION 3. NEW MYSTERIES 4. SURREAL ESTATE 5. LOVE IN FLAMES 6. PANIC IN THE WORLD 7. DANGEROUS STRANGER 8. SUPERENIGMATIX (LETHAL APPLIANCES FOR THE HOME WITH EVERYTHING) 9. VISIONS OF ENDLESS HOPES 10. POSSESSION 11. ISLANDS OF THE DEAD BONUS TRACKS 12. JAPAN 13. FUTURIST MANIFESTO 14. PANIC IN THE WORLD (SINGLE EDIT) 15. BLUE AS A JEWEL 16. ELECTRICAL LANGUAGE (SINGLE VERSION) 17. LOVE IN FLAMES (SINGLE VERSION) 18. FACE IN THE RAIN (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON CD) 19. ISLANDS OF THE DEAD (TAKE FOUR) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED) 20. THE SAXOPHONIST (JUAN LES PINS VERSION) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
DISC TWO: ADDITIONAL TRACKS & SESSIONS
1. AUTOSEXUAL 2. LOVERS ARE MORTAL 3. BLIMPS 4. SPEED OF THE WIND 5. QUEST OF HARVEST FOR THE STARS
RECORDED AT THE MANOR STUDIO, AUGUST 1977 FOR AN INTENDED EP
6. NEW PRECISION (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 7. SUPERENIGMATIX (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 8. POSSESSION (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 9. DANGEROUS STRANGER (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 10. ISLANDS OF THE DEAD (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 11. PANIC IN THE WORLD (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 12. LOVERS ARE MORTAL (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 13. LOVE IN FLAMES (BBC IN CONCERT 1978) 14. BLAZING APOSTLES (BBC IN CONCERT 1978)
BBC RADIO ONE “SIGHT & SOUND IN CONCERT” – 19th JANUARY 1978
15. SUPERENIGMATIX (JOHN PEEL SESSION 1978) 16. POSSESSION (JOHN PEEL SESSION 1978) 17. PANIC IN THE WORLD (JOHN PEEL SESSION 1978) 18. LOVE IN FLAMES (JOHN PEEL SESSION 1978)
BBC RADIO ONE JOHN PEEL SESSION – 30th JANUARY 1978
DISC THREE: DRASTIC PLASTIC THE NEW STEREO MIXES
1. ELECTRICAL LANGUAGE (NEW STEREO MIX) 2. NEW PRECISION (NEW STEREO MIX) 3. NEW MYSTERIES (NEW STEREO MIX) 4. SURREAL ESTATE (NEW STEREO MIX) 5. LOVE IN FLAMES (NEW STEREO MIX) 6. PANIC IN THE WORLD (NEW STEREO MIX) 7. DANGEROUS STRANGER (NEW STEREO MIX) 8. SUPERENIGMATIX (LETHAL APPLIANCES FOR THE HOME WITH EVERYTHING) (NEW STEREO MIX) 9. VISIONS OF ENDLESS HOPES (NEW STEREO MIX) 10. POSSESSION (NEW STEREO MIX) 11. ISLANDS OF THE DEAD (NEW STEREO MIX)
SINGLES AND EP TRACKS 12. JAPAN (NEW STEREO MIX) 13. FUTURIST MANIFESTO (NEW STEREO MIX) 14. BLUE AS A JEWEL (NEW STEREO MIX) 15. AUTOSEXUAL (NEW STEREO MIX) 16. FACE IN THE RAIN (NEW STEREO MIX) 17. LOVERS ARE MORTAL (NEW STEREO MIX) 18. SPEED OF THE WIND (NEW STEREO MIX) 19. QUEST FOR THE HARVEST OF THE STARS (NEW STEREO MIX)
VA - Art Rock/Contemporary Jazz artist Potter's Daughter to release EP “Casually Containing Rage” on September 15, 2020! The EP will be released by MRR and available both digitally, and as a CD.
Potter's Daughter released their debut album, “The Blind Side,” in August 2018. In 2019 they released two singles; “Blood and Water,” featuring Annie Haslam (Renaissance) as guest artist, and the holiday single, “This Winter’s Child,” which was composed for the “MRR Holiday” album.
In March 2020 they went on tour with MRR labelmate Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius and Dark Beauty. They were also invited to participate in several online festivals, including The Uncancelled Music Festival (April), The WorldWide Prog and Rock Virtual Festival (May), and most recently, the prestigious ProgStock Festival. (August).
“Casually Containing Rage” features three songs:
1. To My Love - a completely new arrangement of their song from their debut album, The Blind Side 2. Accidentally Like A Martyr- a beautiful rendition of Warren Zevon’s song from his album, Excitable Boy 3. We Could Be - a powerful and moving song dealing with racial injustice, featuring NPR radio broadcasts about George Floyd and Ahmaud Abery.
Filmmaker Serena Künzler has created a striking video for the song “We Could Be,” which was premiered during Potter’s Daughter’s set at ProgStock 8/29/2020.
1. To My Love (DPV, JCV) Dyanne Potter Voegtlin-vocals Amit Chatterjee-guitar Jan-Christian Vögtlin-bass Patrick Carmichael-drums Tom Borthwick-soundscaping
2. Accidentally Like A Martyr (Warren Zevon) Dyanne Potter Voegtlin-piano, vocal Jan-Christian Vögtlin-bass, guitar, drum programming
3. We Could Be (DPV, JCV) Dyanne Potter Voegtlin-keyboards, vocals Jan-Christian Vögtlin-bass, drum programming, guitar synth NPR David Greene-radio broadcast
1. Produced by DPV, co-produced by Amitava Chatterjee and Joseph Wiggy Wegleski 2. Produced by JCV 3. Produced by DPV, co-produced by JCV and Joseph Wiggy Wegleski Mastered by Tom Borthwick
1.3. Recorded at SI Studio, Engineered by Joseph Wiggy Wegleski 2. Recorded, mixed at JCV Sound design
VA - Art Rock/Contemporary Jazz artist Potter's Daughter to release EP “Casually Containing Rage” on September 15, 2020! The EP will be released by MRR and available both digitally, and as a CD.
Potter's Daughter released their debut album, “The Blind Side,” in August 2018. In 2019 they released two singles; “Blood and Water,” featuring Annie Haslam (Renaissance) as guest artist, and the holiday single, “This Winter’s Child,” which was composed for the “MRR Holiday” album.
In March 2020 they went on tour with MRR labelmate Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius and Dark Beauty. They were also invited to participate in several online festivals, including The Uncancelled Music Festival (April), The WorldWide Prog and Rock Virtual Festival (May), and most recently, the prestigious ProgStock Festival. (August).
“Casually Containing Rage” features three songs:
1. To My Love - a completely new arrangement of their song from their debut album, The Blind Side
2. Accidentally Like A Martyr- a beautiful rendition of Warren Zevon’s song from his album, Excitable Boy
3. We Could Be - a powerful and moving song dealing with racial injustice, featuring NPR radio broadcasts about George Floyd and Ahmaud Abery.
Filmmaker Serena Künzler has created a striking video for the song “We Could Be,” which was premiered during Potter’s Daughter’s set at ProgStock 8/29/2020.
Gazpacho, The Kings of Atmospheric and Affective Rock, Return With New Album Fireworker Due For Release on Kscope on September 18th
For nearly twenty years, Gazpacho have reigned as the kings of atmospheric and affective art rock. That’s certainly no small feat, as the subgenre is full of wonderfully moody, ornate, and emotional artists; yet, none of them manage to achieve the same level of exquisite baroque resonance and hypnotically introspective weight as the Norwegian sextet. As a result, they never fail to provide awe-inspiring examinations of the human condition, and their latest observation, Fireworker, is no exception. It is undoubtedly among their greatest achievements, as well as one of the most profound pieces of music you’ll hear in 2020.
Conceptually, the album follows the band’s tradition of blending grand philosophical quandaries, stimulating literary leanings, and haunting personal turmoil. In a way, it acts as the culmination of the themes and techniques that’ve decorated earlier collections, combining the fatalistic isolation of Night and Missa Atropos; the ill-fated narrative drama of Tick Tock and Soyuz; and the hefty theological/scientific contemplations of Demon and Molok. Beyond that, its central premise (that humanity has always been controlled by an infallible and omniscient creature determined to propagate at any cost) means that Fireworker comes across like the overarching umbrella under which all of its predecessors occur.
Keyboardist Thomas Andersen elucidates: “There’s an instinctual part of you that lives inside your mind, separate from your consciousness. I call it the ‘Fireworker’ or the ‘Lizard’ or the ‘Space Cowboy.’ It’s an eternal and unbroken lifeforce that’s survived every generation, with a new version in each of us. It’s evolved alongside our consciousness, and it can override us and control all of our actions.” In order to get us to do what it wants, he clarifies, the “Fireworker” will silence the parts of our mind that feel disgust or remorse so that we’re unable to stop it. The conscious part of our mind, Andersen notes, will actually “rationalize and legitimize” those thoughts and actions so that we never discover the beast behind-the-scenes. No matter how we feel about ourselves in terms of identity, accomplishments, and value, we’re all just vessels—or “Sapiens”—that the creature uses until it no longer needs us. “If you play along,” Andersen explains, “It’ll reward you like a puppy and let you feel fantastic; if you don’t, it’ll punish you severely.”
Like Night, Fireworker is a single “trip” broken into five chapters but meant to be appreciated all at once. This time, however, Gazpacho’s recurring protagonist is investigating the labyrinthian hive of his own psyche to engage in a Bergman-esque confrontation with the “Fireworker.” This journey is even represented by the Wimmelbilder cover, which, as usual, was designed by collaborator Antonio Seijas and depicts “the billions of neurons that create the cave of the mind”.
Fireworker declares its mesmeric dominance right away via “Space Cowboy,” a side-long suite whose ominous lyricism (“The parasite / That lives in me / Murders words / From where I stop / And it breathes in / We’re biting our tail / The cycle begins”) is but one of many reasons why it’s among Gazpacho’s greatest compositions. From its heartbreakingly delicate first movement and chaotic centerpiece, to its mournfully symphonic penultimate phase and thunderous outro, it is a masterpiece onto itself, cementing how vivacious, evocative, and imaginative Gazpacho remain after all these years.
From there, the sequence remains just as seductively eccentric and beautiful. In particular, “Hourglass” is a gorgeous piano ballad that evokes March of Ghosts in its fusion of welcoming melodies and gentle orchestral flourishes. That then make way for the feisty layers and catchy hooks of the band’s first single and title track “Fireworker.” Fittingly, “Antique” takes over with angelic mystery and the album closer “Sapien,” echoes the dynamic range and epic scope of “Space Cowboy,” resulting in an awe-inspiring finale that envelops you in luscious arrangements and poignant existential realizations.
Naturally, Gazpacho’s career has been full of great performances and glowing praise. Outside of issuing three superb live LPs (2010’s A Night at the Loreley, 2011’s London, and 2015’s Night of the Demon), they’ve played festivals such as Be Prog! My Friend, Night of the Prog, Midsummer Prog Festival, and Cruise to the Edge, where they delighted audiences alongside exceptional brethren like iamthemorning, Anathema, Pain of Salvation, Caligula’s Horse, Riverside, The Neal Morse Band, and Steve Hackett. Unsurprisingly, their records have been met with similarly enthusiastic reception; for instance, their previous statement, 2018’s Soyuz, earned superlative accolades from publications such as PROG, Echoes and Dust and Louder than War.
Fireworker is truly life-changing experience, so you would be wise to turn off all of the lights, clear your mind as best you can, and prepare to meet the Fireworker.
Fireworker will be released on Kscope on 18th September, on CD, a gatefold 2LP on 180g black vinyl (3 sides audio, 1 side art etching) and digitally (digital pre-orders receive the title track “Fireworker” as an instant download) and is available to pre-order HERE (https://gazpacho.lnk.to/Fireworker)
GAZPACHO LIVE
Sadly, due to the current covid-19 situation the band’s European and UK dates scheduled for October 2020 have been postponed to October 2021, but as the band didn’t want to disappoint their fans Gazpacho are planning to play Fireworker in its entirety via a livestream, alongside a Q&A about the concept plus will play a few favourites from their repertoire. Details of the streaming event and the rescheduled tour will follow soon
In the meantime, they suggest, you should internalize the record as much as possible to eventually “research your own ‘Space Cowboy.’” Anderson adds: “It’s an attempt at a safe way of looking at something highly dangerous because the animal does not understand music or poetry. We’re trying to outsmart it by writing around it, as music can go places words can’t and there’s a magic to it all.”
Gazpacho are: Thomas Andersen – keyboards, programming Jan-Henrik Ohme – vocals Jon-Arne Vibo – guitars Mikael Krømer – violin, additional guitars Kristian “Fido” Torp – bass Robert R Johansen – drums
