Pylon Records | NovaFuture Blog

out now: Nitzer Ebb – Basic Pain Procedure [Pylon Records]

Artist:
Nitzer Ebb

Title:
Basic Pain Procedure

Label:
Pylon Records

Cat#:
Pylon 30

Release Date:
December 2012 (vinyl)
June 2013 (CD, cassette)

Format:
Vinyl, CD & cassette+USB

Tracklist Vinyl:
A1)
Faded Smiles

A2)
Tradition

A3)
The Home

A4)
Star

B1)
The Passage

B2)
The Book

B3)
Crane

B4)
Trust Ran In Colours

Tracklist CD:
01)
Faded Smiles

02)
Tradition

03)
The Home

04)
Star

05)
The Passage

06)
The Book

07)
Crane

08)
Trust Ran In Colours

09)
Tradition
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

10)
The Home
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

11)
Star
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

12)
The Book
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

13)
Crane
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

14)
Violent Playground
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

15)
Whiter Shade Of Pale
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

16)
Smear Body
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

Tracklist Cassette+USB:
CassetteA1)
Faded Smiles

CassetteA2)
Tradition

CassetteA3)
The Home

CassetteA4)
Star

CassetteA5)
The Passage

CassetteA6)
The Book

CassetteA7)
Crane

CassetteA8)
Trust Ran In Colours

CassetteB1)
Tradition
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

CassetteB1)
The Home
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

CassetteB1)
Star
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

CassetteB1)
The Book
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

CassetteB1)
Crane
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

CassetteB1)
Violent Playground
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

CassetteB1)
Whiter Shade Of Pale
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

CassetteB1)
Smear Body
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB01)
Faded Smiles

USB02)
Tradition

USB03)
The Home

USB04)
Star

USB05)
The Passage

USB06)
The Book

USB07)
Crane

USB08)
Trust Ran In Colours

USB09)
Tradition
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB10)
The Home
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB11)
Star
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB12)
The Book
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB13)
Crane
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB14)
Violent Playground
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB15)
A Whiter Shade Of Pale
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB16)
Smear Body
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB17)
Smear Body
(Live at CIHE, December 9, 1983)

USB18)
a previously unreleased live concert from the same era

Info Vinyl:
Available Now for the first time ever is Nitzer Ebb’s Basic Pain Procedure on vinyl, which many fans consider, the holy grail of their catalogue. This release which comprises some of their earliest material ever, was a cassette-only release that was primarily a tool to attract attention from record labels but was also available for purchase at the time. It was recorded in the Essex countryside in 1983, a year after the band played their first ever show at the Chelmsford YMCA, and was virtually the extent of their then live set. After this initial recording a slew of new songs were written that eventually went on to form the debut album, That Total Age, and, with the exception of Home which was reworked into KIA for the Belief album, the Basic Pain Procedure tracks were replaced never to be heard again. Here they are re-mastered and pressed on very special half white and half red split colored vinyl.

The release also contains a double sided insert with the alternate black & white cassette cover and rare photos and flyers from that era.

Only 600 copies are pressed in total with 200 of them on Red/White color split and the rest on black vinyl.

Info CD:
This recording comprises some of the earliest Nitzer Ebb material ever, Basic Pain Procedure was a cassette-only release, until 2012 when Pylon Records released it on vinyl. This recording was primarily a tool to attract attention from record labels, but was also available for purchase at the time. It was recorded in Essex countryside in 1983, a year after the band played their first ever show at the Chelmsford, YMCA and was virtually the extent of their then live set.

The live recording from December 9, 1983 at the Chelmer Institute of Higher Education. What is featured here are two live songs which have not been released before, A Whiter Shade of Pale, and Smear Body.

Info Cassette+USB:
This limited edition cassette will contain everything that is on the CD release plus a 4 Gig, Credit Card styled USB, which is housed in the cassette tape. This USB will contain everything on the CD, plus a previously unreleased live concert from the same era. The USB will also contain a continuous high resolution 24 bit/96 Khz audio transfer from the original master reel with no processing and no track identification. This can be played on high resolution DVD players or digital work stations, for optimum detail in the sound recording. The USB will also contain high resolution photos and posters of the band and the original contract for their December 9, 1983 gig, quiet interesting!

You will also want to keep this USB for future downloads of Videos and concerts from the Pylon website , which will be from that era. This USB will be your Nitzer Ebb Produkt 1983.

Listen:
Studio Tracks

Live Tracks

Contest:
click here for the contest run by NovaFuture Blog and Pylon Records

Recommendation:
Motor Single “The Knife” with Douglas McCarthy
Solo album by Douglas McCarthy

Buy CD:
Pylon Records
PopOnaut
emmo.biz
WOM
Amazon GER
Amazon US
StormingTheBase
Black Rain Store
more soon

Buy Vinyl:
Pylon Records
emmo.biz
PopOnaut
WOM
Amazon GER
Amazon UK
Amazon FR
HHV
Black Rain Store
more soon

Buy Cassette+USB:
Pylon Records
emmo.biz
more soon

Websites:
Nitzer Ebb
Pylon Records

out now: Visage – Hearts And Knives [Blitz Club | Pylon Records]

Artist:
Visage

Title:
Hearts & Knives

Label:
Blitz Club | Pylon Records

Cat#:
BZCR012 | Pylon33

Release Date:
June 2013

Format:
CD, vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
Never Enough

02.
Shameless Fashion

03.
She’s Electric (Coming Around)

04.
Hidden Sign

05.
On We Go

06.
Dreamer I Know

07.
Lost In Static

08.
I Am Watching

09.
Diaries Of A Madman

10.
Breathe Life

PressInfo:
Founding fathers of the New Romantics and pioneers of the 80s sound Visage, return with a new album ‘Hearts And Knives’. “It has been 29 years since the last Visage album and during that period it often seems like we have all lived through several lifetimes” comments Steve Strange, the bands creative force and flamboyant leader singer. Visage began in 1978 when Steve Strange and Blitz Club partner-in-crime Rusty Egan joined forces with Midge Ure to create a futuristic, synthesizer-led group where style and fashion were matched by experimental but accessible music. The group was soon augmented with members of Magazine (John McGeoch, Dave Formula and Barry Adamson) and Billy Currie. They recorded their first single Tar with Martin Rushent at his Genetic Studio in 1979 (shortly to become the birthplace of the Human League Dare album).

Their breakthrough track “Fade To Grey” became a European hit and reached number 1 in eight countries in 1980. The band then enjoyed a series of hit singles “Mind Of A Toy”, “Night Train” and “The Anvil” coming from a pair genre defying albums, the eponymous “Visage” in 1980 and “The Anvil” in 1982. In 1981 Ultravox now led by Midge Ure took off and in 1982 Midge and Billy left to concentrate on what would become one of the biggest bands of the 80’s. In 1984 Visage made their 3rd album “Beatboy”. As the public face of the band Steve Strange shot to stardom throughout Europe he continued to be active in hosting club nights (The Camden Palace, Club For Heroes) and in the fashion world.

In 2010 Steve reconnected with Steve Barnacle and began writing songs once more. Some time later ex-Ultravox guitarist Robin Simon joined the equation, bringing not only a large slice of shared musical DNA (that “Visage sound”) to the project, but also his own distinctive style and ethereal musicianship. Vocalist Lauren Duvall was invited into the fold, adding not only her sultry vocal ability but a slice of the classic Visage glamour too. With the core members in place the picture slowly started forming and the band reached out (once again) to Martin Rushent. He suggested the blueprint for the album and had began working on the first tracks before his untimely death in 2010. The “Hearts And Knives” album is dedicated to Martin.

The album features collaborations and contributions from Dave Formula (former Visage and Magazine keyboard player) , Mick MacNeil (the former keyboard player and creative musical core of Simple Minds), 80s super producer Youth, Rich Mowatt and Logan Sky. The sound of Hearts and Knives is “classic Visage” but with modern songs and style. There is the odd tip of the hat to modern production values but the sound is 1980-1982 Visage. It’s Vintage keyboards and synthesizers all the way. There’s not software synths on this record! The production by John Bryan and analogue synthesizer collector Sare Havlicek is firmly rooted in the 80’s. Many tracks of the tracks are instantly recognizable as Visage (Moogs and the obligatory CR78 drum sound feature on several).

Visage (French for “Face”) has always been one part music to one part style & fashion. In 1980 the explosive combination of then futurist synthesizer music, fashion, make up & gender ambiguity set the blue print for the New Romantic movement and eventually the style template of the 1980’s. Visage was one of the bands to evolve out of the famous night club the Blitz Club, created and hosted by Steve Strange and Rusty Egan. Other bands included the infamous Spandau Ballet and Culture Club.

Innovative style, clothing and make-up continue to be central to brand “Steve Strange”. In a series of style looks for the album he has collaborated with designers Haus of Gaga, Sorapol, Mark Fowler and long time collaborator milliner Stephen Jones OBE. The first album cover in 1980 was shot by veteran music photographer Peter Ashworth in the Blitz Club. Peter returns to shoot the cover of the fourth album. The shot references the famous “Fade To Grey” white face & water motif now displayed on a mask created by Lara Himpelmann. The current day Steve Strange bursts through the mask in a blaze of sliver & red.

“Hearts and Knives” may have been a long time in coming but it is a purposeful statement of just where Steve Strange and Visage are at present. The past has been full of highs and lows but musically & creatively they are at a point where they can confidently present an album containing all the strands of their unique mix of music, fashion and style.

Snippets: