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)

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

 

[Book]: Burmeister & Lange – Depeche Mode Monument [Blumenbar]

 

Authors:
Dennis Burmeister & Sascha Lange

 

Title:
Monument

 

Publisher:
Blumenbar

 

ISBN#:
978-3351050030

 

Release Date:
20th May 2013

 

Format:
424 page, 30,6 x 25,8 x 3 cm, German

 

Content:
01)
Vorwort

02)
Basildon

03)
“Speak And Spell”

04)
“A Broken Frame”

05)
“Construction Time Again”

06)
“Some Great Reward”

07)
“The Singles 81–85”

08)
Interview mit Götz Alsmann (Künstler)

09)
“Black Celebration”

10)
Interview mit Hans Derer (Intercord)


11)
“Music For The Masses”

12)
Interview mit Harald Bullerjahn (Manager)

13)
“Violator”

14)
Interview mit Erik Van Kassen (Intercord)

15)
“Songs Of Faith And Devotion”

16)
“Ultra”

17)
“Exciter”

18)
“Playing The Angel”

19)
“Sounds Of The Universe”

20)
Interview mit Anne Haffmans (Mute)

21)
“Delta Machine”

22)
Fankultur In Ost Und West

23)
Behind The Wall (Depeche Mode in der DDR)

24)
Interview mit Olaf Zimmermann

25)
Infoservice & Bong-Magazin

26)
Swiss Fanclub & B.M.A.

27)
Interview mit Andrea Krumbein (Fanclub)

28)
Interview mit Kay Schwarzbach (Bootlegger)

29)
Bootlegs

30)
Fankultur 1990 Bis Heute

31)
Interview mit Elvis Rashidi (Veranstalter)

32)
Interview mit Sven Plaggemeier (Webmaster von depechemode.de)

33)
Anhang

34)
Sämtliche Tourdaten

35)
Quellenverzeichnis

36)
Danksagung

 

Info (German only):
Seit mehr als 33 Jahren begeistern Depeche Mode Millionen von Menschen und haben doch nie Musik für die Massen gemacht. Der kaugummisüße Synthie-Pop von Speak & Spell, das metallisch scheppernde Some Great Reward-Album, das unglaubliche Music For The Masses, der weltweite Riesenhit Violator, das digital-minimalistische Exciter oder aktuell Delta Machine – Depeche Mode sind nie irgendwelchen Charttrends hinterhergelaufen, haben sich nicht durch Kritiker von ihrem Weg abbringen lassen. Und gerade deshalb hatten und haben sie umso mehr Erfolg bei ihrer riesigen Fangemeinde. Man kann es also kaum anders sagen: Depeche Mode sind ein Phänomen.
Mute-Labelmanagerin Anne Haffmanns wusste von Dennis Burmeisters Sammlung. Seit fast 25 Jahren trägt er Promo-Material, Tonträger, Merchandise, Zeitungsartikel, Tour-Poster, alte Eintrittskarten und sogar goldene Schallplatten aus aller Welt zusammen. Zu seiner umfangreichen Sammlung zählen auch Raritäten wie das erste Demo-Tape von 1980, mit welchem sich Depeche Mode damals noch erfolglos bei Plattenfirmen beworben hatten. Anne Haffmans empfahl Dennis, doch irgendwann ein Buch darüber herauszubringen. Aber wo sollte man bei den unzähligen Sammlerstücken anfangen?
Der Zufall wollte es, dass wir uns 2008 ausgerechnet im Büro von Mute Records in Berlin zum ersten Mal begegneten. Dennis als Grafik-Designer und Sammler, ich, Sascha, als Buchautor und Historiker für Jugendkultur. Aber vor allem waren wir zwei langjährige Depeche-Mode-Fans. Aufgewachsen in den Achtzigern, Dennis im mecklenburgischen Malchin, ich in Leipzig. Schnell kamen wir ins Gespräch, und plötzlich schien die Buch-Idee nicht mehr unmöglich.
Fünf Jahre später liegt Depeche Mode: MONUMENT vor. Ziel war es, eine umfassende Werkschau der Band zu erstellen. Dieses Buch bietet erstmals die Möglichkeit, die 33? Jahre Musikgeschichte und eine bis ins Detail ausgefeilte Einheit von Musik und Gestaltung nachzuvollziehen.
Die Geschichte von Depeche Mode ist auch immer die von ihrer sehr aktiven Fancommunity, die den Style und das Artwork der Band aufnehmen und weitertragen. Deshalb ist hier erstmalig umfassend die Geschichte der Fankultur in West und Ost, von Fanclubs, Fanzines, Fanpartys in einem sehr persönlichen Kapitel dokumentiert.
Maßgebend für Depeche Mode: MONUMENT war der Veröffentlichungskatalog von Mute Records in Großbritannien, dem Mutterland von Band und Label, der sich als komplette Diskografie über das gesamte Buch erstreckt. Darüber hinaus haben wir (west-) deutsche Releases, Promo-Singles und ungewöhnliche Veröffentlichungen aus aller Welt abgebildet. Und wir sind sehr stolz, viele unveröffentlichte Fotos u. a. aus den Archiven von Alan Wilder, Daryl Bamonte, Herbert R. Kollisch und Tim Williams zeigen zu dürfen.

Herzlich, Dennis Burmeister und Sascha Lange

Anne Haffmans, Mute-Labelmanagerin “Sascha Lange und Dennis Burmeister sind zwei ausgewiesene Depeche-Mode-Experten und haben mit beeindruckender Akribie eine umfassende Werkschau vorgelegt, an der niemand vorbeikommen wird, der sich für Depeche Mode und das Phänomen ihrer Fans interessiert.”

Andy Fletcher, Depeche Mode “Depeche-Mode-Fans wissen mehr über Depeche als ich. Gäbe es ein Quiz mit mir, Martin und Dave gegen drei Fans, würden sie spielend gewinnen.”

100 Millionen verkaufte Platten, ausverkaufte Touren, eine außergewöhnliche Fancommunity. Anhand einer der weltweit größten Depeche-Mode-Sammlungen wird die seit mehr als drei Jahrzehnten andauernde Erfolgsgeschichte greifbar und anschaulich gemacht: Die komplette Diskografie, unveröffentlichte Fotos, seltene Tonträger, ausgefallenes Promomaterial der Plattenfirmen, Interviews sowie detaillierte Beschreibungen der Fanszene in Ost und West. Dies ermöglicht, das Wachsen und Erwachsenwerden der Band von 1980 bis heute noch einmal zu erleben, und eröffnet einen neuen Blick auf die popkulturelle Bedeutung von Depeche Mode.
Mit exklusivem Material von Alan Wilder, Daryl Bamonte und Herbert R. Kollisch (Intercord). Interviews mit Götz Alsmann, Anne Haffmans (Mute), Olaf Zimmermann (radioeins), Sven Plaggemeier (depechemode.de) u.a.

 

Radio-Trailer etc:
“Interview mit Sascha Lange”

“RadioEins Trailer”

 

Other Report etc:
TV report “Stilbruch” by RBB
Interview with Dennis Burmeister at ElectronicBeats
our interview with Dennis Burmeister in English and German

 

Events:
29th May 2013, Presentation @ Babylon, Berlin (Germany)
06th June 2013, Presentation @ Lehmanns Buchhandlung, Leipzig (Germany)
07th June 2013, Presentation @ Buchhandlung Lüders, Hamburg (Germany)

 

Related Release:
English Edition

 

Buy:
PopOnaut
Amazon GER
Amazon UK
Kohlibri
Thalia
WOM
Dussmann
more soon

 

Websites:
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode Monument
Sascha Lange
Blumenbar

 

out now: Maps – Vicissitude [Mute]

 

Artist:
Maps

 

Title:
Vicissitude

 

Label:
Mute

 

Cat#:
STUMM354

 

Release Date:
08th July 2013

 

Format:
CD, vinyl+CD & digital

 

Tracklist Standard Edition:
01)
A.M.A.

02)
Built To last

03)
You Will Find A Way

04)
I Heard Them Say

05)
Nicholas

06)
Vicissitude

07)
Left Behind

08)
This Summer

09)
Isignificant Others

10)
Adjusted To Darkness

 

Tracklist Bonus Edition Artist Shop:
01)
A.M.A.

02)
Built To last

03)
You Will Find A Way

04)
I Heard Them Say

05)
Nicholas

06)
Vicissitude

07)
Left Behind

08)
This Summer

09)
Isignificant Others

10)
Adjusted To Darkness

Bonus01)
I Heard Them Say
(Andy Stott Remix)

Bonus02)
A.M.A
(Remix)

Bonus03)
Built To Last
(Free School Remix)

Bonus04)
A.M.A
(Maps Remix)

Bonus05)
I Heard Them Say
(Maps Remix)

Bonus06)
Built To Last
(Maps Remix)

Bonus07)
As I Can See

Bonus08)
Resurgence

Bonus09)
There Is A Place

Bonus10)
I Heard Them Say
(Andy Stott Remix)

Bonus11)
I Heard Them Say
(Maps Remix)

Bonus12)
A.M.A
(Legowelt Remix)

Bonus13)
A.M.A
(The Invisible Remix)

Bonus14)
A.M.A
(Maps Remix)

Bonus15)
A.M.A
(Original Demo)

Bonus16)
You Will Find A Way
(Original Demo)

Bonus17)
I Heard Them Say
(Original Demo)

Bonus18)
This Summer
(Original Demo)

Bonus01 – Bonus19 plus a package of audio files for remixing are only available via Maps’ own shop.

 

Tracklist Bonus Edition Rough Trade Shop:
CD01-01)
A.M.A.

CD01-02)
Built To last

CD01-03)
You Will Find A Way

CD01-04)
I Heard Them Say

CD01-05)
Nicholas

CD01-06)
Vicissitude

CD01-07)
Left Behind

CD01-08)
This Summer

CD01-09)
Isignificant Others

CD01-10)
Adjusted To Darkness

CD02-01)
I Heard Them Say
(Andy Stott Remix)

CD02-02)
I Heard Them Say
(Maps Remix)

CD02-03)
A.M.A
(Legowelt Remix)

CD02-04)
A.M.A
(The Invisible Remix)

CD02-05)
A.M.A
(Maps Remix)

CD02-06)
A.M.A
(Original Demo)

CD02-07)
You Will Find A Way
(Original Demo)

CD02-08)
I Heard Them Say
(Original Demo)

CD02-09)
This Summer
(Original Demo)

Bonus CD is only available via Rough Trade shop.

 

Info (English):
Vicissitude:
1: variation or mutability in nature or life, esp successive alternation from one condition or thing to another
2: a variation in circumstance, fortune, character, etc

Maps – aka James Chapman – returns with a brand new album, Vicissitude, out on 8 July 2013.

The third album by Maps is all about changes of situation. For James Chapman – the fizzing brain behind the music – Vicissitude owes its very existence to the period of personal reflection and rearrangement that took him out of the game after the release of 2009’s Turning The Mind; a three-year phase between albums that’s clearly pushed Chapman onwards to create by far his finest work to date.

While Turning The Mind swung like a hedonistic after-party held after Maps’ debut We Can Create’s Mercury Prize nomination, Vicissitude has the distinct feeling of digging deep and confronting reality head on. And in each of those cases, with Chapman the sole creative force behind the music, any Maps album is defined entirely by where his head was at during the recording process.

“The whole album is about change;” says Chapman. “It’s about dealing with a struggle – whatever that may be – and ultimately coming through it.”
As with previous releases, the new album was primarily recorded at Maps’ home, and was mixed by Ken Thomas (Sugarcubes, M83, Sigur Ros) and Jolyon Thomas.

Vicissitude focuses, tightens and sharpens Maps’ expansive sound. The album might have been born from a long period of self-contemplation, but maybe you do need a while to get simple answers to the difficult questions.

Time to face the light.

 

Info (Deutsch):
„Vicissitude“ – zu deutsch Wandel, Wechselhaftigkeit, Unbeständigkeit – ist der Titel des neuen, dritten Albums von Maps alias James Chapman, das am 05.07. auf Mute/GoodToGo erscheint.

Schwang im Zweitling “Tuning The Mind” noch der Hedonismus des Mercury Price nominierten Erfolgsdebüt „We Can Create“ nach, vermittelt „Vicissitude“ nun die unmittelbare Konfrontation Chapmans mit der Realität: „Writing and recording coincided with quite a lot of things in my life changing. Although things are good for me now, every song on the record comes from a long period of me having to take stock, to start again almost. I took myself out of everything and had a hard look at what I wanted to do and where I wanted to take Maps.“

Der Produktionsprozess begann für Chapman mit Veränderung seiner eigenen Arbeitsmethoden: Das bedeutete den Rückzug nach Northhamptonshire, den Entstehungsort seines Erfolgsdebüts, wo er sich mit seinen Lieblingsplatten verschanzte, und sich den althergebrachten Methoden des Songschreibens zuwandte: Anstatt sich in den endlosen technischen Möglichkeiten des Studios zu verlieren, griff Chapman zur Akustikgitarre. Mit voller Rückendeckung: „Mute are fantastic; they just let me get on with things. Before I started recording, Daniel Miller said to me, ‘Go away, make the record you want to make, take as long as you need.’ That’s what every musician wants to hear from their record label.”

Die traditionelle Herangehensweise ans Songwriting und die Beschäftigung Chapmans mit den Musikidolen seiner Jugend in den frühen Neunzigern, haben im Sound des Albums zweifellos ihre Spuren hinterlassen: Erforschten die alten Platten vornehmlich die Welten eines verträumten, elektronischen Shoegazings, was „Vicissitude“ durchaus auch tut, fusioniert hier dennoch stärker pulsierende Technologie mit kristalliner, emotionsgeladener Popmusik – und markiert, wenn man so will, Chapmans Einzug in die Ruhmeshallen der Mensch-Maschinen-Mute-Alben.

Den letzten Feinschliff der Platte übernahmen Produzent und Sound Engineer Ken Thomas (Sugarcubes, M83, Sigur Ros), der zuletzt auch an „We Can Create“ mitarbeitete, und sein Sohn Joylon, der schon als Programmierer und Produzent für Bands wie S.C.U.M. und Telepathe aktiv war. Nichtsdestotrotz ist der Sound von „Vicissitude“ – vom federnden „Left Behind“, zur überbordenden Euphorie des Titeltracks, über das erlösende Mantra „When all this ends, we start again“ in „You will find a way“, bis zur verzerrten, sich ausdehnenden Atmosphäre in „Insignificant others“ – unverkennbar das persönliche Werk James Chapmans.

Und so unterschiedlich die Songs auch sind, so gibt es doch ein Gefühl, dass die Essenz des Albums ausmacht: „I´m okay now. I´m moving on.“ Sie entstanden in einer Phase langer innerer Einkehr, doch oft dauert es eben länger, auf komplizierte Fragen klare Antworten zu formulieren.

Time to face the light jedenfalls! „Vicssitude“ ist eine 10-Tracks starke Ode an die Hoffnung.

 

Listen:
“I heard Them Say”

“A.M.A.”

more soon

 

Trailer:

 

Videos:
“A.M.A”

 

Buy CD:
Maps (special edition with bonus)
MuteBank
Amazon GER
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon FR
Amazon ES
Amazon IT
Juno
WOM
Dussmann
Rough Trade (RT special edition)
more soon

 

Buy Vinyl:
Maps (special edition with bonus)
MuteBank
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon FR
Amazon ES
Juno
WOM
Rough Trade (RT special edition)
deejay.de
more soon

 

Buy Digital:
Maps (special edition with bonus)
Amazon
iTunes
Boomkat
more soon

 

Commercial Streaming Services:
Spotify
Rdio
Wimp
more soon

 

Websites:
Maps
Mute
Mute @ Facebook
Mute Germany @ Facebook

 

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:

 

Trailer:

 

Video:
“Dreamer I Know”

 

Contest:
Visage

 

Buy CD:
Visage @ Bandcamp
Visage
Pylon Records
Amazon GER
Amazon UK
StormingTheBase
more soon

 

Buy Vinyl:
Pylon Records
more soon

 

Buy Download:
Visage @ Bandcamp
Visage
Beatport
iTunes
Amazon
JunoDownload
more soon

 

Commercial Streaming Services:
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Deezer
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Websites:
Visage
Blitz Club
Pylon Records

 

out now: Esben And The Witch – Wash The Sins Not Only The Face Remixes EP [Matador Records]

 

Artist:
Esben And The Witch

 

Title:
Wash The Sins Not Only The Face Remixes EP

 

Label:
Matador Records

 

Cat#:
unknown

 

Release Date:
21st May 2013

 

Format:
digital (free download)

 

Tracklist:
01)
When That Head Splits
(Remixed by Maps)

02)
Deathwaltz
(Reworking, Produced by David Andrew Sitek)

03)
The Fall Of Glorieta Mountain
(Remixed by Lumbers)

04)
When That Head Splits
(Remixed by Woodpecker Wooliams)

05)
Despair
(The President Chews A Bind – Klad Hest rRemix)

06)
Smashed To Pieces In The Still Of The Night
(Remixed by Teeth of the Sea)

 

Info:
Online and free to share with your friends today, Esben and the Witch release the Wash The Sins Not Only The Face Remixes EP.

Featuring remixes and reworkings from the likes of Mute’s Maps, Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio), Klad Hest (BEAK>) and more – you can stream the EP on the widget below, which is also free to embed and share.

 

Full Track Streaming:
“When That Head Splits (Remixed by Maps)”

 

Listen & Free Download:
click here to open the widget

 

Websites:
Esben And The Witch
Matador Records