Tuesday, February 27, 2007

CALIFONE - Sometimes Good Weather Follows Bad People (2000) for Rex


"nobody cross-pollinates the blues, folk music and broken electronic instruments like califone... from the carcass of red red meat comes a series of gorgeous and personal hymnals delivered with the electro-rustic vocabulary of one of america's most original bands... "

Genre:
Rock
Style:
Blues Rock, Country Rock, Lo-Fi





















Credits:
Artwork By [Design] - Jeremy Yoder/Bass - Rob Warmowski (tracks: 8) , Tim Hurley (tracks: 3, 7) /Drums - Ben Massarella (tracks: 8, 10) , Tim Hurley (tracks: 3, 14) /Drums [Wire Drum] - Tim Hurley (tracks: 4, 13)/Effects [Space Echo] - Ben Massarella (tracks: 3, 7) /Effects [Turntable] - Califone (tracks: 7)/Electric Piano - Tim Rutili (tracks: 3) /Guitar - Seth Cohen (tracks: 1) , Tim Hurley (tracks: 4, 13) , Tim Rutili (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 to 14) /Guitar [Treated] - Tim Rutili (tracks: 6)/Keyboards - Tim Rutili (tracks: 8) /Mixed By - Brian Deck (tracks: 1 to 3) , Warren Defever (tracks: 7)/Organ - Tim Rutili (tracks: 5, 7, 12, 14) /Organ [Pump] - Tim Hurley (tracks: 10) /Percussion - Ben Massarella (tracks: 1, 3, 5 to 7) , Brian Deck (tracks: 12) , Tim Hurley (tracks: 4, 10, 13) /Percussion [Trash Can] - Ben Massarella (tracks: 4, 13) /Piano - Tim Rutili (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 13)/Programmed By - Brian Deck (tracks: 8, 12) , Tim Hurley (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 14) /Recorded By - Brian Deck (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 8, 11 to 14) , Tim Hurley (tracks: 6, 9, 10) , Warren Defever (tracks: 3, 7) /Shaker - Tim Rutili (tracks: 14) /Songwriter - Tim Rutili (tracks: 1 to 7, 10, 13) /Steel Drums - Brian Deck (tracks: 8) , Tim Rutili (tracks: 2)/ Synthesizer - Tim Hurley (tracks: 2, 3, 6, 7) , Tim Rutili (tracks: 12, 14) /Vocals - Tim Hurley (tracks: 9) , Tim Rutili (tracks: 1 to 5, 7 to 14)


Notes:
#1 to #7 originally appeared on Califone (EP1), released in February 1999 on Perishable Records.#8 to #12 originally appeared on Califone (EP2), released in March 2000 on Road Cone.


Tracklist :

01 On The Steeple (5:03)
02 Silvermine Pictures (2:31)
03 Pastry Sharp (4:30)
04 To Hush A Sick Transmission (2:13)
05 Dime Fangs (2:55)
06 Red Food Old Heat (0:37)
07 Down The Eisenhower Sun Up W/Mule (6:08)
08 Electric Fence (6:34)
09 St. Martha Let It Fold (3:09)
10 Beneath The Yachtsman (4:03)
11 Don't Let Me Die Nervous (3:00)
12 Dock Boggs (4:37)
13 To Hush A Sick Transmission [Unedit] (2:20)
14 When The Snakehandler Slips (4:55)


Links to download :
http://rapidshare.com/files/18389183/califone_-_sometimes_good_weather_follows_bad_people.rar.html




Product Description
In the beginning, it was this: electro-rustic sonic dreams emerging from the fog like a ghost, one hand holding a bag of rusty nails and dirt, another a pack of tarot cards with paintings of car crashes, electric nuns and foaming midget horses.
These are the 12 songs first heard on the self-titled EP released by Perishable/Flydaddy in 1998 and on the other self-titled EP released on Road Cone in 2000. Now that both releases are out of print, it's time to make Califone's early music - plus two bonus tracks - available again. It's uniquely American folk churned up by noisy machines, with damnation and redemption unearthed in equal measure.
Califone's music makes implicit sense even as their cavalcade of circus freaks throw reason out the window. Tim Rutili's sleepy-eyed vocals luxuriously drape stark guitar figures; live and programmed percussion leans into the dreamy haze of an electric piano; layers of loops and subconscious transmissions echo the heady disorientation you feel when you get inside the lyrics. And oh yeah, did I mention how this stuff is completely, instantly engaging? It resolves the grand and the personal without a whit of tension, and in the process delivers a confounding, deep beauty that is ever-necessary. Now is the time, as it always was.


"This was a long-needed release, with a few added tracks. This is Califone in the early stages, easily hinting that RRM was a thing of the past, and the bright future to come."

"This is a compilation of two Califone's EPs, and it has some REALLY good stuff on here, some more psychadelic than their other stuff. The only thing is, this doesn't flow quite like Roomsound, their last album, but it still is good.
A number of songs stand out, such as "On the Steeple...," "Dime Fangs," "Down the Eisenhower...," and "Don't Let Me Die Nervous." But my favorite song definitely has to be "Electric Fence," though I can't truly say why. I just know I need to hear it more often than any other song here.
If you're new to Califone, I would suggest buying Roomsound first, and then, if you decide you like them, get this one."

"The Chicago-based ambient neo-folk band Califone was formed way back in the late 90s by two musicians (Brian Deck and Tim Hurley) and two pasta dishes, Rutili and Massarella, and rose from the ashes of another respected Chicago blues-rock outfit, Red Red Meat. Subsequent to that band's breakup, the four remaining members pulled a Voltron and came back hard, but with a new and innovative musical approach: blending southwestern Americana, blues, and bleak, rugged folk with updated, atmospheric percussion and drum programming. The result was at once unique and compelling. Good Weather Follows Bad People is the condensed, environmentally friendly reissue of Califone's first two critically acclaimed EPs, with the addition of two unreleased bonus tracks.
The first seven tracks are drawn from Califone's self-titled 1998 debut EP for the defunct indie label Flydaddy. Among the highlights are... well, all of them. Yes, each of these seven are damn near golden, including the damp, bass-heavy opener, "On the Steeple with the Shakes," the punchy, rustic folk of "Silvermine Pictures," and the lonely, emotive distance and sparseness of the guitar and piano riffing on "Dime Fangs." Tracks 8-12 are culled from the band's second EP, a 1999 Road Cone effort. The EP was less mood and composition-oriented than the debut, actually employing discernable songwriting elements like hummable choruses and bridges, as on "St. Martha Let It Fold" and the quasi-pop of "Beneath the Yachtsman." Still, though, the same innovative approach remained, solidified by Rutili's restrained and expressive vocal grit.
Being as it is a re-release, the question for fanatics is whether the two bonus tracks are enough to warrant another purchase. The answer for fanatics is no, they're not. One of them is a retread of "To Hush a Sick Transmission," already the least listenable track on the debut EP. The closer is "When the Snakehandler Slips," a dark, aggressive, full-band tune featuring more tempo and fuzzy distortion in everything-- vocals, guitar, and bass. It's a decent track, but by no means indispensable. Newcomers, on the other hand, will find Good Weather to be a perfect starting point.
-Brad Haywood, April 11th, 2002"


Biography :



More info:

JOHN CALE - Caribbean Sunset (1983) for Rex

Genre:
Rock
Style:
New Wave, Art Rock
















Credits :
John Cale: vocals, keyborads, guitar
Brian Eno : A.M.S. pitch changer
Andy Heermans : bass, vocals
Dave Lichtenstein : drums & boobams
Dave Young : guitar, vocals

Other credits:
Producer: John Cale/Executive producer: John Cale/Associate producer: Tome Roberts at Right Track Recording, NYC/Associate engineers: Tim "Thilby" Crich and David Schectesson/Engineer on Magazines: Andy Heermans for Planet Sound/Design: Rob O'Connor/Cover photo: Risé Cale


Tracklist :

01 Hungry For Love
02 Experiment Number 1
03 Model Beirut Recital
04 Caribbean Sunset
05 Praetorian Underground
06 Magazines
07 Where There's A Will
08 The Hunt
09 Villa Albani


Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/18379683/caribbean_sunset__vinyl_320k_.rar.html

"The Weekend at Bernie's cover and '80s instrumentation suggest that Caribbean Sunset is a pop album, but this impulse is undermined at every turn by the messy performances and dreadful, non-existant production. Apparently all of these songs were recorded in one take - on "Experiment Number 1" Cale actually shouts out the chords as the band scrambles with the changes - and the music suffers as a result. Cale's passionate vocals are intense and often erratic, but the songs themselves are so weak that his fervor seems strange and misplaced."

"Best Cale "covert" album. Although the sound is very...specific, there are great tunes as "Model beirut recital", "Magazines", "Hungry For Love" and wonderful title track. Really great!!!"

"This may be John Cale's worst album. Very cheesy songs with no vision (a first for him). Skip this one."



very short Biography:
John Davies Cale (born March 9, 1942) is a Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his work in rock music, particularly as a founding member of the Velvet Underground, and he has worked in a variety of styles over the years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cale






THE GUTS - Say Goodbye to Fun (2003) for Rex















Genre:
Rock
Style:
Rock & Roll, Punk-Rock, pop-Punk

Tracklist:

01 Mary Jane
02 Mystery Dance
03 New Song #3
04 Out and Over
05 Stuck

Link to download:

"Pop-punk has recently developed negative conations due to its sudden rise in popularity with the MTV crowd, however not all pop-punk is obnoxious and overplayed. The Guts new EP, Say Goodbye to Fun, is pop-punk in a good way. The songs are catchy with simple, relatable lyrics like “Here’s a story about this boy who likes this girl… but he’s scared, he’s scared to let her know.” The EP includes four songs of this “boy likes girl/ girl breaks boy’s heart/ boy is confused” persuasion and despite the extreme simplicity of their lyrics, they are songs one cannot help but play on repeat. “New Song #3” is especially good and is melodic in a manner that is reminiscent of some of Green Day’s earlier songs. The fifth song on the EP is a decent cover of the Elvis Costello song “Mystery Dance,” but is unfortunately a bit flatter than the other songs on the CD. The Guts hail from Portsmouth, NH and include former members of The Queers and The Regulars. The band has previously released one full-length album “The Sensitive Side of the Guts” in 2001 before signing onto its current label Spider Bite Records, which is also based out of Portsmouth. The Guts have a lot of potential and anyone looking for better-than-Good-Charlotte pop-punk would do well to check out this EP. With slightly more creative lyrics and a strong publicity campaign this band could prove itself worthy of some of its mainstream contemporaries." –Emily Zemler

"This here is one of them old-fashioned pop-punk bands. They got a tough act to follow in the Dead Celebs... But they're actually pretty good. They're more like The Ramones than emo. The fifth song, "Mystery Dance," is really a great song!"

"These guys are great. I looked at the cover and saw one guy wearing a Groovy Ghoulies t-shirt... Great tastes in music! Awesome background vocals and catchy as hell music. They covered Elvis Costello, too! This is my new favorite for tonight."

"The Guts remind me of everything that I started listening to punk rock for, catchy guitar riffs, sassy lyrics, and drums that take a beating. Taking cues from the classic East Bay days, these 5 songs might give you hope of filling that void left when Green Day became MTV's sweethearts. "Mary Jane" is the kind of song you listen to over and over and relate all too well."

HÉROES DEL SILENCIO - Senderos de Traicion (1990)


"ONE OF THE GREATES AND FINEST SPANISH ROCK ALBUMS"

Country:
Spain

Genre:
Rock
Style:
Alternative Rock, Pop Rock


































Credits:
Bass, Coro - Joaquin Cardíel/Drums - Pedro Andreu/Engineer - Keith Bessey/Guitar - Juan Valdivia/Producer - Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music) /Vocals, Acoustic Guitar - Enrique Bunbury


Tracklist :

01 Entre Dos Tierras
02 Maldito Duende
03 La Carta
04 Malas Intenciones
05 Sal
06 Senda
07 Hechizo
08 Oración
09 Despertar
10 Decadencia
11 Con Nombre De Guerra
12 El Cuadro II

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/18991152/senderos_de_traicion.rar.html

"I first heard this group on the radio and in discotheken and parties while I was living in Germany in 1992-93. The German university students I knew all loved this group and so did I. We'd dance the night away listening to songs from this album...it totally rocks; I didn't even speak Spanish at the time but I bought the album anyway and brought it back with me to the States'... My Spanish speaking customers had never heard of them before but they always asked to see the CD case and expressed their desire to buy a copy for themselves... It is so different from the usual Latin-music you hear in Texas, plus, since these lads are from Spain, they sing with their distinctive castillian lisp. Now that I have started learning Spanish myself and speak it moderately well, I really appreciate the songs even more...since I can sing along now and actually understand what I'm saying. The album is fantastic, regardless if you speak the language or not. Good solid rock music that crosses all borders."

"I dicovered this band back in 1990, and all I can say is I haven't find any other band with the same feeling and dedication as this band. This band is not your average Spanish Rock band because other bands are just filled with mediocrity and no sense of melody. As a professional guitar player I can tell you that the guitar work in the band is one of the finest and unique sounds that you can get in the whole Rock En Español scene. The lyrics and vocals are profound and obscure; Enrique Bunbury demonstrates his vocal abilities, showing that he's not an ordinary/average singer. You can truly feel the anger and power of the vocalist, and the lyrics clearly demosntrate Bunbury's fury and sense of imagination. Both the music and the lyrics create a very unique atmosphere which leaves me wanting to hear this album over and over again. If you're looking for pure art expression manifested through music, I really recommend this album along with their other masterpiece "El Espíritu Del Vino"."

"Senderos de Traicion is very different with the other ones, really each album has it's own sound and spirit! The guitar arrangements are so unique, I have't heard anything like that before by anybody except by the hand of Juan Valdivia, it's just one of the best guitar players in the spanish rock scene, maybe the best!! They have all the spirit and passion in their music as well as the Flamenco music. But don't get wrong! they don't play flamenco. It's just pure rock n roll but at it's finest."


Biography:
The "Rock en Espanol" band Heroes del Silencio was formed in Zaragoza, Spain during the mid-'80s. Comprised of singer/guitarist Enrique Bunbury, lead guitarist Juan Valdivia, second guitarist Alan Boguslavsky bassist Joaquin Cardiel and drummer Pedro Andreu, Heroes del Silencio quickly gained a fervent local following; among their fans was Ole Ole member Gustava Montesano, who helped the group win a contract with EMI. In late 1987 they issued their debut EP, Heroes de Legenda; it was well received by both critics and audiences, and their 1989 full-length effort El Mar No Cesa went platinum within weeks of its release. 1990's Senderos de Traicion immediately topped the Spanish charts, and in 1991 Heroes del Silencio appeared at the "Rock Against Racism" festival in Berlin, resulting in enormous popularity throughout Germany as well. 1993's El Espiritu del Vino was another smash, and in 1995 the group travelled to Los Angeles to record Avalancha with noted producer Bob Ezrin. The double live LP Para Siempre followed in 1996, and in 1998 Heroes del Silencio returned with Rarezas, a collection of rare and unreleased tracks. (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll)


More info:
http://www.heroesdelsilencio.es/

http://www.uniondelsilencio.com/

http://www.ruedafortuna.com/index.html

Sunday, February 25, 2007

ODYSSEY


Genre:
Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style:
Gospel, Soul, Disco



















ODYSSEY (1977)
Tracklist:

01 Native New Yorker
02 Ever Lovin' Sam
03 Weekend Lover
04 You Keep Me Dancin'
05 The Woman Behind The Man
06 Easy Come, Easy Go / Hold De Mota Down
07 Golden Hands
08 Thank You God For One More Day

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/17947948/odyssey_-_odyssey__1977__.rar.html

"3 stars: The debut LP from this R&b/Disco act spauned the international hit "Native New Yorker" and it's follow up single "Weekend Lover" which didnt do as well over in the USA. This LP is a basic experimental LP if ya ask me. Very creative but the majority is basicly pop/soul with the touch of disco here and there. Look out for the club hit "Easy Come Easy Go/Hold De Molta Down" also on this LP with its latin disco flavor. "

















HOLLYWOOD PARTY TONIGHT (1978)
Tracklist:

01 Single Again / What Time Does The Balloon Go Up
02 Pride
03 You Wouldn't Know A Real Live True Love If It Walked Right Up, Kissed You On The Cheek And Said Hello Baby
04 Hey Bill
05 Lilly And Harvey, Late To The Party Again
06 Lucky Star
07 Comin' Back For More
08 I Dare Ya

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/17953289/odyssey_-_1978_-_hollywood_party_tonight_.rar.html

"4 stars: The band's 2nd LP was a huge improvement from the debut. While replacing the guy that couldnt sing in the group with a new guy that could, the group was now complete and ready to begin makin some serious shit! This LP, a concept LP about a high class party and all the events and people there is a pure soulful jazz LP to the fullest with the occational hint of disco and funk mixed in. It takes a brief break from the basic genre of the LP for the UK top 40 pop hit "Lucky Star". All around 100% solid LP! Highly recomended for the late 70s jazz/soul fan! "


















HANG TOGETHER (1980)
Tracklist:

01 Hang Together
02 Never Had It All
03 Don't Tell Me, Tell Her
04 Down Boy
05 Follow Me (Play Follow The Leader)
06 Use It Up And Wear It Out
07 If You're Lookin' For A Way Out
08 Rooster Loose In The Barnyard

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/17964936/odyssey_-_hang_together_.rar.html

"3 stars: This 3rd LP from the group was a full blast into the world of disco, R&B and even rock on one track! This LP's highlights for fame were the top club hit "Use It Up, Wear It Out" and the international pop ballad hit "If Your Lookin For A Way Out". In the USA the single didnt chart well, but was somewhat known. The other highlight for the deep disco fans is the morning music classic title track! The one song to avoid on this LP is "Down Boy" which is a total southern rock track. The sound of Lynard Skynard and early Eagles dont go too well with the gals of Odyssey singing LOL. The last track on the LP is a sort of X rated track called "Rooster Lost In The Barnyard". Listen close and you'll hear what its all about. "



















I GOT THE MELODY (1981)
Tracklist:

01 I Got The Melody
02 Roots Suite: Ajomora / Going Back To My Roots / Bawa Awa
03 I Can't Keep Holding Back My Love
04 Baby That's All I Want
05 It Will Be Alright
06 Oh No Not My Baby
07 Hold On To Your Love

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/17956209/odyssey__-I_Got_The_Melody_1981_.rar.html

3 1/2 stars: The 4th LP was the begining of a new decade. With the disco era coming to an end the group kinda took a new aproach. This LP going very much twards the typical soul sound of the early 80s with that sort of end of disco feel hanging on to the tracks. Tons of good stuff on this LP. Highlights are the club hit "Going Back To My Roots" and the title track which is my fave and was from what I understand a pop hit in the UK. Not really a bad track on the LP but a few are kinda soso but still good if ya get what I mean. They even take a regae approach on the track "Oh No Not My Baby". "



















HAPPY TOGETHER (1982)

Tracklist:

01 Hang Together
02 Never Had It All
03 Don't Tell Me, Tell Her
04 Down Boy
05 Follow Me (Play Follow The Leader)
06 Use It Up And Wear It Out
07 If You're Lookin' For A Way Out
08 Rooster Loose In The Barnyard

Link to download:
"4 stars: The offical final domestic release from the group and I will say..they went out with a BANG! This is by far the best LP out of all of em and my fave! The LP kicks off with the track "Together" which was written and co produced by Nile Rogers & Bernard Edwards from Chic fame and has the total Chic sound. They even play the instruments on the track with the guy singer singin it. Then, the club hit "Inside Out" follows and Side A comes to a close with an awseome electro funk/late disco cover of the 60's bubble gum hit "Happy Together". Side B begins with the track "Happy People" which is a pure early 80s electro funk/disco track. Kinda in the style of Carl Carlton's "Bad Mamajama". Then comes the R&B ballad "When You Love Somebody". Then as the LP comes to a close we get "Love's Alright", a great morning music classic retaining that classic 1978 mellow disco sound and then ending the LP is "Magic Touch" which is a catchy upbeat typical 1982 danceable pop/rock track. When ya first hear it it may not agree with you but over time, it grows on ya! "




















NATIVE NEW YORKER GOLDEN CLASSICS (1989)

Tracklist:

01 Native New Yorker - (12" Version)
02 Weekend Lover - (12" Version)
03 Don't Tell Me, Tell Her
04 Going Back To My Roots
05 Inside Out - (12" Version)
06 Use It Up, Wear It Out - (12" Version)
07 Together - (12" Version)
08 Easy Come, Easy Go/Hold De Mota Down - (12" Version)
09 I Got The Melody
10 Hold On To Love

Link to download:
"3 1/2 stars: USA Best Of compilation of various full length LP versions and 12'' versions of Odyssey's best known US club hits. I know there has been much better greatest hits compilations released in the UK in later years, but as for on CD. This out of print compilation is probably the only place you can get some full length versions of tracks on CD. I know for sure its the only place that "Together" and the full 10 min "Going Back To My Roots" was avalible on CD. Of corse, there was a double LP vinyl release too for this one which is even more rare than the CD or tape as vinyl was about dead by 89."

Biography:
Odyssey was a New York City based dance music band with a laid-back Caribbean styling, which evolved from ‘The Lopez Sisters’ (Lillian and Louise Lopez) from the Virgin Islands. When Tony Reynolds (from The Philippines) joined they changed their name to ‘Odyssey’. Though their best-known single is probably their December 1977 hit ‘Native New Yorker’ (#5 UK chart) their highest UK chart position was achieved by ‘Use It Up And Wear It Out’ (1980), which achieved the #1 spot. They released five UK chart albums between 1980 & 1987.
http://www.kinemagigz.com/

Formed in New York City, vocalists Lillian, Louise and Carmen Lopez were originally known as the Lopez Sisters. Their parents came from the Virgin Islands, but they were born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Carmen left the group in 1968 and was replaced by Tony Reynolds (b. Manila), who, after the group's first album, was replaced by Bill McEachern. Odyssey's 1977 release, 'Native New Yorker', reached the US Top 20, but the song proved more popular in the UK where it peaked at number 5. It was not until 1980 that Odyssey appeared again in the UK chart with the first of several UK hits. 'Use It Up And Wear It Out' topped the chart in June of that year, while the beautiful, soulful ballad 'If You're Looking For A Way Out' gave them their third Top 10 hit. Two more effortless pop/soul offerings, 'Going Back To My Roots' (1981) and 'Inside Out' (1982), reached the Top 5. However, the lack of sustained success at home hampered the group's wider progress and they latterly broke up.
http://www.70disco.com/odyssey.htm
ALBUMS:
Odyssey (RCA 1977)
Hollywood Party Tonight (RCA 1978)
Hang Together (RCA 1980)
I Got The Melody (RCA 1981)
Happy Together (RCA 1982)
Joy (Hot Records 1985)

More info:

Monday, February 19, 2007

TONY MANSFIELD Part 2. : NEW MUSIK























Genre:
Electronic, Rock
Style:
New Wave, Synth-pop


Members:
Tony Mansfield, Tony Hibbert, Phil Towner, Clive Gates





























FROM A TO B ...PLUS (1980)

Credits:
Bass - Tony Hibbert/ Drums, Percussion - Phil Towner/ Keyboards - Clive Gates/ Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Written-By - Tony Mansfield
Notes:
Remastered CD re-issue of New Musik's debut album, originally released in 1980.11-16 are bonus tracks.


Tracklist:

01 Straight Lines (5:12)
02 Sanctuary (4:15)
03 A Map Of You (3:50)
04 Science (3:21)
05 On Islands (4:24)
06 This World Of Water (3:39)
07 Living By Numbers (3:27)
08 Dead Fish (Don't Swim Home) (5:26)
09 Adventures (3:53)
10 The Safe Side (3:12)
11 Sad Films (2:42)
12 Missing Persons (3:29)
13 Tell Me Something New (2:11)
14 She's A Magazine (4:18)
15 Chik Musik (2:15)
16 Magazine Musik (1:05)


Links to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16643165/new_musik_1.rar.html

http://www.mytempdir.com/1220979 Tracks 13,15,16

" I read somewhere that Tony Mansfield was never as happy with this album as he was with the two later ones (Anywhere & Warp). I don't know. I have always liked this one. i bought it back in '80 when it first came out and as soon as it became available on CD, I was one of the first in line to get it. I like the beat, the catchy riffs, the hooks, and just the whole general feel of the album. Technically it was a product of its time. Today's electronic music has a certain "BIG" production sound about it. If you're listening to this you might hear a weak spot here and there and some of the electronic sounds used are used more than once. But just listen to the songs and you'll enjoy it."

"This album was quite simply years ahead of it's time! Singer/Writer/Producer Tony Mansfield (Captain Sensible, Nick Straker Band, After the Fire and others) knocks out some finely-crafted tunes with subjects ranging from ecological concerns to international politics (bearing in mind this was at the height of the Cold War) - yet making it all thoroughly enjoyable. With a pleasingly-unusual array of some dreamy synth textures courtesy of a Prophet 5 and a Yamaha CS80, a 12-string guitar and a synth-snare(!), this album is a MUST for any afficionado of late 70's/early 80's synthy-pop rock. Straight Lines, World of Water and Sanctuary were all Top-100 hits for the band in the UK. This version contains the B-sides of the singles (which were not on the original vinyl album). Enjoy!!"

"Great music is forever!..The re-issuing of albums long since forgotten will, hopefully, inject some much needed energy back into music-lovers lives. This album in particular is special for many reasons (1) its bloody inventive (2) its extremely melodic (3)it meant a lot to me as I grew up in the 80's. There is so much in it for praise. The 3 most remebered songs "Sanctuary", "This world of water" and "Living by numbers" capture post-punk delerium and the early-80's obsession with the "synthesiser" (much-maligned in those times). New Musik had a very distinctive sound which was, perhaps, ahead of its time (a la 'dancing Queen') but we were so spoiled with great sounds then that a band like "New Musik" could slip out of our fingers and be gone within 3 years. Admittedly, ABC, Soft Cell, The Buggles and their like were tough competitors and there was no prisoners taken....it was easy to be left behind!Now in the musically-diminished 2000's we may realise that originality, beat and honesty should be valued and maybe delve into some of the (great) sounds of the past. This album has a naive but feel-good and honest quality. As they say "they don't make them like that anymore...!"




















ANYWHERE...PLUS (1981)

Credits:
Bass - Tony Hibbert /Drums, Percussion - Phil Towner/ Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals - Tony Mansfield/ Keyboards - Clive Gates/ Producer - Tony Mansfield/ Written By - Tony Mansfield (tracks: 1 to 12, 14, 15)
Notes:
Originally released on vinyl in 1981. Tracks 13 to 15 are bonus tracks on this remastered CD


Tracklist:

01 They All Run After The Carving Knife (5:53)
02 Areas (4:10)
03 Churches (4:53)
04 This World Of Walter (2:55)
05 Luxury (3:48)
06 While You Wait (5:04)
07 Changing Minds (4:52)
08 Peace (5:13)
09 Design (3:44)
10 Traps (4:03)
11 Division (4:20)
12 Back To Room One (4:18)
13 The Office (4:29)
14 From The Village (3:31)
15 Guitars (3:31)


Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16656111/new_musik_2.rar.html

"This album is the most exciting thing I have heard in very many years, in fact the last album that gave me this sort of buzz was 17 years ago, that being "Blue bell knoll" by the cocteau twins.I bought the single " Living by numbers" at the time but I was not even aware that thay had an ablum, never mind three, such is the way the music bizz ignore real talent in favour of shallow pap, the junk food of the music world. I have listened to it repeatedly for days and it is quite superb.Tony Mansfield is a VERY talented man, such originality and melodic creations with more hooks that a row of fishermen.I cant wait for " from a-b " to arrive from Amazon. This album cuts through the mire of talentless, derived, plagurised, dross, that the music industry excretes daily. How often the human trait of real talent usually resulting in modesty is SO TRUE. Tony Mansfield was a unpreposing figure on stage, no big ego image, and he has talent in skip loads, on the other hand the """"""performers""""" that soil the airwaves today have ego's that fill skips and talent that would be seriously dwarfed by an atom.If you like synth and sweeping melodies, genuinely "new music" that gives a superb canvas for your own imagination and leaves you with respect for the artist this album is a MUST HAVE."

"Ah, New Musik. Difficult to know how they avoided being huge. In at the right time, right tunes, had the right instruments. Perhaps it was because they weren't pretty boys and didn't write about pretty boy subjects. Tony Mansfield takes on the fairly major subjects or religion, world peace and the threat of destruction in this second album (Churches, Areas, While you Wait). It's got great tunes and buckets of atmosphere. Why wasn't it a hit? Perhaps the over use of similar sounds and over familiar song writing approach? Perhaps they just weren't lucky with the breaks? The album still sounds great. You can tell it's from the early 80's but not quite in the way you can spot the posing and formulated approach of some of the new romantic contemporaries. Well worth a listen."

"The normally-awkward follow up album is quite brilliant...FACT! The problem was, however, that it was too far from the safety "shipping channels" normally required to gain hits and ultimately, notoriety.Anyway, why make "successful formula part 2"? That would be predictable!This album tried to build on the good sounds of their first solo project and it does that very well. The album has an assured,"we know what we're doing" feel to it. The titles are extremely abstract - "Areas", "Churches", "Design", "Peace"...a concept album so?There is plenty of synthesiser sound (a la album 1) but also guitar, electronic drum machine and bass. There are great harmonies!...One particularly clever concept is the song "This World of Walter" which may be an in-joke to their fans (remember "World of water" in the earlier album!)...Both songs are unbelievable but they don't sound alike and have entirely different meanings. The highlight for me is "Changing Minds"...a tour de force song with a brilliantly delayed instrumental..if you listen there is a wonderful "submarine-underwater synthesiser" sound. Yes, this band were really experimenting with sound! "Division" is also wonderfully fast and we find ourselves being drawn into it...and hey! what a fantastic title for a song!Other interesting facts - lyrics provided and 3 extra songs. There is also a photo of the band in a very philosophical pose that certainly captures the mood of the band at that moment. There is one tragedy to this whole saga...that is that this band weren't acknowledged by their peers/critics for their brilliant inventiveness, unusual sounds and eerie harmonies. I hope that the great songwriter Tony Mansfield reads the favourable reviews for both albums and sees that he left behind him a great musical legacy and we, the fans, don't want people to forget it!"



























WARP (1982)

Credits:
Producer - Tony Mansfield/ Written By - Tony Mansfield (tracks: 1-5 , 7-9 , 11-17)
Notes:CD reissue of New Musik's third (and last) album, originally released in 1982. 13-17 are bonus tracks.


Tracklist:

01 Here Come The People (3:26)
02 Going Round Again (2:55)
03 A Train On Twisted Tracks (3:26)
04 I Repeat (4:28)
05 All You Need Is Love (4:21)
06 All You Need Is Love (5:38)
Written By - John Lennon , Paul McCartney
07 Kingdoms For Horses (4:16)
08 Hunting (4:15)
09 The New Evolutionist (Example 'A') (3:19)
10 Green And Red (Respectively) (3:05)
Written By - Cliff Venner , Clive Gates , Tony Mansfield
11 The Planet Doesn't Mind (3:40)
12 Warp (4:22)
13 The Planet Doesn't Mind (Single Version) (3:36)
14 The Planet Doesn't Mind (12" Version) (4:15)
15 24 Hours From Culture - Part II (3:40)
16 Twelfth House (4:37)
17 Here Come The People (Remix) (5:27)

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16682940/warp.rar.html

"Having most of New Musik 45 singles from the 1980s and also 2 l/ps I have since bought Warp and find it is the best Album they have produced all the tracks are superb with the Beatles number almost as good as the original.It is a shame that such talent is missing these days I would love to see a revival and a new album by Tony Mansfield and New Musik.I would recommend all the New Musik CDs available to anyone reading this, if you haven`t heard of the group then give them a listen their music is still fresh and fits in easily to this new Century of mixed music."

"A fine experiment in juxtaposition. I cannot describe New Musik's "Warp" in any other way. Often the beat of the song does not match the message therein. That's why it is so fabulous. This was their third and final album. It sparked a couple of singles: "Here Come the People" and "The Planet Doesn't Mind." Both were virtually ignored in most of North America (even though the LP was available here, albeit briefly). But Japan must have been impressed enough to re-issue this rare find. I am glad that it did. "Here Come the People" sounds like it could have been on an M album. Then there are two seperate songs entitled "All You Need is Love." One, of course, is the Beatles classic quirkily re-done by New Musik with a dance beat. The other is a beautiful original Tony Mansfield composition with the omnipresent message that love can conquer all. Simply exquisite. "Green and Red (Respectively)" uses music to define colors by my likening. It's just that we happen to listen in on the "red" section. There are three versions of "The Planet Doesn't Mind" on this. I happen to like the single version the best, probably for the way it was produced and engineered. The message from "Hunting" harks back to the message of "Dead Fish Don't Swim Home" from the first album. Unlike the earlier one, this is not an anti-war song. However, it raises questions about what some may consider to be senseless killing. The title track "Warp" is a marvelous piece. The ending is very clever. It sounds like a stuck or warped record (for those of us that remember records). But I imagine it is meant to be that way. "Going Round Again" is a description of a woman who sleeps around and the irritation it must cause the singer/writer. "A Train on Twisted Tracks" focuses on how to proceed in life in an uncertain future. I am thrilled to have this CD. There are one or two less appealing songs - but nothing is ever perfect. I bought the first two albums back around 1980-81 but could never seem to find the third one. Now I have it and ALL New Musik fans should have it too."

"This was the third and final album ( second album in the USA ) from this fantastic electro pop band from London UK. There albums just got more and more electronic and brilliant and Warp was no exception. Just listen to the sheer atmosphere of tracks like Kingdoms for Horses, Hunting, A train on Twisted tracks, I repeat and the title track amoungst others. Tony Mansfield's vocals are as superb as ever and we are treated to bonus tracks - 24 Hours from Culture being first class ( a brilliant instrumental that would work out well in a chill-out room ).An essential buy for fans of New Musik, electro pop, dance and ambient."



Planet Ha Ha: Home (single)

Planet Ha Ha is Tony Mansfield, Lee Mansfield and Rob Fisher (from Naked Eyes). EMI wanted them to record this single for the movie E.T. 'Lee Mansfield [who sings on Home] said that Planet Ha-Ha were originally to become NEW MUSIK II. Besides 'Home' and 'Finders Keepers' (which was created especially for the BBC Children's TV show) an album's worth of material was recorded, but due to the legal issues pending around Home, EMI delayed releasing the album, and eventually the various members moved on to other projects leaving the recorded tracks in the archives. (http://www.discog.info/new-musik.html)

Link to download:
http://www.filesend.net/download.php?f=5911b027b278ac81bc17b4f8f25b09f5

Biography:
New Musik were an English Synthpop group active from 1977 to 1982. The lead singer and main man was Tony Mansfield. The group wasn't very commercially successful, though their 1980 single release "Living By Numbers" charted high enough in the UK charts (#13) to land the band on TV pop show Top Of The Pops.Their debut album; From A To B (1980) reached the UK top 30 and contained four chart singles; "Straight Lines", "Living By Numbers" (their sole top 20 hit), "Sanctuary" and "This World Of Water." They also appeared on Top of the Pops in October 1979, with "Straight Lines", and toured the UK in 1980.Their second album, Anywhere (1981) scraped to number 69 in the charts and neither of its singles, "Luxury" and "While You Wait", charted. The song "Churches" (spring 1981) was relatively successful, though mildly controversial in some religious circles due to supposed 'satanic' lyrical references.In 1981 a compilation album, Sanctuary, was released in the US. It consisted of twelve tracks from both albums.Their third and final album, Warp (1982) was more experimental and failed to chart. Oddly, it featured a synth version of the Beatles "All You Need Is Love", alongside an identically titled track of their own. Tracks such as "Hunting", "A Train On Twisted Tracks" and "Kingdoms For Horses" showed much promise, but the group disbanded shortly after, and this album was only given a CD release in Japan.The band specialised in catchy synth-pop with clever, often thought-provoking lyrical content. Tracks such as "Dead Fish (Don't Swim Home)" and "The Planet Doesn't Mind" highlighted environmental issues, still a minority interest in the early 80s.Despite a relative lack of commercial success, their music has retained an enduring appeal and hasn't dated in the way much material from this era has. Several artists have covered tracks by New Musik, including Camouflage who did a version of "On Islands" in 1989. Tony Mansfield went on to achieve success in the field of production for the likes of The Damned's Captain Sensible, with the group Naked Eyes one of his most successful projects. From A To B and Anywhere were released on CD in 1994, and again in 2001, remastered and with bonus tracks.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Musik)


INFO FROM TONY MANSFIELD HIMSELF: (5 Jan 2000) "1) A new "new musik" album is in production and should be released in autumn this year. [note: this has been delayed!] 2) The original masters are owned by Sony after GTO records were sold to Sony in 1982. Product is subject to availability however there are plans to re-package the original albums and for a new compilation. 3) There were two UK tours (1980/1981). Live tapes do exist and there were two early promo videos for "Living By Numbers" and "This World Of Water". 4) I still keep in contact with Clive (we last played together at a garden party in summer 98!!) and Tony Hibbert. Clive now works for a software company and Tony has a "live music" bar in South London. I lost contact with Phil Towner and Cliff Venner. 5) Aside from new musik, I was recently in Dublin, Ireland collaborating with Jane Siberry on an album by Japanese artist "Sotoma". I've produced an album for new Columbia artist "Ilene Barnes" and negotiations are underway in the US for a new "Naked Eyes" album based on the songs written by Rob Fisher before he sadly died." (Thanks to Mark Hershberger for doing this on-line short interview with Tony and for kindly providing it to my mailing list.)



More Info :
http://www.discog.info/mansfield.html
REPOSTED ALBUMS
PETER PRINCIPLE
tone poems
KANE GANG
the bad and the lowdown..
miracle
RE FLEX
1983
humanication
mixes
SPLIFF
radio show
A DROP IN THE GRAY
Certain sculptures
THE TWINS
modern lifestyle
OMD
liberator
HUMAN LEAGUE
octopus
TAXI GIRL
sepukku
MESSAGE:
If you like German new wave (NDW) check the new blog of Kiki please.I've just posted there one album of FRL MENKE from 1982.Try it you wont be disappointed!:)

Sunday, February 18, 2007

NUMERO UNO - The Best Of (1986) by Req


Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Italo-Disco, Synth-pop


























Tracklist :

01 Tora Tora Tora
02 Madonna
03 Just Like Marco Polo
04 Holiday On The Moon
05 Tattoo
06 Heart Of Gold
07 Full Moon Hong-Kong
08 Will I See You Again
09 Dance Day (D-Day)
10 Black Room
11 Numero Uno - Tora Tora Tora (Maxi Version)
12 Madonna (Maxi Version)

Bonus Tracks:
13 Tiger
14 Tiger (instrumental)
15 Tora Tora Tora (12" mix)
16 Tora Tora Tora (instrumental)

Links to download:


EIGHTH WONDER part 2 by REQ

Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Synth-pop



















BRILLIANT DREAM (1987)

Tracklist:

01 When The Phone Stops Ringins
02 Loser In Love0
03 Open Your Mind
04 Stay With Me
05 Will You Remember
06 Having It All

Link to download:




















IM NOT SCARED (CDM)

Tracklist:

01 I'm Not Scared (Disco Mix) (7:58)
02 I'm Not Scared (4:30)
03 J'ai Pas Peur (5:48)
04 I'm Not Scared (10'' mix)
05 I'm Not Scared (little louie vega club mix)
06 I'm Not Scared (little louie vega dub mix)

Link to download:

MORE MIXES
01 Im Not Scared (razormaid mix)
02 Im Not Scared (razormaid2 mix)
03 Baby Baby (little louie vega 12'' dance mix)
04 Baby Baby (euro dance mix)
05 Cross My Heart (club mix)
06 Cross My Heart (dance mix)
07 Cross My Heart (extended remix)

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16940817/eight_woder_more_m.rar.html

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Soviet - Breakdown

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

SOVIET - We Are Eyes, We Are Builders (2001)



Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Electro, Synth-pop


Band Members
Keith Ruggiero - Vox/programming



















Credits:
Artwork By [Design] - Plastiq /Grafiq Artwork By [Sleeve Concept] - Ronnie Martin /Artwork By [Sleeve Layout] - Eric Metzer /Producer - Ronnie Martin / Producer, Written-By, Recorded By - Soviet / Synthesizer, Programming - Chris Otchy / Vocals [Additional] - Nicholas Ruggiero/ Vocals, Synthesizer, Guitar - Keith Ruggiero


Tracklist :

01 China (5:10)
02 Commute (3:40)
03 Marbleyezed (4:09)
04 Lonely Days (3:49)
05 Circuit Love (5:21)
06 Breakdown (4:26)
07 L' Objectif (3:19)
08 Sensitive (4:25)
09 Run In (4:22)
10 Candy Girl (4:14)
11 Soviet Bot (4:44)
12 Modern Love (7:07)


Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/16012928/soviet.html

new link :


http://rapidshare.com/files/16706868/soviet.rar.html


"Soviet’s debut sounds very much like the year 1982. Albums like OMD’s Organisation and Depeche Mode’s Speak and Spell are obvious reference points for this material. You know the deal, there are keyboards and lots of them. Most likely, there’s a drum machine accompanying the proceedings with perfect rhythm. There’s a guy up front crooning (though he could just as easily be speaking) revelatory and personal lyrics to this cold backdrop. So is the album a mere rehash of things past? Not at all. The synthesized tones age remarkably well, and aren’t at all intrusive. Besides, each song stands out wonderfully, with strong hooks and memorable content. After one listen, you are falling over yourself to hit the play button again in a vain attempt to connect those memorable melodies newly floating in your head. The song "Commute" is a wonderful example. Opening synths push us right onto the dance floor, surrounding us and mutating before us. A voice comes in behind the beat and informs us ‘we must commute’; singer Keith Ruggiero echoes the statement an instant later. Painting us a picture of a man lost among countless peers, powerless "divided we stand / united we fall", his clever reversal celebrating the individuality he longs for. His voice falls back, surrounded by spacier keyboards than before. His musings are nearly inaudible, but you can hear something about "the road less traveled" in there. Also excellent is the rolling "Lonely Days". Galloping drums and airy synths lead us to the singer sitting alone. "Here in my room, I sit alone and stare at pictures I never thought would cause me such pain". He pines for his lost love, "Have we done something wonderfully horrible?" He describes a reluctant relationship that preceded this heartbreak. The song builds up as the narrator comes to a nebulous conclusion. "There will always be a place in my heart for you" he intones quietly, though it comes across as a scream. We are Eyes, We are Builders is a great album. Songs don’t sound out of date, they sound like a group that has listened to a lot of synth-pop and has decided to make something out of that. Put Dave Gahan in there, it could have been a great Depeche Mode album. Not that Soviet are a Depeche Mode rip-off band, they are contemporaries that have recorded their debut album a few decades later." (http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/soviet/we-are-eyes-we-are-builders.htm)

"In early 2001, one of New York's finest new groups, Soviet, quietly released their debut album We Are Eyes, We Are Builders on an independent imprint(Head Records) The debut collection that fused the intense emotions of urban suburban youths with the sounds of the new computer culture, caught the attention of critics and music lovers around the world. NME magazine describes them as a five piece, new wave, electro pop collective that sounds like Roxy Music meets Suicide but more Duran Duran thrown in. VICE magazine places them at the number one slot in a guide of Electroclash artists raving Soviet is only like the hottest band and that they have become one of New York's best kept secrets. With a song on the Tech-pop compilation out on Ministry of Sound and the single "Sheltered Life" produced and co-written by Soviet for Erland Oye's debut album out on Astralwerks, this down town favorite is destined to reach a whole new audience.Though the name Soviet surfaced in 1999, the bands singer and songwriter Keith Ruggiero had been experimenting with a 4-track in his Connecticut home since the mid-90s. Teaming up with collaborator and fellow band member Chris Otchy, the band began to take shape and the pair started performing at shows around the country. With overwhelming positive response, they set out to create a unit that could bring the sound of their debut to life in a live show. With the addition of new members Amanda, Kenan and Greg, their latest shows have been nothing short of electric. With the line-up complete, Soviet have moved their home to NYC, the city that has embraced them so enthusiastically.Appearing at the SynthCon festival in LA and the Electroclash festival in NYC, Soviet has played alongside heavyweights such as Peaches, Fischerspooner, the Faint, Khan, The Killers, Add N to X, Stereo Total and the A.R.E Weapons. Rave reviews of their live shows have appeared in publications such as Paper, NME, Vice, V, the Village Voice and the shows have attracted a who's who of the contemporary electronic music scene. Shows at Exit, Joes Pub, Luxx and appearances at the aforementioned festivals have placed this group sitting high and fly on industry hot sheets. The single Candy Girl has become a favorite on the critically acclaimed New York Electroclash compilation on Mogul Electro as well as the forthcoming Ministry compilation.Ultimately the buzz and industry hype isn't what drives this group to produce such beautiful modern music and explore the emotional stirrings of an emerging new generation. It's their contemporary language and sonic textures that keeps them from being just another retro new wave group. Copies of their cover of Yazoo's In My Room have already started making waves in the underground dance clubs in NYC and samples of the new material shows the promise of major label breakthroughs. " (http://cdbaby.com/cd/soviet)

More review:
http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/soviet-weare.shtml

Biography:
Started in 1995, by Keith Ruggerio, Soviet is a electronic pop group from New York. With their debut cd "We Are Eyes, We Are Builders" they gained alot of press and critical acclaim in the then budding Electroclash scene. After extensive touring and strained relationships, they band is on a undetermined hiatus. Keith Ruggerio now lives in Los Angeles, California.


More info:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=14037766

http://www.decapolis.com/musicreviews/interviews/soviet.shtml an interview

RULES OF ROCK by guitarist Robert Strain 1) All sax players look the same 2) All drummers are mad, and are always late 3) All singers are vain and precious 4) All keyboard players are slightly eccentric - 'boffins' 5) All bass players are sensible (van driving, arranging gigs, doing the accounts) 6) All guitarists are handsome and brilliant - well, I would say that ;-) Actually, all guitarists just want to play guitar (we can't be bothered with all the other nonsense). Well, that and attend to all the women the singer rejects! :)