In The Trashcan
Records GEM047
"Maybe some day mirror people look around in dark
entries when everything's gone green..."
Debut EP from 1980 on their own Too Late Records. They were formed in Kiel, Germany in 1980 and are mainly known for their synth-wave classic "Suicide commando", which was their second single. This song is very cold and dark and thus the perfect opener for this volume.
New Order's second 45 after "Ceremony", released a year after Ian Curtis' suicide in 1980, which meant the end of Joy Division. The remaining members added Gillian Gilbert and asked Martin Hannett again to be their producer. Released by Factory Records, also from Manchester.
Minimal wave from Japan with Kraftwerk allure. Although they've been around for only 3 years, they gained a solid fanbase all over the world. Most of the 5 members remained active in the music industry afterwards. A 1979 Rough Trade release.
"A.G.N.E.S" has been re-released several times in 1981, 1982 and 1995 on various record labels, but this is the very first 1979 promo release on ACE Records. The first official release is from 1981 on Rain Records. This is the early start of the Belgian electronic scene that gave us Front 242, Neon Judgement and so on. The B-side "Look around" is typical Belpop.
Pre-Red Lorry Yellow Lorry synth-pop new wave band from Leeds with their first record. This song was also picked up by John Peel. Released in 1979 on Zoo.
"Dizzidence politik" was their first release in 1981. Soon they became very famous in France and sold millions of records. But to prove they were also live a terrific band, I picked the live version, released as a B-side in 1986.
Bauhaus never sounded better than in 1980. "Dark entries" is one of my favourite Bauhaus songs while they were in the good hands of 4AD. The sleeve shows a painting by Paul Delvaux.
Ex-Bauhaus outfit with two great 45s "If there's a heaven above" and "Ball of confusion" in their first year 1985. This is 1988 and their instant indie success faded, but not in the UK where they have been quite popular for a long time. "Mirror people" is for me the last 'real' Love And Rockets release.
Twice released as B-side, first in 1979 on Zoo with "Pictures on my wall" and a year later an alternate version with "Do it clean" on Korova Records. Both versions are great. "Do it clean" was also twice reissued as B-side, once with "The puppet" and then with "The killing moon". Confusing?
Patty Smith and Lenny Kaye wrote this rock classic more than a decade earlier and even now it's as relevant as it was then. Birdland recorded a splendid version for Lazy Records in 1990.
Before the A-Bones, there was The Zantees and before that it was Nervus Rex. Miriam Linna left the Cramps in 1977 and joined Nervus Rex, but left to form The Zantees in 1979. This is the first Nervus Rex record, a 1980 release on The Cleverly Named Record Company. This is an outtake from the sessions for their eponymous debut album.
Another hidden track from their underestimated "Rollercoaster EP" (see also vol 36), that also was picked up by John Peel in 1990. Of course this was also a Blanco Y Negro release.
It's such a pity that people will always remember Joy Division because of "Love will tear us apart", mainly thanks to the dreadful cover version by Paul Young. I'm not a big fan of that song, because there are dozens of better Joy Division songs. I'm not going to declare that the flipside "These days" is so much better, but it's completely forgotten and that's the real pity! It deserves better. A 1980 Factory Records release.
D.A.F.-styled EBM tune from the "As is" EP on Mute from 1991. More Nitzerebbprodukts on vol 17.
This is so much better than the A-side "Fireside favourite"; I consider it as one of his 5 best recordings. Both sides are also featured on his debut album "Fireside favourites" from 1980 on Mute Records, the label owned by Daniel Miller, his best friend and occasional band member and also composer of some of his early songs.
On vol 39 you'll find another track from this EP entitled "The Philip eats donuts in the jungle EP". It includes a "Gigantic" sample; I wonder if Pixies are aware of that.
