Electronic music has come a long way since Cabaret Voltaire began mixing it up with machines in order to evade boredom. As primitive as Watson, Kirk, and Mallinder's early material sounds decades after conception, in the wake of countless movements within the form, nothing can take away from the fact that no one will ever approach the spectral wonder inherent in the group's early work. Just over a third of "The Original Sound of Sheffield: '78/'82" — the sister release to 2001's similarly titled anthology that covers 1983-1987 — overlaps with "The Living Legends" compilation, but this disc now acts as the first place to go for early Cabaret Voltaire. "The Living Legends" covered roughly the same period, collecting tracks from singles, EPs, and compilations. This one opens up the scope to consider the landmark (and vastly different) post-punk LPs "Red Mecca" and "2 X 45", and thankfully resists the unavoidable temptation of including large chunks from both. This compilation and the one that covers the era that followed form an excellent overview of the Sheffield group. Despite the fact that longtime fans might balk at the exclusion of equally immense moments like "2 X 45"'s "Breathe Deep," "8 Crepuscule Tracks"' "Sluggin' fer Jesus," and "Red Mecca"'s "Sly Doubt," there's simply too much prime material from this phase to cram onto one disc. For the unfamiliar who have grown tired of hearing about the group's influence upon a wide swath of electronic producers and groups, two discs that neatly summarize their startling greatness are now at the ready.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Do The Mussolini (Headkick!) (3:06)
2. The Set Up (4:46)
3. Baader Meinhof (3:23)
4. Nag Nag Nag (4:37)
5. Silent Command (4:07)
6. No Escape (3:36)
7. This Is Entertainment (6:02)
8. Obsession (5:17)
9. Seconds Too Late (4:21)
10. Split Second Feeling (3:52)
11. Spread The Virus (3:44)
12. Yashar (5:11)
13. Wait & Shuffle (8:08)
14. Loosen The Clamp (4:49)
Hi everybody, this time we have two experimental albums that push music to the extreme.
BOYD RICE AND FRANK TOVEY - EASY LISTENING FOR THE HARD OF HEARING
Boyd's next Mute project was an album in collaboration with Frank Tovey (Fad Gadget) auspiciously titled 'Easy Listening For The Hard Of Hearing'. The album had been recorded in 1981, after NON had supported Fad Gadget on an extensive European tour, but it took three and a half years for the two to agree upon the sleeve design! Made using a gas fire, water pipes and any furniture that happened to by lying around Blackwing studios as they made it as instruments, they fashioned a soundtrack on Boyd's tape recorder that was described by the NME as, "a tapalong collection of wit and invention." Easy Listening was released on Mute Records Ltd (STUMM 20) in 1984 and re-released on cd by Mute Records Ltd (CD STUMM 20) in 1996. This is the lp version.
Smegma's third album "Smell The Remains". As this Portland combo needs no introduction, I can say that this is an album full of tape collages, drones, rock , post-punk/punk, improvisation and experimental music, typical Smegma. Smell The Remains was released on Dom ( DOM V 77-13) in 1987. Pressed on blue vinyl and includes printed inner sleeve with photos, credits and Dom discography. Track listing on inner sleeve is missing the last five titles. These were later printed in Bananafish magazine issue 5. For Smegma's second album " Pigs For Lepers" take a trip to Mr. Mutant here . Hiboux Choux Genoux has posted the excellent Ju Suk Reet Meate solo album similar to Smegma' s first album here.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Potatoe War
2. Forest Fire In Your Left Elbow
3. One Moment
4. Credo Quia Absurdum Est
5. Hot Beeshead Hit The Wax
6. Pigface Chant
7. Roll Down Your Window
8. Beauty School
9. Can't Look Straight
10. Flashcard
11. Outro Is Intro
12. Alternate Take Of Mutant Baby
13. Grass Glob Ball War
