Electronically Yours

A teaser for things to come during the remaining festive season...

Orac is currently shifting through 20 of the very best electro tracks of 2008 along with the top 5 albums, live performances and TV shows of the year...and there will be one or two surprises.


Apart from luring disco dollies to a life of electro crime throughout 2009, EY shall also be giving plenty of space to forthcoming album treats from the likes of Northern Kind, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Little Boots, Red Blooded Women, Marsheaux, Parralox, Katja von Kassel and one or two others.

The EY UK manifesto for 2009 is to create a unique webspace free from 'indie' guitar bands, rock dullards living in the 70s, ITV pop muppets...and the continued US led R'n'B invasion of Radio 1 (unless its Rihanna doing her odd- Euro-electro-thang).

Hit this link to join the EY mailing list for future electro revelations and tracks that will be 'Stuck on Repeat'


Seasonal greetings to you all :)

It looks like EY may have been right all along! The mainstream press have been getting excited about new prospects for 2009 and the same names are being mentioned.


For the most part, they are female and electro. Indeed, Caroline Sullivan's recent article in The Guardian 'Slaves To Synth' highlighted the rise of female fronted electro in 2008. She predicts an electro girl riot and it looks like having a name beginning with an 'L' won't do you any harm either!

LITTLE BOOTS, LADYHAWKE, LA ROUX and LADY GAGA are all being touted as the next big thing as record companies appear to be turning their back on dreary male guitar bands. The synthesizer has become the ideal instrument for the aspirational independent young woman...with a laptop to hand, there can be no interference from outsiders who might feel the need to 'rock out'!

LA ROUX, real name Elly Jackson said in the Guardian article: 'Girls look a bit stupid playing electric guitar and drums. It suits blokes better. But girls look wicked playing synths. When they play drums or whatever, it looks a bit butch. I hope that doesn't sound anti-feminist.'

Her new single 'Quicksand' uses synthesizers and programmed rhythms in the way PRINCE did in his early 80's guise.

Whilst not pure electro, her attitude however is reflective of how the dull dominance of rock convention must be challenged in a similar vein to THE HUMAN LEAGUE's original manifesto that made the rallying call to 'destroy all guitars'!

Meanwhile LADY GAGA is a proper pop princess and has received a lot of coverage on Popjustice. She's already Grammy nominated for her US hit 'Just Dance'.

Her best track 'Paparazzi' might be what THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS would sound like if they had electro influences!

LADYHAWKE is currently an EY fave with her critically acclaimed debut album. Her synth-laden tracks such as 'Professional Suicide', 'Dusk Til Dawn' and 'Magic' have courted much positive attention.

And there is also her excellent collaboration with Australian electronic act PNAU entitled 'Embrace'.

So what of LITTLE BOOTS? For a young lady who's released comparatively little, she's commanded a lot of attention with her feisty attitude and eclectic tastes.
She is Victoria Hesketh, former singer with Dead Disco.

Her debut track 'Stuck On Repeat' was produced by HOT CHIP's Joe Goddard and it's seven minutes of Giorgio Moroder-type throbbing sequencer but much darker, like Kylie gone Emo!




LITTLE BOOTS' has even received the highest accolade of having this track mashed-up with Opus III's version of 'It's A Fine Day'.
Put together by none other than RICHARD X, like all his good mash-ups, the combination on 'Fine Boots' is peculiarly apt!

Her full electro reworking of LEON JEAN-MARIE's 'Bring It On' as one of his bonus tracks is pure genius. Full of chunky old synth sounds and precise drum machine breakdowns, it totally blows away the dull funk of his original.

The single 'Meddle' is a full blown commercial proposition. Heavily riff laden and very squelchy, it somehow manages to combine pop R'n'B rhythms and the sexy glam electro that Goldfrapp became famous for with a Gregorian chant middle eight!!

'Magical' (and yes, it does sound like 'Ring My Bell'!) has been previewed in demo form on her MySpace and could turn out to be her best song yet. With a strong New York disco feel and Roland TB-303 Bassline-sounding effects, this track when finished could actually kill Fascists!

She's a quirky live performer, often using a wonderful new Yamaha sequencing console called the 'Tenori-on' and a Stylophone. Regularly posting YouTube clips of herself doing covers including Hot Chip's 'Ready For The Floor', she's not one for convention.

Unashamedly 'pop' and apparently an expert on Moog circuitry, LITTLE BOOTS shows great crossover potential and her debut album is much anticipated.

Little Boots can been seen supporting The Ting Tings early next year along with a DJ set for what is intriguingly billed as a 'Hot Chip album launch' in Feb 09.

Little Boots @ myspace

Andrew AKA Mr Blue takes a look at two of his favourite album releases this month. First up is Heaven 17's 'Naked as Advertised' - an album of re-worked Steel City classic followed by a surprisingly low key debut release from a very promising new artist called Lettie whom EY is rather fond of....

Heaven 17 - Naked as Advertised: Versions 08

There is always a fear when a band goes back into the studio, and re-records material long after the event. Purists will scream that it is sacrilege to touch such legendary tracks as 'Temptation' & '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang', I can reassure you that any fears are unfounded.
Heaven 17 have managed to pull the impossible, and breath new life their music, and it sounds just as good as it did all those years ago.

Kicking off with 'Being Boiled', and they have removed the sci-fi Human League stamp, instead you get funked up version with soulful backing vocals and brassy keys. There is still that haunting refrain echoing from the original League track, but somehow it's less threatening.


The League return at the end for 'Empire State Human' which beings with a hint of the avant garde, and instead of Phil Oakey's swagger in the vocals, you get a sombre rendering of the ESH story. The whole track is far more denser and complex than the original, and makes you wonder what the Human League would have sounded like if they had recorded 'Reproduction' with todays technology.

When it comes to 'Temptation', you know you really are in heaven. All the energy from the original track is there, and dare I say it that Billie Godfrey just could have put in a better performance than Carol Kenyon. I do not make such comments lightly, its just that Billie has a voice which strikes with a passion you can't deny.

From Penthouse And Pavement era '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang' & 'Geisha Boys and Temple Girls', there's a much richer feel than the originals. They have a faster pace, and the additional backing vocals gives new life to these amazing songs. It is hard to think I bought 'Fascist Groove Thang' around 27 years ago, it is almost to frightening to ask where the years have gone.



Both songs stand up to reworking, and make a valid reason for going back into the studio. To cover a track like The Associates - 'Party Fears Two' requires a great deal of skill, and the result is quite simply breathtaking. Instead of funk electro, you are presented with a tender rendition on grand piano, and gentle ambient textures.

The vocals are filled with gravitas which takes it into the David Bowie/ Lou Reed territory with such a soulful delivery. The new track 'Dont Fall' is a departure from the usual full throttle sound so familiar to Heaven 17, instead it is closer to 'The Luxury Gap' track 'Best Kept Secret'.

Not quite a ballad, yet it harks back to the League tracks which told us of the fragile nature of the human condition - 'Dreams Of Leaving' as an example.

With all the advances in the recording studio, the Heaven 17 sound is more subtle, yet the songs on offer are as good as it gets. Glenn Gregory & Martyn Ware have done an amazing job on this album, and I hope it is a sign that an album of new material is on its way. As an example of electro, you will not find a more classy album. Heaven 17 can still cut it, and deliver the goods in style.

The album is available via the following link

Mr Blue Rating 8/10

Lettie - Age of Solo

Lettie is one of those musician who seems to be able to create perfect pop songs which have an ability to slide effortlessly from the speaker, engage you, and you'll think you've been listening to these songs for years. Some of this is down to the simple fact that Lettie can write such well crafted songs, catchy hooks, wrapped in lush textures, and served in a mellow down-tempo manner.

The opening track 'Hero' hits you squarely with dream-like strings provided by Emily Welsch, then the voice of Lettie comes across with surety, and a simple yet seductive rhythm section.



On 'Future Retro' there is almost a slow Tom Tom Clubesque feel, with a slightly funky edge that would have made it an essential summer track, in the days when listening to pop music on the radio was a pleasant experience.
In some ways it's not surprising to see David Byrne & Talking Heads near the top of list on her Myspace, as her music feels like it comes directly from that moment when art & pop music fused in No-Wave. On 'What You Get' there is an almost chirpiness in Lettie's voice which echoes Jona Lewie, yet it belies a sadder tone held within the lyrics and a poignant message.



Nestling within every album there is a chance to find a piece of music which stands head & shoulders above so much, on 'Age of Solo' you just might find in on 'Mission'.
It's nothing less than a three and a half minutes of bliss, you can not add or take anything from it.
The track starts with a simple repeated organ chord, and builds around its core lush strings, and one of the most memorably weighted vocals I have heard in a long time.

It's effortless in its delivery, and I would say the album was worth it just for this one track alone. As the song ends Letties voice fades to the words 'The time is now, we've got to go, Beyond this brave new world', and you find yourself hitting the repeat button, it just will not let go.

With the likes of Lettie & Katja von Kassel there seems to be a growing resurgence of great singer/songwriters entering the electro scene. This has to be a very healthy indication that the art of pop music is alive and kicking.

If you are looking for music which is profound in its beauty, this will bring a warmth to anyone who decides to buy this album. This is beautiful pop music lovingly embellished with electronics, though not smothered so as it just falls into the sound of the crowd, instead it pulls on a much wider group of influences. Along the way you will discover a singer who will constantly delight you. Catch her live, and you will find her more experimental side coming out. The future looks like it could be very interesting, and I am looking forward to seeing Lettie develop her ideas even further.

Mr Blue Rating 8/10

Lettie's album ships for just seven English pounds and you can order a copy directly from her myspace page at:

http://www.myspace.com/lettiemusic

Chi Ming Lai takes a look at some emerging new electro talent who could make waves in 2009 including German artist Katja Von Kassel - whose track 'Goodbye Was Never Said' is on daily rotation here at EY.

Read on for Chi's personal picks in the coming New Year....

The most exciting music scene in nearly 30 years has created an environment for others to follow and flourish. 2009 promises new albums from MARSHEAUX, CLIENT, PARRALOX and the debut from RED BLOODED WOMEN plus the long awaited 'EY Vol1' compilation on Undo/EMI Records.

Meanwhile to keep you occupied, here's a pick of five new electro-friendly acts who may deserve your attention going in the New Year:

KATJA VON KASSEL



'Electro Weimar Cabaret' best describes opera schooled KATJA VON KASSEL. She is a captivating live performer, singing in both German and English, often within the same song. 'Lili Marlene' and 'Du Schwein' are dark but accessible while on 'Goodbye Was Never Said', it's 'Mein Herr' from the film 'Cabaret' dedicated to glam.

With 'Der Himmel Brennt', Katja is like GOLDFRAPP during their cinematic 'Felt Mountain' phase but doing a Marlene Dietrich impersonation!
In the words of her own MySpace page, it's the 1930's meets the future!

www.myspace.com/katjavonkassel

HERTZINFARKT


With the resurgence of synthetic material, Germany (the spiritual home of electronic music) had appeared to have been comparatively quiet but now there appears to be electro-activity. HERTZINFARKT are an electro duo in the EY tradition who sing in their native tongue accompanied by a Teutonic machine-beat, best represented by 'Wir Trauen Uns Was' .

Singer Diana sometimes has nods towards other German songstresses like BILLIE RAY MARTIN of ELECTRIBE101 and CLAUDIA BRUCKEN but as both sang in English, HERTZINFARKT have a character that's all their own. 'In Bilt und Ton' as they say! Or maybe even 'Disco Durch Technik'!

www.myspace.com/hertzinfarkt

THE VANITY CLAUSE


THE VANITY CLAUSE are a more UK traditional male synth duo influenced by the late 70s UK post-punk synthesizer sound as pioneered by early Mute Records and JOHN FOXX-era ULTRAVOX.

Formed in 2007, their aural palette is full of meaty electro riffs, analogue synth pads and lively programmed percussion. Their set features a great cover of FAD GADGET's 'Back To Nature' as well as songs with wonderfully futuristic titles such as 'Fluotexine' and 'Nutrillium'!

www.myspace.com/thevanityclause

JOHNNY LAZER


Heavily influenced by ADAM ANT and BILLY IDOL, JOHNNY LAZER will appeal to fans of SIGUE-SIGUE SPUTNIK. Could electro-cyberpunk be the next thing? Popjustice seems to think so and made 'Time Kills' a 'song of the day'.


Singer Anthony Cherrie is a lively, colourful character with big Mohican and stage act to match. Recently, Johnny Lazer played to nearly 800 people at The Grand International Cosplay Ball in London with 'Take My Picture' being particularly well received by the Japanese popular culture obsessed crowd!


www.myspace.com/johnnylazermusic

ARTHUR & MARTHA


Arthur & Martha are rather confusingly, Adam Cresswell and Alice Hubley. They've been described as 'Gilbert & George', disguised as The Carpenters, stealing the hits of Kraftwerk and bashing them out on an old Moog in the style of 'SECTION 25'.

With an impressive arsenal of old analogue synths and augmented by quirky instruments like melodica, stylophone and Theremin, Arthur & Martha present a lo-fi electro for happy robots to dance to. Their debut EP 'Autovia' is available now.

www.myspace.com/arthurandmartha

(Words CML)






Mainstream temporal EY pop...


We've gone a bit 'Top 40 Crazy' in recent weeks here at EY with one or two established big label artists who have crept into our most played mp3 chart.

First up was Rihanna's curiously retro 90's dance electro anthem 'Don't Stop The Music'.

This song was 'forced' upon us by a few people including Emma Stevens who thought we 'may like it'.

R'n'B's leading lady of the moment is best known for the biggest selling single of 2007 'Umbrella' which spent 10 weeks at number 1 here in the UK during the wettest summer since the Battle Of Hastings but we were urged to listen to another track and was quite surprised by the full-on electro sequenced nature of dancefloor filler 'Don't Stop The Music'.

It really shouldn't work, harking back to those horrible digital synth driven singles of the early 80's, but the producers of this track have merged the brilliant production of Quincy Jones and 'Thriller' mashed in with 90's dance and it all sounds so oddly European with Kraftwerk percussion bleeps.
The track is also aided by some very impressive vocals and classic pop structure which leads us to EY's track of the week...



'Call The Shots' is one of those rare and beautiful pop moments that were coming in the early 80's and you wouldn't expect Girls Aloud to ever match it. Well they jolly well have with their new single due for release next February.

'The Loving Kind' has been written for the the gals by none other than the Pet Shop Boys with musical hooks provided by Xenomania and it's another beautifully crafted pop song.


Part 'Liberation', part 'Call The Shots' - this is probably the best single by any girl band electro since we last dipped into the Top 40 (which is an awfully long time ago).
Close your eyes if you are still doubtful about the appeal of Girl's Aloud and you can almost hear Sarah Cracknell singing along to this for it is the best song that Saint Etienne never recorded.

Perhaps the most reassuring thing about this new Girls Aloud song is the confirmation that the PSB's still have a passion and ability to knock three minutes of electro pop song heaven.

Feb 09 also sees the release of the new PSB album produced by Xenomania.

Girls Aloud @ myspace


orac


Coming up over the festive season - Nu-electro sensation Little Boots

UK broadsheet The Guardian - home to critics such as Charlie Brooker of 'Screenwipe' fame, has a fascinating article by music journalist Caroline Sullivan on the second wave of female led electro that has been warming the analogue heart of EY since 2006.

'We're currently on the verge of just such a new-broom phase...', writes Caroline in the Culture section of The Guardian that mirrors recent comments from Chi on EY and the linear notes from 'EY VOL 1'.

'Out, according to record labels, are the male guitar bands who have dominated the charts and airwaves for much of the decade; in are solo electropop artists who have arrived en masse from Planet Quirky. If things go to plan, they'll be leading a return to idiosyncratic, credible pop to an extent that hasn't been seen since the 80s. And this time the hottest prospects are women.'



The article then goes on to tip NY artist Lady GaGa (pictured above), who'll soon be supporting The Pussycat Dolls on a major world tour plus mentions for Little Boots, La Roux and EY's personal tip for great things in 2009 Ladyhawke
A charming promoter at the fabulous Steel City whose CV includes Goldfrapp, was very impressed to hear that Ladyhawke was the EY album of 2008 and promised us tickets to see Pip live for her next UK tour - we are hanging on to that promise.



The greatest quote though from The Guardian article is this one from James Oldham, head of A&R at A&M Records; 'All A&R departments have been saying to managers and lawyers, 'Don't give us any more bands, because we're not going to sign them, and they're not going to sell records.' So everything we've been put onto is electronic in nature. British guitar bands became characterised as meat-and-two-veg - dull, bland, thin gruel, whereas this is seen as sleek, modernist, exciting, a mish-mash of modern elements'.

James traces this big shift in current pop music back to the post punk era of the early 80's, citing acts such as Adam Ant, ABC & Scritti Politti.

EY thinks that A&M should award James a great big fat pay rise. We need more people like him in the pop industry.

To read this brilliant article in full, please hit this link.

The Guardian is also very the first to review the new Dr Who Christmas special 'The Next Doctor'!


The future is bright, the future is 'EY VOL 1' - and the new Marsheaux remix of 'Hanging On' has been played 46 times here in Ascot since Tuesday night - perfect bleeps with all the best bits of the track lovingly expanded.

EY finally has a mailing list thanks to the programming skills skills of JVA who also did a bit of welcome name dropping in an email today. The next Parralox (due sometime in August along with EY4) will feature real bass which could be quite shocking to some especially EY HQ here in icy Ascot.

Thankfully, the bassist happens to be none other than Human League bassist and co-writer of some of pop's finest songs - Sir Ian Burden!

The EY newsletters in 2009 will be full of similar gossip and we have a busy year ahead of us with our own Undo/EY CD, EY4 featuring two bands very close to the heart of this site and a Northern Kind exclusive!
Click on this link to sign up and be a part of it.



Coming up - Mr Blue reviews new albums from Heaven 17 and EY fave Lettie plus news from Chi of a hot new German artist.


orac

Next month sees the release of 'ELECTRONICALLY YOURS EY VOL.1', the most significant collection of new electronic pop music since 1981's 'Some Bizzare Album' which launched the recording careers DEPECHE MODE, SOFT CELL, THE THE and BLANCMANGE.




Featuring synthly the best new acts on Planet Earth, 'EY Vol.1' has been pre-programmed for your listening pleasure!

'Electronically Yours' started as a blog in tandem with 'Secrets Online', both in celebration of synthesizer pioneers THE HUMAN LEAGUE.

The thrill of electronic music merged the two sites into one.
But then in late 2006, the discovery of Greek electro-maidens MARSHEAUX changed everything.

EY webmeister Rob Windle AKA Orac's belief in the duo's wonderful analogue synchronicity and Eurocentric charm led to them headlining the first 'EY Night' for their live UK debut in London and the aftermath was an enthusiastic union with Undo Records to bring you this 'Electronically Yours' CD.

Only one condition was specified...all the tracks had to be 'really good'!

So it is only apt that MARSHEAUX contribute a brand new track 'Sadly' to this collection as well as having a hand in several of the remixes on show.

'EY Vol.1' perfectly captures a fantastic moment in time. The last 24 months has seen a resurgence in what is known to many as 'electropop'.
In the past, it was the mainstay of boys with their toys who were prepared to play the role of 'outsider' in yesterday's tomorrow.

What has revitalised the genre without a doubt are the feisty, glamourous ladies who are not only fronting the music but are helping to create it too. No electropop puppets here! But it's the warmth that comes across these songs that will surprise many critics.

So taking the lead from 21st Century female fronted electronic acts LADYTRON, GOLDFRAPP and MISS KITTIN, this brilliant compilation brings together the best of 'neu musik' for those who still love the sound of synth.

No guitars here and frankly who cares?

No wonder Arctic Monkeys sang 'I bet you look good on the dance floor, dancing to electropop like a robot from 1984'.

That phrase could apply to any of the ladies present on 'EY Vol.1'.

Electropop as we know it has been around since 1977 when the GIORGIO MORODER produced 'I Feel Love' hit No1 with DONNA SUMMER.


Yes, there was KRAFTWERK but what has to be remembered in the context of the time is that 'Autobahn' was considered a novelty record.





'I Feel Love' designed the future and is the root DNA of this compilation.



21st Century electro is fresh BECAUSE of the female voices...80's synth pop never sounded this sexy! So TECHNOLOGIC's 'We Are Technology' brings 'I Feel Love' into the noughties, retaining its sequenced hypnotism.

Leading the British contingent are CLIENT with a MARSHEUX remix of their single 'It's Not Over'. Indeed, 'EY Vol.1' has added value in the supplement of some good old fashioned '12 inch' extended mixes, a format very much suited to electro in its 80s prime.

UK synth duo NORTHERN KIND provide an long version of 'On & On', complete with middle section 'breakdown' and boosted counter melodies while MARSHEAUX contribute a long awaited extended remix of 'Hanging On' which will delight their fans.

Also from the UK are ELECTROBELLE, CASSETTE ELECTRIK, THE ULTRASONICS and electro-girl band RED BLOODED WOMEN who provide their ode to the Ikea generation with 'You Made Your Bed'. Its bassline is just pure octave shift heaven!

But it's not all pure pop. Eccentric quirkiness, an important factor in interesting electro, is provided by KATSEN and NOUSH. From LA via Athens come KID MOXIE, led by the beautiful Elena Charbila, last spotted acting in a new film with Al Pacino. A remix of 'The L-Word' soundtracked 'Ma Romance D'Hiver' takes things to a darker edge with an added 'Je ne sais quoi'!

Australia is represented by PARRALOX who's tremendous 'X Minus One' combines the best of old technology such as Linn Drums and sparkling analogue synths with a New York disco beat. It's so infectious; this is one that you won't stop playing!












'EY Vol1' also features OBLIQUE from Spain, RACHEL CAR from the USA, HIDDEN PLACE from Italy, Denmark's TIGER BABY and another popular Greek electro act MIKRO with the stomping 'Restart'.

Finally, token male duo FOTONOVELA complete 'EY Vol.1' with an androgynous slice of vocodered atmospherics entitled 'Unfair'.

Indeed, the international flavour of this collection shows just how far the influence of the synthesizer has stretched. The world is finally in the Moog!

New electro is what keeps the blood flowing at 'Electronically Yours'.





Following on from the eventual success of the 'Some Bizzare Album', here's hoping that at least four of the acts on 'EY Vol.1' make it big too.

Keep it electro!

Chi Ming Lai - December 2008

Europe's electro wonderland www.undorecords.com

The very best of Electronically Yours 2007 - 08....


Artist: Various Artists
Title: 'Electronically Yours-EY VOL 1'
Cat no: CDUN14
Format : Double CD

Tracks:

CD1

01 Electrobelle:
Mirrorball
(Lyrics: Charlotte Sanderson / Music: Barry Mallon)
www.myspace.com/electrobelle
02 Client: It's Not Over (Marsheaux Radio Edit )
(Katie Holmes/Sarah Blackwood)
www.myspace.com/client
03 Cassette Electrik: The Smartest Bomb
(Bugiel/Freke/Van Kann)
www.myspace.com/cassetteelectrik
04 Oblique: All We Want
(Sonja/ Gonzalez/ Torres )
www.myspace.com/obliquemusic
05 Katsen: Where Nobody Can Find Us
(Donna Grimaldi/ Chris Blackburn)
www.myspace.com/katsenbeeps
06 Tiger Baby: At Least I'm Honest
(Tiger baby)
www.myspace.com/tigerbabymusic
07 Marsheaux: Sadly
(Marsheaux)
www.myspace.com/marsheaux
08 Red Blooded Women: You Made Your Bed
(RBW & Trademark)
http://www.myspace.com/redbloodedwomenmusic
09 The Ultrasonics: Perfect Girl
(Cliff Millender - James Kinnear - Jon Kinnear)
www.myspace.com/ultrasonics
10 Parralox: X Minus One
(John Von Ahlen)
www.myspace.com/parralox
11 Mikro: Restart
(Music: Nick Bitzenis/Lyrics: Ria Mazini)
www.myspace.com/mikrospace
12 Rachel Car: Love Love Baby
(Rachel Car)
www.myspace.com/rachelcarmusic
13 Noush: Tropic (Undo Edit)
(Anouska Chatoo)
www.myspace.com/neonoushie

CD2

01 Technologic: We Are Technology
(Martina Mars, Ray Grant)
Original recording Technologic 2008
www.myspace.com/wearetechnologic02 Kid Moxie: La Romance D'Hiver (Motorbikes in Tokyo Remix)
(Kid Moxie)
www.myspace.com/kidmoxie
03 Hidden Place: United (In The Name Of Memory)
(Lyrics: Sara Lux Vitelli, music:Fabio Vitelli, Giampiero Di Barbaro, Antonia Lasenna)
www.myspace.com/hiddenplaceitalia04 Electrobelle: Mirrorball (Marsheaux Remix)
(Lyrics: Charlotte Sanderson / Music: Barry Mallon)
www.myspace.com/electrobelle
05 Parralox: X-Minus One (EY3 RMX)
(John Von Ahlen)
www.myspace.com/parralox
06 Ultrasonics: Perfect Girl (Parralox RMX)
(Cliff Millender - James Kinnear - Jon Kinnear)
www.myspace.com/ultrasonics
07 Marsheaux: Hanging On (Extended Remix)
( Marsheaux )
www.myspace.com/marsheaux
08 Katsen: Where Nobody Can Find Us (Tragedy Mix)
(Donna Grimaldi/ Chris Blackburn)
www.myspace.com/katsenbeeps
09 Northern Kind: On & On 2008 Extended Mix
(Lyrics:Sarah Heeley/Music: Matt Culpin)
www.myspace.com/northernkinduk
10 Fotonovela: Unfair
(Fotonovela)
www.myspace.com/wearefotonovela

EY sleeve art by Christina Christoforou



'EY VOL 1' interviews with Marsheaux, Client, Northern Kind, Parralox & Kid Moxie can be reached via this link.


Orac chats about the brilliant new Marsheaux mix of EY's fave 'Peek A Boo' track - plus a chronological guide to the stomping CDUN14 and it's bonus remix CD.

Here on EY soon...

EY has waited patiently for over 20 years for a night like tonight.

Long time readers of this site and others will recall those hideous 'retro' tours at the turn of the decade where you had to endure useless acts - who only added to the UK media perception that the 80's was worthless - in order to catch a short set from the real innovators of UK 'future' pop.

EY was at one of the Rewind tours (that later gave birth to the dreaded 'Here & Now' Butlins tours) 10 years to the day at Wembley Arena when The Human League were passionately represented on internet by a site called Hysteria.
The audience and an internet newbie dubbed 'Orac' had been singing and screaming along to hits such as 'Mirror Man' and 'Love Action' - a live appearance by the reclusive League was a rare and wonderful thing back then.

The League's set back in 1998 was short but glorious.

ABC opened the night with Culture Club were headlining that night and we walked out two songs into their set wanting more of the League.
No disrespect to Culture Club but the real stars of that night and the band that shaped our musical destiny were already about to leave the venue in a large tour bus with tinted windows. We rushed back outside the venue to try and catch another glimpse.


Half an hour later, we saw a tour bus leaving the venue. Orac tapped on one of the windows as the bus slowed down to leave the car park. It remained static for a few moments and then a light was switched on from within to reveal the smiling face of Joanne Catherall who waved back whilst Philip looked out as cool as ever.

Orac and two other friends including one called Ian, waved back with enough passion that stretched right back to 1981 and the birth of those iconic hits.
The next day, we submitted a review to John Von Ahlen - the webmaster of Hysteria - the finest website about a band that you could possibly find during those early days of website wonder - and we were chuffed to see it published.
Ten year later on and we are working with John Von Ahlen in ways then we could ever have possibly imagined in 1998 - and all of it is born out of the League and the effect they had on both of us during the 80's and beyond.

Flash back to 11 years earlier and the League are performing at Hammersmith Odeon to promote 'Crash' shortly after a painful performance on CH4's The Tube. The support that night was the appallingly awful It Bites (another band whose only function was to give ammunition to the music snobs who bash the one genre that took all the limelight away from punk).





That very night, we wished that Heaven 17 were supporting the League.


Just when readers of this site couldn't think things would get much better with 2008 Yazoo live dates, Martyn Ware's long held view that the League should tour with Heaven 17 - a Sheffield triangular Axis of Pop finally became a reality along with glowing media interest and brisk ticket sales...

For here was a tour made for the real 80's connesuir who understood the power and lasting influence of perfect pop singles.







EY, Chi Ming Lai and Undo Records all met in Edwards opposite Hammersmith tube station at 5pm. Topics covered included the 'EY VOL 1' press release to be written by Chi (and it's perfect), two remaining wav files (now sent) and progress on a new Undo remix of EY's favourite Marsheaux track from 2007's genre blasting 'Peek A Boo'.
George from Undo tells EY that the mix is' 7 minutes' long, 'classic 80's extended remix' and George is smiling warmly as he tells us this.
As you can imagine at this point, orac is grinning from ear to ear and nodding (and punching the air in his mind) at the prospect of this track on the bonus 'EY VOL 1' CD.

The track in question is EY's very own personal anthem of 2007 and beyond...'Hanging On'.




As we leave for Hammersmith Apollo, we hook up with the singer from 'EY VOL 1' artist Kid Moxie.
Eleni has flown all the way over from LA in time to catch the League live before jetting off to Athens.
Eleni is warm, stunning, engaging and full of passion for electro.

She is amazingly grounded for someone who has recently finished a film with acting legend Al Pacino and countless adverts over in the States (during her youth in Greece, she even had her own TV show).

Given our history, we had to be at this gig from the moment the doors opened (we didn't even bother with the bar).

Heaven 17

Heaven 17 took to the stage at 7.40pm and by this time the venue close to filling point. H17 gigs are a very rare thing.
Back in 1981, the music press treated them like Gods (and they still are) for this band were doing things with electronics that would really pave the wave forward for many years to come H17 were seen as the critics faves, the trendy underground sound alchemists that would eventually go on to le-launch the career of Tina Turner.
Martyn Ware was the ultimate new wave producer having formed the Human League but early H17 singles stalled outside the top 40 despite all the critical acclaim whilst trashy acts crept in and almost rubbished the entire movement (rather depressingly, these are the acts that the masses tend to remember).



Finally, after some superb remastered re-issues and a sequence in BBC's 2008 'Life On Mars' sequel 'Ashes To Ashes' where 'Penthouse & Pavement' featured on the soundtrack sounded remarkably current during an excessive, yuppie sex scene, Heaven 17 are finally back from the wilderness and tonight they prove how good they are.

The set opens ominously with a short BEF ultra treatment taken from the electronic film soundtrack of 'Clockwork Orange' for this is the sound along with the 'Dr Who' theme and BBC Radiophonic Workshop that led to the birth of the Human League (and some people still don't get the connection between Dr Who and the Human League - some don't even know that there was League life before Dare).




This is the first time that Undo have seen Heaven 17 live - it is also the first time for orac (except for a BEF performance last year in the memory of the late great Billy McKenzie).
Heaven 17 perform classic, ground breaking tracks but they are all remodeled tonight, 'Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry', 'Penthouse & Pavement', 'Fascist Groove Thing' all delight with added powere from two outstanding female vocalists including Billie Godfrey who simply excels with every note.



The sound is crisp, and the new BEF arrangements are produced kowingly with enough care for those who have been there siince the very begiining.
George of Undo turns to Orac to comliment how timeless Glenn sounds right here in the Apollo. You could well be listening to your vinyl copy of 'Penthouse & Pavement' for Glenn's vocals are pitch perfect - all band members look pleased to be on stage and they are loving every monute of it.


During one break between songs, somone shouts out: 'Where's Ian Craig Marsh?'.
Glenn clocks him and smiles, 'We don't know where he is! Has anyone seen Ian Craig Marsh? Maybe he's the audience?'
EY secretly suspects that Ian has been abducted by some sinister electro circus and forced to control unstable analogue synths within metal 'artistic' strictures whilst fighting off musos and die hard punks with painted clown faces who still think its 1976.... one could possibly pitch such an idea to BBC-3.

It really doesn't matter that H17 are minus one because Martyn and Glenn are up there where they belong belting out tracks that are good enough to pull in any new unsespected newbie to electro for these songs are yet to blunted by continual Radio 2 airplay and 80's compilations for Tesco.
For tonight, this is real electro for anyone born well after 1985 and the crowd are loving every sequenced beat of it.

The intro for 'Come Live Me Me' blasts out of a very impressive PA - Orac turns to George and says 'I never tire of hearing this track'. George nods and we both sing along with Glenn who still sound exactly like 'The Luxury Gap' on the day of release back in 1983.
It is something of a forgotten track - buried under the crap of Wham, Culture Club and the estate agent delivery of post 1983 Spandua Ballet but tonight, you just get the feeling that if Heaven 17 tour more often, they could change a lot of perceptions and countless 80's compilations.

One of the highlights of the Heaven 17 set was 'Let Me Go' with the audience singing along. Prior to the track, Martyn asks Glenn to hold on whilst he tells the crowd that the original Human League played at this same venue some 30 years ago.


The remixed 'Scala' version of 'Geisha Boys And Temple Girls' also delights with crisp and modern sequencing - a mix so good that it could be future club hit across all the land.






Earlier in the week, we gave special mention to H17 vocalist Billie Godfrey and it's with the final track 'Temptation' where she captivated an entire audience and took a decade defining classic to a even higher level. This was a genius moment and a real shame that it wasn't captured for a future DVD release.

For a 'warm up' band, Heaven 17 were a fantasy act for any promoter, the crowrd was breathless and buzzing. A 35 minute set was gone in the blink of an eyelid.
EY expects and dreams of a full-on UK tour for H17 next year.

ABC

Up next are another band whose career Orac slavishly followed during the 80's even up to 1989's 'Up' that failed to break the UK's top 100 album charts though we still love it.
1982's 'Lexicon of Love' never fails to appear in media lists for the Top 100 albums of all time. Producer Trevor Horn was at the top of his game and it's an album that EY plays regularly - we actually appreciate it more now than we did back in 1982 (too many strings for a young electro obsessive during the fabulous summer of 1982 though the singles were all instant classics).
Many of the tracks from ABC's debut album get played tonight and Martin Fry can still belt out a ballad or two and command an audience as large and passionate as this one.
By this time, Orac has lost Chi and the Undo crew who kept their places close to the front of the stage and Orac is left right at the back by the bar. He is drinking a watered down pint of Carling surrounded by drunk Essex girls all singing out of tune and shouting 'oooh I luv this one babe!' as the opening notes of 'All of My Heart' send the audience into a frenzy.
Martin still has that Bryan Ferry effect on women.



At this moment, orac looks to his left and there standing next to him is 90's Swedish sex symbol Urika Johnson. She is here to see ABC. Orac knows this as he once read an interview with Urika where she declared her love not for a former Manager of England football team but for ABC.
The set is enjoyable though the live sound lacks that brilliant Trevor Horn Sheen. Martin is also the only original originator on stage. No David Palmer or Mark White and it's a bit of a shame.
Lesser known hit 'How To Be A Millionaire' still delights (we always thought that this was ABC's most creative period) and 1985 US hit 'Be Near Me' is our ABC highlight of the night.

As stage hands begin to prepare for The Human League, orac spots two absolute electro legends close by. Paul Humphries of OMD and Claudia Brucken one of the electro's very first ladies with ZTT act Propaganda.
Paul is one of several analogue innovators who get a mention in the sleeve notes of the forthcoming 'EY VOL 1' and Orac has one 7-track promo left whilst once sentence is based on a memorable lyric from Propaganda's 'Wishful Thinking' album..
Paul and Claudia are delightful and very friendly, Claudia even knows about EY which almost left this humble author speechless.
Claudia looks stunning and graceful whilst Paul is happy to receive the promo and compliments the Undo sleeve art. Paul met the Undo crew in Athens last year when Marsheaux supported OMD and we then chatted about OMD's triumphant London gig at the Roundhouse.
Perhaps we may be able to get a Paul & Claudia One Two interview for EY in the coming month?

We thank Paul & Claudia for their respective classics that shaped this genre and as we approach the bar, another unexpected delight. Marsheaux's 'Peek A Boo' gem 'What A Lovely Surprise' is blasting out of the PA. Undo had been asked to send copies of their albums to League HQ in Sheffield some months back but orac punched the air to the sound of Marianthi and Sophia before sending a text to Undo's George who was lost somewhere in the dense crowd before us. We imagined he'd already be calling the girls back in Athens on his mobile the size of a big red brick (an old 80's mobile he keeps charged for sentimental reasons).

The Human League

All goes quiet after one more song from Soft Cell before the stage is lit by brilliant electric light. The light fades and every inch of this futuristic set is covered in cells of tiny lights. There are two levels with David Beevers (looking remarkably slim), Nick Burke, Neil Sutton and percusionist Rob Barton and all lined-up in a classic nod to Kraftwerk behind synths.

db coolly lifts a light stick and hits a drum pad, he is surrounded by futuristic music tech.

On the lower lever bright red digital numbers begin to countdown and 'Seconds' opens the show.
Philip is hidden but when he finally walks on stage wearing a long black overcoat and shades, there is a huge roar from the audience.

The sound is amazing with deep bass that never drowns out the higher frequencies whilst the huge screen behind the band is like something out of a big budget Madonna tour.

It really is quite spectacular with sci-fi images, planetary landscapes and lush colours.

Tonight is a night for big iconic hits and after several years of constant tours and sheer hard work, there isn't a single person who can't sing along to the likes of 'Mirror Man', 'Fascination', 'Open Your Heart' and 'Love Action'.










Back in 2003, the League would nervously perform lesser known tracks such as 'Empire State Human' and sections of the audience wouldn't dance. Philip would even appear apologetic afterwards promising that it 'is on the Greatest Hits'.



Things are very different now as 'ESH' is a tour highlight with Phil armed with a strap on Moog seemingly in battle with guitarist Nick during the track's off wordily instrumental break.
And the great thing is that the audience know know this little gem of a track from League Mk1's 1979 debut 'Reproduction'.

The League's manager Simon Watson walks past and we shake hands and compliment him on how brilliant the show and stage set is He looks proudly back at the band performing and smiles.
It's a great night and the audience are going mad for it.
Another highlight for EY was 1984's 'Louise' with that bass line that travels right through you and it is perfectly sung by Phil, Jo and Susan whilst the screen follows the footsteps of a woman walking away from a northern bus station.


'The Lebanon' also sounds amazing and highly charged with some cool background imagery of another woman - only this time she spinning the barrel of a loaded pistol.
This is all a far cry from the Secrets tour back in 2001 where the League were playing to half full venues and people who had just come along to hear 'Don't You Want Me'.

Every song tonight is greeted with huge roars particularly from a very rowdy group of men close by who seem to think they are at a Millwall football match. Every few seconds, a slightly scary looking individual (picture if you can the infamous Chelsea Headhunters), keeps shouting out 'Go on Philip my son!' and 'get in there Philip!'.
Electro devotion was never like this in the 80's and orac slowly and calmly moves away from this group of Essex bother boys.

The only negative on the night for EY was that Martyn Ware didn't get to perform League Mk1 tracks with Philip.
We think that a trick was missed there but given the popularity of this current tour, there is always next Christmas....

EY Steel City Rating: 9/10



You can catch the Steel City tour on the two remaing dates at: Newport tonight and the final date in Steel City - Sheffield Arena on Saturday 13th December.

Tickets available here.

If you would like to use any of Richard's Steel City images for websites of future publications, please contact him first via this email addy.

(With thanks to Simon Watson and The Human League)

Steel City and the Sheffield Axis of Brilliant Pop finally reached London's Hammersmith Apollo last night and EY was there with Undo's George Geranios, Chi Ming Lai and striking Kid Moxie singer Eleni Charbila.

We are still collecting our thoughts and recovering from yet another buzzy and unforgettable electro night with the most stylish and vibrant stage set for the League in their entire history together with the finest ever 'warm-up' band to ever grace a London stage - Heaven 17.

We can't sign off without first raving about the vocal talents of the lady pictured opposite. Original 'Temptation' vocalist Carol Kenyan was an amazing talent discovered by Heaven 17 back in 1982 but last night Billie Godfrey captivated a packed venue with some of the most pitch perfect vocals that we've ever heard.

(Billie image © Richard Price)

EY was in awe during an epic live version of 'Temptation' as Billie hit operatic notes - the least we can do is give Billie the headline pic on EY as we prepare our review with more on this plus unexpected electro legends in the audience, the moment where EY was close to asking Urika Johnson if she fancied doing some electro...

Finally, Marsheaux where played on the PA shortly before the League took to the stage and tomorrow - we reveal which 'Peek A Boo' track is given the Undo 7 minute remix treatment especially for 'EY VOL 1'....

(Kid Moxie's Eleni bites the 'EY VOL 1' promo with orac - image: Chi Ming Lai)

Electronic pop is back with a vengeance. There have been the classic album tours from the likes of OMD, GARY NUMAN and SIMPLE MINDS but one true sign was when DURAN DURAN featured an 'electro' set during their current 'Red Blooded Massacre' tour.
Almost as a reaction against the dreaded 'acoustic' set which plagues rock gigs, DD took to the stage behind synthesisers and electronic percussion in a KRAFTWERK stylee and proceeded to run through covers of 'Showroom Dummies' and 'Warm Leatherette' as well as rearranged synth versions of some of their own songs.

With this segue, DURAN DURAN finally acknowledged their electronic club roots and delighted their loyal fans.

Meanwhile, YAZOO reformed to attend to some 'unfinished business' and found their music being sampled by girl groups and REX THE DOG while the 'Sheffield Axis' of THE HUMAN LEAGUE, ABC and HEAVEN 17 finally went on the road together, reinforcing their influence on popular culture. And the Midge Ure fronted version of ULTRAVOX announced a 2009 reunion tour following a reissue campaign and a spate of 'leaked' rehearsal clips on YouTube.

But the biggest public recognition came with the news that PET SHOP BOYS were to be given the 'Outstanding Contribution to Music' Award at the 2009 BRITS. The most 'political' of all awards, the music industry had to finally accept that real music can be just two individuals...one posing at the front while the other, standing motionless several paces behind, stares at a computer screen!

Indeed, Neil Tennant once remarked that if John Lennon and Paul McCartney had met in 1980, THE BEATLES would have been a synthesizer duo and not bothered with George and Ringo!!

Electronic pop as we know it has been around since 1977 when the GIORGIO MORODER produced 'I Feel Love' hit No1 with DONNA SUMMER. Yet it's taken over 30 years for the cultural significance of the genre to be recognised! In the midst of all this retro-futurist activity, female fronted electro became firmly established and gave a fresh take on what many have considered a throwback from the past.

'80's'...that dreaded term used by non-believers for anything that has a synth!
So why is it acceptable for people to criticise any number of bands featured on EY for being 'too 80s' while songstresses like DUFFY, ADELE and AMY WINEHOUSE get praised for being 'authentic', yet are never considered to be 'too 60s'?

21st Century electro is fresh BECAUSE of the female voices...80's synth pop never sounded like this! All these comments about it all being 'too 80s' have been severely misguided. 70s and 80's electronic music was very male. Although there was Alison Moyet and Annie Lennox, both did have a 'butch' bluesy vocal style so it was very much boys with their toys. The female led PROPAGANDA were critically acclaimed but never gained mainstream acceptance.

It was pretentious, it was nerdy and it was why we liked it then! But as things progressed to the late 80s, the most popular synth acts were PET SHOP BOYS and ERASURE who had quite effeminate male vocalists. So it's only been a natural progression to where we are now when you remember how 90's dance stuff like the brilliant 'It's Not Over' by GRACE or 'Hideaway' by D'LACY sounded.

But what's happened to all the male fronted acts? It's been a disappointing year for them. Why? With new male synth acts unfortunately, there's very much a 'heard this before' attitude from the listener and one often switches off when there is yet another band who sounds like DEPECHE MODE or GARY NUMAN! The songs are not usually the problem it would seem but the presentation.

After years of trying, TRADEMARK have effectively replaced the three of themselves with three girls who can give a new slant to their songs.

The message is still the same, only the messenger has changed. Hence, with the TRADEMARK produced song 'You Made Your Bed', RED BLOODED WOMEN have slowly emerged as possibly the most credible girl group ever by appealing to pop and electro fans alike.

Another act managing to cross that bridge between pop and electro are PARRALOX. Their MADONNA meets THE HUMAN LEAGUE sound on their debut album 'Electricity' has been the most played at EY in 2008 and has gained positive mentions on influential music sites such as 'Popjustice'.



But their appeal can be explained with the demo version of 'I Fell In Love with A Drum Machine' that was given away to early purchasers.
This was really interesting in that it featured instrumentalist John Von Ahlen on lead vocals instead of Roxy.

Now, John's not got a bad voice but the song felt totally different to the final version. Roxy's voice gave it a sultry sex appeal and turned it into something else. A strong voice is not needed to do electro but when you have do have one like Roxy or the RBW girls, the songs crossover into becoming classic, outstanding pop :)

The success of LADYTRON, MARSHEAUX, NORTHERN KIND and the forthcoming release of the 'EY Vol1' compilation on Undo Records has reinforced just how electro-activity 'is in the air for you and me'! International acts such as LADYHAWKE, FROST, TECHNOLOGIC, OBLIQUE, KID MOXIE and HIDDEN PLACE have showcased how vibrant electro influences have become while good old fashioned British quirkiness (always an important aspect of interesting electro) came in the form of KATSEN and NOUSH.

Meanwhile, flying the flag for the male of the species have been MOTORBIKES in TOKYO and FOTONOVELA. But a lot of their sound has evolved from taking the opportunity to work with female fronted acts.

The future is looking good. Changing, designing, adapting our mentalities. Improving our abilities for a better way of life!

Chi Ming Lai's EY Top 10 songs of 2008
(*OK, with one from 2007 one too cos Chi only heard it this year!)

1:  X Minus One - PARRALOX
2:  You Made Your Bed - RED BLOODED WOMEN
3:  Sleepwalker - FROST*
4:  Dirty Youth - NORTHERN KIND
5:  We Believe In Electric Love - PARRALOX
6:  Runaway - LADYTRON
7:  Bizarre Love Duo - MARSHEAUX
8:  Tropic - NOUSH
9:  Who's That Girl? - ROBYN
10:  Nobody Can Find Us - KATSEN


Chi's Album of The Year

PARRALOX - Electricity

There was only ever going to be one album and it's this body of modern electro-pop by the duo from Melbourne, Australia. LADYTRON's 'Velocifero' was moderately in contention but it boiled down to which one was always being constantly played in the car or at home!!

The album's gestation time was amazing, PARRALOX only formed at the beginning of 2008 and set themselves a work rate of recording one track a week leading to the release of 'Electricity' in the Autumn and their triumphant debut live appearance at EY3. As instrumentalist/producer John Von Ahlen remarked; 'this is an album by fans...for fans!'

The first thing that strikes you is how immediate the songs are. Yes, the blueprint is 'Dare' but 'Electricity is pastiche and tribute, it is retro but futuristic.

The palette varies from classic UK synth wave and the New York influenced dance scene to big ZTT-style productions and 80's mid-Atlantic power pop.

The exquisite vocals of Roxy put this synthetic material above most music of any genre this year. She really does make you want to believe in electric love!

With 'Electricity', PARRALOX have blitzed the opposition. If you've bought KEANE's new album instead of this because it sounded '80s', then hang your head in shame!

Chi Ming Lai's Classic Electro Reissue Albums Top 10 of 2008

1:  Some Bizzare Album - VARIOUS ARTISTS
Stevo's showcase futurist compilation from 1981 which put DEPECHE MODE, SOFT CELL, THE THE, BLANCEMANGE and B-MOVIE on the map...no more needed to be said!

2:  Rage In Eden - ULTRAVOX
Dark, moody Conny Plank produced meisterwerk, now with restored the original Herve Morvan 'Cinemonde' inspired front cover artwork (possibly Peter Saville's best sleeve design) and bonus disc of live tracks / work in progress. The 2009 'Return To Eden' tour has made reissue even sweeter!

3:  Fine and Also Rare China - CHINA CRISIS
Only available at their gigs, this interesting set features some demos and unreleased tracks recorded in Eddie Lundon's bedroom during the band's earlier days when they were experimenting much more with drum machines and synths! Come on lads, let's get the BBC Sessions for John Peel and Janice Long out next!!

4:  Dazzle Ships - OMD
OMD's icy 32 minute 'musique concrete' experiment now doubled in length by B-sides, a demo of 'Telegraph', 12 inch versions and the 'Swiss Radio International' jingle!

5:  Methods Of Dance - VARIOUS ARTISTS
Budget curio from Virgin Records archives which collects dub mixes from EY faves HUMAN LEAGUE, HEAVEN 17 and BEF (featuring Billy MacKenzie) plus JAPAN, CHINA CRISIS, MAGAZINE and superb songs from forgotten acts such as the Martyn Ware produced ALLEZ ALLEZ and RICHARD STRANGE. There's also the superb rare SIMPLE MINDS B-side 'Soundtrack For Every Heaven' thrown in!

Coming soon - Steel City in London as seen through the eyes of EY plus a track by track guide to 'EY VOL 1' including the bonus disc complete with brand new 'Peek A Boo' remix..but which track? ;)

EY is slowly recovering from our third electro event whilst making plans for the next one in the summer of 2009.

(Photography by Tina (courtesy of Annellie Rosenkrantz)

We've already approached two of our choice bands for EY4 - both live far beyond the shores of the UK so it's a fairly ambitious plan we have for next August but everything will be bigger and better for EY4 (we may even have a decent sound engineer).



Anyway, enough of these daft spoilers ....Parralox safely touched down in Melbourne late last night still buzzing from EY3 (John had already composed a new song for the next album on the long flight back from London that we are keen to hear).

For the past few days, we've been blasting out the Parralox backing mixes that we were kindly given the day after the event and one of the highlights for EY (along with Red Blooded Women's 'Synthesizer', the girl's Krafty DM cover 'Enjoy The Silence' - and Motorbikes in Tokyo's equally clever cover of 'Photographic') - was the new Parralox live mix of 'X Minus One'.



Within hours of Parralox touching down on the other side of the world, EY was pestering them about getting that mix on our Myspace player so that everyone can crank up their PC speakers and have a bit of an EY3 party.
This Parralox EY3 version reminds us of the very best of the Pet Shop Boys (Girls Aloud are releasing their PSB track early next year), a band who would remix a track for a special live appearances and come up with a new classic (PSB's remixed 'Violence' for a rare live slot at the Hacienda with Johnny Marr and it can be found on the 1995 'Alternative' CD - it's a bit of an EY fave).
We have a completely different extended remix of 'X Minus One' for the bonus disc of 'EY VOL 1' (think NY electro, classic extended remixes and Shannon - it's a belter of a mix), but to blast out last Friday's EY3 remix of 'X Minus One' - hit this link.

(Parralox EY3 Images: Tina, Chi)

Here's some EY3 feedback we received via Facebook from Jonathan Dean....


Hello there.

Needless to say, had a riotous time on friday, Parralox and RBW were both great. Only downside was the absence of 'True Faith'!
I dragged a few friends from LSE along with me and they had fun too, even though they had to leave early, but in general the turnout was amazing, not used to having to jostle for positions at electro gigs!


JD



(RBW EY3 Image: Paul B)

Coming up...Steel City reaches London! Orac, Chi, Undo Records and Kid Moxie will all be there!

Hi Rob



I just wanted to say thanks, firstly, for running such a great website.
I've always been a fan of electronic music but only discovered your site at the end of last year and it has rekindled my passion for all things electro!

Thanks to Electronically Yours, I've bought albums this year by Roisin Murphy, Marsheaux, Ladytron and Parralox...and love all of them! I've also been to some excellent gigs, most recently EY3 last Friday...





What a great night! We've been playing the Parralox CD in our house non-stop in recent months, so we were really excited about seeing them live. They certainly lived up to expectations, with a storming set and a great acapella singalong to 'Electricity' at the end! Just a shame it was over so quickly...
I hope you can persuade them to come back to the UK again soon!
(orac: watch this space ;))

Thanks again Rob, and keep up the good work!

Best wishes,

Steve Gray



Orac & Sarah Schmoof EY3 playlist:

Ladyhawke: Magic, Ultravox: All Stood Still 12" version, Marsheaux: Hanging On, Talk Talk: It's My Life, Gary Numan: Cars, Heaven 17: Temptation, Kim Wilde: Kids In America, Depeche Mode: Just Can't Get Enough,OMD: Enola Gay, Buggles: Video Killed The Radio Star, Pnau & Ladyhawke: Embrace, Squeeze: Take Me I'm Yours, Madonna: Burning Up, Girls Aloud: Call The Shots, Human League: Don't You Want Me, ABC: The Look of Love, Visage: Fade To Grey 12" version, Pet Shop Boys: What Have I Done To Deserve This, New Order: True Faith, Swing Out Sister: Breakout (twice by accident) and a few more ;)



EY is keen to hear reaction to the Steel City Tour and Heaven 17 - send us your comments and pics to this email addy.

Despite a bitterly cold and damp Friday evening in Shoreditch, 150 EY readers came along to our third electronic event to see the debut UK performance of new electro sensations Parralox and a storming live set from one of the UK's most promising acts of 2008 - Red Blooded Women.
Some tickets holders even traveled as far from Finland, Dublin and Scotland for our event.

Initial niggles with the PA during the sound check failed to effect all three live acts with Motorbikes In Tokyo opening the night with a very clever live set featuring strange analogue sounds and a blinding cover of Depeche Mode's 'Photographic'.

Plane diversions, jet lag and a few mic problems were soon forgotten about as Parralox got the best reception seen at an EY event since the UK debut of the Mighty Marsheaux.

Choice tracks from 'Electricity' plus a radically remixed version of Undo Record's fave 'X Minus One' warmed the EY crowd during an all too brief 30 minute set with vocal duties shared between Roxy and John. Rarely has a Micro Korg been put to such splendid good use (and very kindly provided to us on the night by the very generous Motorbikes In Tokyo).


The performance also had a stunning back projection of EY animation, Roxy footage and the entire script of 'Blake's 7' script from the 1981 episode 'Headhunter' that faded off into space much like the opening of Star Wars.
One of the UK's top pop blogs Worraplova reviewed the Parralox debut with these glowing words over the weekend; 'Parralox delivered a blasting set. Roxy's voice is CD-perfect: what you hear on the recorded version is the same live. And John's songwriting really comes to the fore. These are great pop songs worthy of rubbing shoulders with top tenners.'




'Electricity' was the final song played with the capacity crowd singing along to John and Roxy with an unplanned encore on the night (sadly there was no time for the band's planned cover of New Order's 'True Faith' but readers may get to hear it at some point soon).
Watch out for an interview with Parralox over on Electroqueer soon that was being held today in London.
Other notable guests in the audience included Katsen who delivered the wav file of their rather splendid new extended remix of 'Where Nobody Can Find Us' for the 'EY VOL 1' bonus disc (no rest for Orac as much of this week will be spent working on the new double CD before it's pressed here in the UK), and Ken from Australian band Tycho Brahe.
Northern Kind's Matt was also on hand to give invaluable help for Parralox such as a Northern Kind keyboard stand and use of his laptop for the back projection.




Our final act of the night matched the brilliance of Parralox.
Red Blooded Women managed to project their stunning vocal talents way beyond one or two dodgy mics that were causing us problems all night.
New tracks were performed on the night including a brilliant cover of DM's 'Enjoy The Silence' that totally captivated the audience who raised their arms and cheered with each vocal lead from Candy, Liz and Carly.

The music cut out briefly during the crowd pleasing 'Synthesizer' due to the amp at the back of the venue near the DJ decks that kept overheating.
Orac had to hold a fan above the amp for RBW's final track to ensure that it didn't cut out again in an act of selfish devotion to the world of electro.



RBW loved the EY crowd and the audience loved them.

RBW are, without doubt, future stars.

EY remained in London all weekend until Monday morning, making plans with Sarah and a few others (who must remain a secret ;)) for EY4 which will be at a bigger venue in August 2009 (and we will ensure that the sound is perfect next time round with more than one sound engineer who understands the demands of live electronic music).
We already know who we would love to have headlining and supporting...more hints hopefully in the New Year.


EY also received a lovely gift from Parralox on Sunday - a special one-off CD of the Parralox EY3 backing tracks plus a DVD of the back projection.

Huge thanks to all those who came along on Friday night and also to our three bands, DJs and MC Chi who all made it such a buzzy and special night for EY and Sarah Schmoof!

More photos EY3 photos will follow shortly and let us know what you thought of the event via email.

Orac really must try and sleep now...

To read the Worrapolava EY3 Parralox review plus some news on the new Marsheaux album - please click here.

(EY3 images superbly captured by Chi Ming Lai)

After some behind the scenes biting of nails, the good news is that the Parralox jet finally touched down safely in London yesterday morning after being diverted due to unrest in Bangkok. Within hours of getting off the plane, Roxy was wired...and shopping.
EY also witnessed a welcome dash for e-tickets and we received news that a few record labels will be heading to Industry tonight to see UK Sensations Red Blooded Women.



Much of EY's and Undo's time has been spent trying desperately to sort out the promo for 'EY VOL 1' but sadly we couldn't resolve the issue. This has led us to seek out a company in the UK who can press the double CD and we shall choose one early next week.
Here's a message from the Undo team:


"Rob..Sadly....we inform you that we are not going to supply you the 200 promo EY Vol1 Cd as we had promised you for the EY 3 party.
The problem is that the factory where the promos been pressed cant supplied us on time the CDs due workload (that was the officially explanation by them). We feel very sorry about this but we promise you that we are not going to have any further problems"
George+Nick(Undo Team)

There was some good news though for Undo and EY's 2007 album of the year 'Peek A Boo'.
The Editor of respected UK music publication Future Music picked out 'Peek A Boo' with these glowing words: 'Cool, hard Euro tuneage packing some of the best electropop I've heard in years. Stunning, sexy and slick'.

Warm congratulations to Marsheaux and all of the Undo team.

'EY VOL 1' will include an exclusive new UNDO remix from 'Peek A Boo' on the bonus disc of remixes. Watch this space...




Online EY3 e-tickets can still be snapped up till 3.00pm today or you can just come along a pay on the door.

We look forward to seeing a few of you at Industry tonight ;)

Dave Simpson of The Guardian has written a glorious article about Steel City and three bands very close to the heart of EY.
'Armed only with wooden synthesisers and globs of hair gel, Sheffield's pop pioneers sparked a musical revolution. Dave Simpson hears how it all happened from members of the Human League, Heaven 17 and ABC...'

To read the full article, please click here.

'I still hate rock music. I think it's adolescent, easy, power-chord nonsense.' - Philip Oakey November 08

(With thanks to Martyn Ware)

EY has yet more glamour for you in the countdown to EY3.


Parralox uploaded a sneak preview of just one of the EY3 back projections to youtube for you all to savior before they hopped on a plane from Sidney - to trendy electro Shoreditch London.




Not only do you get two moving images of Roxy - Australia's tallest and most striking of singers - but a brand new dub mix of 'Sharper Than A Knife'!!
This is a dub mix so cunningly electro that you'll fall in love with this stomper five times over (again) and it's a mix that captures perfectly what this site has been banging on about since October 2001.

UPDATE: At the time of writing, Parralox's private pop jet has currently been diverted due to riots in Bangkok - but the onboard flight computer has just been re-programmed and the band will be teleporting to a venue in Shoreditch on Friday.

To hear and see the rather splendid new Parralox dub - please click here.

Grab a ticket for EY3 below for instant analogue gratification (guaranteed)

It's EY3 week and today we are celebrating perhaps our most glamorous line-up at Industry this coming Friday.

If EY was to knock out a 2009 electro girl calendar then it would surely featuring four of our EY3 performers. Pleasing and curvy aesthetics aside, all four electro ladies also happen to have some of the best live vocals in pop today and the added bonus of instant future pop hits.

Pictured above is a sneaky grab of Roxy from one of Parralox's EY3 back projections for the new single 'Sharper Than A Knife' reminding us a bit of Madonna at her best from the 'Cherish' period of 1989.



Much of Parralox's acclaimed debut album 'Electricity' was recorded with just one vocal take thanks mainly to Roxy's unique vocal talents. Roxy is almost 7 feet tall and will probably be the tallest person at Industry on Friday night.

Spoiler 1: Parralox will be performing a special cover on the night - it's not DM but the band have been mentioned on this page within the last few weeks - the 12" mix from 1987 is probably one of our fave mixes from that decade. The legendary Shep Pettibone was involved in that one and that's all we're giving away until Friday night..






Two weeks ago, EY witnessed Red Blooded Women's finest gig so far at Water Rats where every solo vocal performance from Candy, Liz and Carly brought applause from a packed crowd - an impressive amount of people considering that the gig was quickly arranged for a record label at short notice.
Highlight of the night was a new track 'Memories' produced by those Krafty Trademark boys - think PSB's 'Paninaro' and Italian Disco - it's a classic.
EY doesn't type these words lightly, but the live vox of Candy, Liz and Carly on this night were the best we've heard since Alison Goldfrapp at Reading's Hexagon back in January 2006 for the Supernature tour.

Spoiler 2: RBW have recorded a very special Depeche Mode cover for EY3 that the girl's and their manager are very pleased with. The song is so good that it will likely be featured on RBW's debut album and much more next year. You'll hear the premier of this track at EY3 on Friday night...


Chi Ming Lai caught up with RBW's Welsh Wonder Carly for a quick Q&A...


Everyone from Wales seems to be able to sing. You've had classical training. So were you being groomed to be the next Charlotte Church or Katherine Jenkins?

Well, Wales is the land of song as they say! LOL! I was classically trained for 9 years. But I had some advice once, and they said that even pop stars get classically trained just to have good core skills for singing so you don't damage your voice! My sister is studying opera, so she might be the next Katherine Jenkins, not me though!

Your new songs are real crackers. Which one has been your favourite and why?

'Synthesizer'; I love this song, it's such a crowd pleaser, and always finishes our set off well! The guitar solo in the beginning is the best part; it just grabs your attention immediately!

It's certainly a favourite among your fans and with songs like that, RED BLOODED WOMEN are helping to make electro sexy. Do you feel sexy when you're onstage and how are you coping with all the attention from your fans?

I don't think we have even thought 'oh let's make electro sexy', but if we do that's great!
I do feel quite sexy on stage with the outfits and everything, but I try not to think about it to much, I just love performing!

The attention and reactions we are getting from our fans is amazing, it's quite strange at first to take in that people love us and our music. But we are so grateful that they support us and come to our gigs!

How do you think has the 'You Made Your Bed' EP been received?

It's done really well! I think people thought we might have released a more obvious single eg 'Colour Me Dirty'. But we wanted to do something different, and I think it's worked really well!

'Your name isn't Rio' but have you ever been 'dancing to electropop like a robot from 1984'?

HAHA nice referencing there!! Well I was born in 1989 but I didn't use to dance around to a bit of Kylie and Whitney Houston!!

NEW ORDER did their best album 'Technique' in 1989! What's your favourite New Order song?

Probably the most obvious one, 'Blue Monday'!!





Doors open for EY3 at 8.00pm and at 8.30pm on the dot be sure to catch our first band of the night - the brilliant Motorbikes In Tokyo downstairs at Industry where this is a well staffed bar so don't miss them!
Parralox hit the stage at 9.15pm followed by Red Blooded Women at 10.00pm.


E-tickets for EY3 are just 7.00 in advance from the paypal button below of 8.00 pounds on the door.

UNDO/EMI had spent the last few weeks compiling, designing and mastering a special promo that we were hoping to have in time for EY3 - but unfortunately - due to events way out of our control - we don't have this promo.

We will have a statement from Undo and details of duplication problems shortly, plus new plans to get 'EY VOL 1' pressed here in the UK.
As you can imagine, we are gutted about the promo and apologise to everyone who wanted a copy.











Related links:

Undo @ myspace
Electrobelle @ myspace
Marsheaux @ myspace
Parralox @ myspace
Noush @ myspace
Mikro @ myspace
Katsen @ myspace

Way, way back in the late 70's when most bands were trying to work out how to play three chords on a guitar, Martyn Ware was busy putting together a band in Sheffield that would totally go against the punk movement of that time.
The Human League MK1 was the UK's first synth band and soon after the release of debut single 'Being Boiled' in 1978 - the League would change UK pop music forever and later inspire Vince Clarke to form Depeche Mode.
EY managed to get a few questions over to electro legend Martyn Ware whilst he prepares for the release of a new Heaven 17 album 'Naked as Advertised' and The Steel City Tour that begins in Edinburgh on November 30th.
The questions come form Chi Ming Lai, John Von Ahlen of Parralox and Orac...



MARTYN WARE - THE DIGNITY OF LABOUR

Early HUMAN LEAGUE

Orac: The immortal phrase 'Electronically Yours' from the 'Being Boiled' vinyl sleeve - that inspired this site.
Can you remember who came up with that?

Martyn: ME!

Chi: True or false? THE HUMAN LEAGUE's sleeve declaration of 'synthesizers and vocals only' on the cover of 'Travelogue' was a reaction to QUEEN's declaration of 'no synthesizers'?

Martyn: TRUE

Chi: You had no drum machines then so you were literally thumping 'drum' sounds one fingered from your synth onto tape to a metronome! Did you find things rhythmically limiting despite your 'synthesizers only' manifesto?

Martyn: NOT TRUE - WE HAD HARDWARE SEQUENCER FROM SYSTEM 100 AFTER BEING BOILED ET AL - RHYMICALLY LIMITING? YEAH, BUT WHAT OPTIONS DID WE HAVE - BTW NEVER USED A METRONOME...

JVA: Did you consciously fall into the role of producer, or was it a natural evolution from being a synth player in the early days of THL?

Martyn: EVERYTHING WE DID WAS PRODUCTION RIGHT FROM THE START - SO YES IT WAS NATURAL.


Chi: How good a keyboard player were you then? In your partnership with IAN CRIAG MARSH, were you the 'musical' one and he the 'soundscaper'? Or were there no designated roles?

Martyn: I PLAYED THE MORE HOOKY 'MUSICAL' PARTS - IAN GENERALLY MAINLY DID THE SY 100 (BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY).

Chi: After 'Reproduction', you released the 12 inch 'I Don't Depend On You' as THE MEN. Although written by the original HUMAN LEAGUE line-up, it featured conventional instrumentation and female backing vocals alongside the synths.
What prompted this and the use of a pseudonym? And could this be in some ways be seen as the conception of HEAVEN 17?

Martyn: SIMPLE - WE ALSO WANTED TO BE A TRADITIONAL DISCO BAND - BUT WE HAD TO BE ANOTHER IDENTITY TO USE REAL INSTRUMENTS.
RE H17, I SUPPOSE SO TO A CERTAIN EXTENT

Chi: So GARY NUMAN got to No1 twice in 1979 basically doing your act! But then in 1980, THE HUMAN LEAGUE finally get to do 'Top Of The Pops' with 'Rock'N'Roll', alongside OMD who are also debuting with 'Messages'. A few weeks later, they get to No.13 while 'Holiday 80' stiffs...you can't have been happy about that?

Martyn: WE WERE GUTTED - IT REALLY SHOOK OUR CONFIDENCE AT THE TIME, BUT WE SOON RECOVERED.

Chi: You finally got your own back on OMD in 1983 when 'The Luxury Gap' went massive
while their experimental 'Dazzle Ships' sold like cold pies! Then the track you produced for TINA TURNER, 'Let's Stay Together' goes Top10. Despite all your setbacks with THE HUMAN LEAGUE Mk1 and 'Music Of Quality & Distinction' plus early HEAVEN 17 singles just missing the Top 40, was there a feeling that you would gain eventually gain some kind of commercial success?

Martyn: IT WAS NEVER A DOUBT FOR A SECOND IN MY MIND - THE ONLY SURPRISE WAS THE SCALE OF IT.

Chi: Despite all the rivalry among the acts signed to the Virgin Group like OMD, SIMPLE MINDS, JAPAN, JOHN FOXX, CHINA CRISIS and CULTURE CLUB, it seemed to be healthily competitive. How do you look at your time on Virgin and who did you like out of that bunch?

Martyn:
OMD - NOT REALLY
SIMPLE MINDS - LOVED EM (NO THREAT)!
JOHN FOXX - GOOD FRIEND AND ALL ROUND GOOD EGG
CHINA CRISIS - NICE GUYS BUT NOT OUR CUP OF TEA MUSICALLY
CULTURE CLUB - GOOD FRIENDS AND EXCELLENT

Chi: Which is your favourite HUMAN LEAGUE Mk1 track?

Martyn: BEING BOILED AND MARIANNE AND WXJL TONIGHT AND EMPIRE STATE HUMAN

Orac: Tell us about the League MK1 split - was this really engineered by Bob Last?

Martyn: BOB LAST AND VIRGIN - PHIL HAS SINCE ADMITTED IT





HEAVEN 17/BEF

Chi: By 1981, you were getting heavily into programming and sequencing, particularly
on the Roland System 100 and Linn Drum. Were you aware that THE HUMAN LEAGUE
were using the Roland Microcomposer to achieve a precise sound for 'Dare'? And
were you under pressure to achieve something similar with comparatively less
sophisticated equipment?

Martyn: YES - BUT NO PRESSURE - WE DIDN'T NEED ANY OUTSIDE MOTIVATION.

Chi Was the turning point for you musically the acquisition of the Linn Drum Computer? That you could finally actually have the funkier rhythms which featured on your favourite soul records on your own music?

Martyn: I SUPPOSE SO

Chi: Did Ian Craig Marsh invent 'acid house' with his use of the Roland Bassline Computer on 'Let Me Go'?

Martyn: THAT WAS MY PROGRAMMING AND TB303!

Chi: 'I'm Your Money' has to be the most underrated HEAVEN 17 song. It seemed to be poorly received by the music press at the time while the band themselves showed some ambivalence to it by not including it on the original UK LP release of 'Penthouse & Pavement' but featuring it on the US version! What's your take on the song now and how it sits in HEAVEN 17's history?

Martyn: WE WANTED TO BE COOL AND RELEASE TRACKS THAT WERE NOT ON ANY ALBUM (A LA VIRGINIA PLAIN) - THE AMERICANS DECIDED TO INCLUDE IT ON THEIR OWN.

I LOVE I'M YOUR MONEY.


Chi: BEF's 'Music of Quality and Distinction Vol1' in 1982 featured guest vocalists and was an incredibly ambitious project considering your position at the time.
It kick started Tina Turner's revival with her singing 'Ball Of Confusion' but David Bowie had been your desired vocalist for that track. What other singer/song combinations didn't materialise but actually came close to happening? How do you feel about the album now?

Martyn: STILL LOVE THE ALBUM, ALTHOUGH I'D LOVE TO REMASTER/REMIX IT
PEOPLE WHO TURNED US DOWN - ERROL BROWN, DAVID BOWIE, JAMES BROWN (MONEY) AND MARTIN FRY!



Orac: The success of the League's 'Don't You Want Me' prompted you to write 'Temptation' in 1982 - did you have a feeling during recording that this track would go on to be one of the decade's defining pop classics? Can you remember when you first thought about the hooks of 'Temptation'?

Martyn: WE WANTED TO CREATE AN EPIC SOUNDING ORCHESTRAL/ELECTRONIC DANCE TRACK WITH AN ENDLESS 'ESCHER STAIRCASE' CHORD PROGRESSION ABOUT PERPETUALLY GROWING SEXUAL EXCITEMENT AND EVENTUAL RELEASE! RE THE LYRICS - WE LIKE THE IRONY OF QUOTING THE BIBLE IN SUCH A SONG.
RE 'DEFINING POP CLASSIC' - VIRGIN DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO PUT IT OUT AS A SINGLE AT FIRST - WE REALLY HAD TO PUSH THEM INTO IT!


Orac: 'The Luxury Gap' sounds incredibly lush by today's standards and H17 only recently paid off recording costs from the album's royalties - something that would amaze most of the bands around today. Would you have still brought in a full orchestra if Heaven 17 were to record a similar album today?

Martyn: THE QUESTION IS - WOULD THE RECORD COMPANY PAY FOR IT? ANSWER - TODAY- NO





Orac: Leading up to the release of 'Endless' in 1986, H17 were pushing for a re-release of 'Let Me Go'. Is there any reason that you decided not to in the end as the song really deserved to be a hit.

Martyn: IT WASN'T OUR DECISION NOT TO RERELEASE





Chi: HEAVEN 17 were not known for B-sides or extra bonus tracks. So are there any unreleased gems in the archives which could see the light of day or even extraordinary demos like the original 'Temptation' that are significantly different from the final released versions?

Martyn: ALMOST EVERYTHING WE RECORDED WAS RELEASED

Chi: Your favourite HEAVEN 17 song?

Martyn: LET ME GO

JVA: What are your favourite aspects of the music production process (ideas/writing/production/touring/studio - that sort of stuff)

Martyn: ALL THE ABOVE - EXCEPT I'M NOT VERY FOND OF MIXING (I KNOW EXACTLY HOW I
WANT IT TO SOUND, IT'S JUST TIME CONSUMING GETTING THERE)


Orac: Heaven 17 will be releasing a new album full of 2008 versions of classic tracks in time for The Steel City Tour - can you tell us more about this release and how fans can grab a copy?

Martyn: AH - THAT WOULD BE TELLING - GO TO

http://www.justmusic.co.uk

JVA: Would you consider producing some up and coming electro artists (if there's anyway to remove the subtle pretense from that question, I haven't found a way yet)

Martyn: POSSIBLY - BUT ONLY IF I GET PAID UPFRONT!

JVA: What is some of your favourite music these days, and from the past?

Martyn: TOO BROAD A QUESTION I THINK - I LOVE MUSIC AND SOUND OF MULTIPLE
PERSUASIONS AND ERAS.



OTHER PROJECTS

Chi: The 'Pretentious' and 'Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle' albums with VINCE CLARKE were an interesting diversion for you. Although you and Vince have done instrumentals, neither of you are known for ambient work. Were there any particular artists or albums influencing these two projects?

Martyn: WHADDYA MEAN? - 'DIGNITY OF LABOUR' - 'TOYOTA CITY' - LOTS OF THE FUTURE TAPES.

INFLUENCES - ENO, PHILIP GLASS, MASSIVE ATTACK, DJ SHADOW, TOMITA, TONTO'S
EXPANDING HEAD BAND, WENDY CARLOS

Chi: How did you both become involved in producing 'Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle' as part
of an art installation? Did the installation come first, or did the music already exist, albeit in sketch form?

WE WERE COMMISSIONED BY A NEW AD AGENCY CALLED 'LEONARDO' (PART OF LEO
BURNETT) TO CREATE A LIGHT AND SOUND INSTALLATION. WE CALLED THIS 'SPECTRUM PURSUIT VEHICLE' AND IT WAS PERFORMED IN THE OLD UNDERCROFT AT THE ROUNDHOUSE IN LONDON.

Chi: You appear to have been ahead of your time in 1981 by mixing 'Music For Stowaways' for headphones and 'Penthouse & Pavement' for tinny speakers. After the rise of 'Hi-Fi' in the mid80s/early 90s, it's gone full circle in the 21st Century with you recording 'Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle' in a binaural format to produce a 3D headphone mix. Everyone now seems to use headphones or computer speakers to listen to music. How do you feel about the modern download culture and the possible demise of the 'physical' release such as the CD/LP?

Martyn: IT'S NATURAL PROGRESS - I HAVE NO STRONG VIEWS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER - I'M MORE CONCERNED WITH CONTENT THAN DELIVERY SYSTEMS




Chi: What' s been your favourite non-HUMANLEAGUE/HEAVEN 17 song that you've been
involved in, either as a producer or writer?

Martyn: SIGN YOUR NAME BY TRENCE TRENT D'ARBY OR LET'S STAY TOGETHER BY TINA TURNER.




JVA: What are your thoughts on being a 'legend' in the electronic industry? You have made the transition from being someone who idolised people like David Bowie in the late 70's and now all of a sudden here you are in the 2000's and people view you in the same light!

Martyn: LEGEND? - IN MY OWN IMAGINATION! - TO BE HONEST, IT'S VERY GRATIFYING TO BE SO WELL REGARDED - IT'S AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE EFFORT THAT I'VE MADE OVER THE YEARS (AND MY CHILDREN LOVE IT)

Orac: Electro seems to back with a vengeance in 2008 much of it fronted by women with analogue synths. Do you listen much to this new wave of electro? If so, who do you rate?

Martyn: HMMM...HOT CHIP,CSS - BUT I'M NOT MASSIVELY IMPRESSED

JVA: Do you listen to your own music?

Martyn: YES - IN THE WORDS OF THE GREAT VINCE CLARKE - 'I'M MY OWN BIGGEST FAN'!





(With thanks to Martyn Ware)

Related link: Heaven 17 @ myspace

Electro's premier innovators and one of EY's fave bands - Heaven 17 have this week released some tantalizing details of a brand new album that will accompany the band's forthcoming support slot on The Steel City Tour.

'Naked as Advertised: Versions 08' contains new recordings from H17's extensive back catalogue plus a brand new song 'Don't Fall' and it's a release that could be every bit as good as 1986's collection of extended remixes 'Endless'.

H17's chosen tracks will include those performed at Steel City such as a new 08 recording of 1983's finest single 'Temptation' now with the mighty vox of Billie Godfrey plus a few H17 rarities.
Collectors items and oddities will also feature on this new album along with a cover of The Associates ' Party Fears Two' that BEF performed last year at a Billy McKenzie memorial gig.
Perhaps best of all is the revelation that Martyn and Glenn have re-recorded Human League MK1 tracks 'Empire State Human' and 'Being Boiled' for 'Naked As Advertised', tracks that an official H17 press release describes as 'sounding quite at home in the soundtrack of 'A Clockwork Orange' the film from which Heaven 17 took their name'.

EY really couldn't have hoped for a better Crimbo present other than a 2009 'Blake's 7' Annual.

'Naked as Advertised' will be released on December 1st and is now available online to pre-order. Just Music has the complete tracklisting and a media player where you can sample short teasers of some very impressive tracks including our fave - the Scala 05 version of 'Geisha Boys And Temple Girls' - hurrah!

To find out more - please follow this very valuable link.

Related link: official Heaven 17 site

Somerthing for the weekend...Sir Martyn Ware answers some quick fire EY questions about early League, H17 and other collobarations here on EY.




Things move quickly in the world of electro...news has just reached us that Factory Records collaborator Mark Reeders will now be providing a remix for the debut single from Parralox and one of the best pop tunes of the year - 'Sharper Than A Knife'.



An exclusive 'EY mix' of the song can be heard on the EY myspace player.

Since our joyful Pet Shop Boys Brit Award article a few days back, several of you have kindly emailed us about a recently released track produced by the Pets for Sam Taylor-Wood.
We were due to mention this new cover of the brilliant early 80's track 'I fell in love with a German film star', but with a news backlog, EY3... and the return of Ultravox - the new PSB release got a bit lost but we're going to make amends today and hand the site over to EY1 DJ A-Dam, official 'German film star' remixer Mark Reeder and a Kim Wilde/Marsheaux/Ladyhawke fan from NY called Michael....



Pet Shop Boys and Sam Taylor Wood covering the Passions 'I'm in love with a German film star '

Maybe I've been looking on the wrong places, but why hasn't this been promoted? Strangely enough it is on colognes hip minimal electronica label Kompakt. I was alerted to it this morning (5am) by Mark Reader (ex Factory stalwart and member of Shark Vegas).

4 remixes, Gui Borattos rather predictable minimal mix keeps the vocals, the PSB's Symphonic Mix which is a strange eerie electronica build up, Mark Reeders Back to the 80's mix, is more 80's PSB's than the PSB's with that Italio Disco programming that we all come to
expect...and Jurgan Paape's slighly harder electro tech mix...all as simply sublime as the the original radio edit ...which is full of swathes of backwards filtered string synths, simple drum programming and sublime synthesis.

This is where the PSB's excel .......production and writing for others!!

Words: A-Dam

EY also received a fascinating email from one of the 'German film star' remixers Mark Reeders whose recent work includes voxs from Joy Division/New Order/Electronic legend Sir Bernard Summer as well as a long history with the coolest record label to ever grace this planet ...Factory.


Dear EY,

You probably already know that i recently remixed the Blank & Jones track Miracle Cure (with Bernard Sumner on vox) with (house of usher's) Micha Adam. a different mix will appear on a B&J remixes album we've made, for release in spring of 2009 and it features guest vox by artists such as Steve Kilby from the church and Claudia Brucken.

Also I've just remixed the new Pet Shop Boys/Sam Taylor-Wood single on KOMPAKT records 'I'm in love with a German film star' and i thought you might be interested to hear my radio mix (rundfunk radio mix which is only on the 7" single). I also have made the stuck in the 80s remix on the 12" and CD single and a rias radio mix version, which is not on any record and is only for radio play.

also coming soon are two tracks that ive remixed for Anne Clark ('Full Moon' and 'if'...) off her new album.
Meanwhile, here's the link to my psb rmx:

Best wishes

Mark

Related link: Mark Reeders @ myspace
To purchase the new Sam Taylor-Wood/PSB collaboration - please visit the official Pet Shop Boys website (possibly the best band website on the web right now).

And finally, following on from our Ladyhawke article where we got all misty eyed over the first ever single we bought - 'Kids In America' by new wave's original blonde siren Kim Wilde, Michael from New York was prompted to contact us through Myspace with similar pop awakenings and some new recommendations of his own....

I totally get the Kim Wilde/Ladyhawke compressions. 'Kids in America' was the first record I ever bought and I have been a huge fan ever since.


Kim Wilde introduced me to music and is still a favorite of mine. Unfortunately, she never toured the US. I too, had Kim Wilde posters all over my walls as a kid (so much so my mom wondered how I could be gay when i came out to her-lol).

I just want to thank you for your site. I found it by accident and immediately fell in love with Marsheaux (especially 'Sadly') and all things synth pop. Keep up the great work. I check it frequently, as for 'German Film Star' it is a wonderfully lush cover.

Interestingly enough, it seems to be becoming popular again, as Kish Mauve have also released a version of it (they are the ones who wrote '2 Hearts' for Kylie). As for Ladyhawke, I loved her since the release of 'Paris is Burning'. I think 'My Delirium' is most accessible song on the album. other artists worth checking out are Lykke Li, Sally Shapiro* and Foretaste if you haven't already.

(* A-Dam is currently working on a Sally Shapiro article for EY)







Check out Michael's top pop tips including Roisin Murphy's next single 'Movie Star' opposite - news of Roisin's gig with the mighty Marsheaux coming soon...








Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone (former EY song of the week but so good that it should get another link).

Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas

Foretaste - Dying For The First Time In My Life


Michael @ myspace


Update contsructed to Alternative Pet Shop Boys.









Come joins us for electro heaven (17) on November 28th at Industry Shoreditch for the live UK debut of Parralox plus stomping DM inspired live sets from Red Blooded Women and Motorbikes In Tokyo.

Last month, EY hinted that early 80's electro innovators Ultravox were planning to reform for a series of live dates in the UK.

Ultravox.org.uk sent out an email on Thursday to its members confirming what many of us had hoped for and EY is positively buzzing at the news.

Ultravox have reformed with all four of the original MK2 band members for a 14 date UK tour.
Return To Eden will be the first time that Midge Ure, Bill Currie, Warren Cann & Chris Cross have performed together since Live Aid back in 1985 (Ultravox were the only act that EY wanted to see on that day). The band disintegrated shortly after Live Aid whilst Midge secured a UK Number One with his solo single 'If I Was' - a track every bit as catchy as 'Love's Great Adventure' in 1984.

Return To Eden kicks off at the Edinburgh Playhouse on April 10th and tickets officially go on on Wednesday 12th November at 9am GMT.
Please keep an eye on Ultravox.org.uk for futher updates.


The Return To Eden dates are as follows:

APRIL 2009

10 Edinburgh Playhouse

11 Glasgow Clyde

13 Newcastle City Hall

14 Manchester Apollo

15 Sheffield City Hall

17 Birmingham Symphony Hall

18 Bristol Colston Hall

20 Cardiff St. David's Hall

21 Nottingham Royal Theatre

23 Brighton Dome

24 London Hammersmith Apollo

26 Bournemouth International Centre

27 Plymouth Pavillion

28 Portsmouth Guildhall

CREDIT CARDS:
0844 847 2530 (24 hours)

WEB BOOKING LINK:
www.livenation.co.uk/ultravox

Source: Ultravox.org.uk

EY readers living in the south east of England will be able to enjoy no less than three 'EY VOL 1' electro acts live in London in the coming week...

First up is the mighty Client - their 2007 single 'It's Not Over' has been given a unique Greek Undo electro sheen with a previously unavailable Marsheaux remix edit on EY's very first CD.
Client will be playing a rare UK gig fresh from German success at the Underworld in Camden on Sunday 9th November in support of Anne Clarke.

Doors open at 7pm and if you get there early, you'll catch another 'EY VOL 1' band whose track follows Client on CD1 of our two disc set (electro synchronicity in motion) .







Cassette Electrik will be opening the show and are sure to play the 'EY VOL 1' classic 'The Smartest Bomb' - a twisted yet melodic tale of unrequited love to some very sharp analogue beats.
CE will also likely play another EY fave and current single '28 Days', check out the promo video opposite - there's a Moog and three versions of Lucy!








EY3 performers Red Blooded Women powered their way on to 'EY VOL 1' at the last possible moment with debut single and Popjustice fave 'You Made Your Bed'.

These future electro stars will debut a live performance of their fave Depeche Mode track at Industry on November 28th (it's a classic!)

Candy, Liz and Carly are swiftly returning to the Water Rats on Monday 10th November at the request of a record label who are keen to see the girls perform live and EY thinks it will be a very special night at one of London's best venues with its crisp PA and purple stage lights.

Orac shall be there to cheer along to current RBW faves and some brand new tracks with hands full of very striking EY3 flyer cards.

London is *the place* to be in November ;)

Related links:

Client @ myspace
Cassette Electrik @ myspace
Red Blooded Women @ myspace

'EY VOL 1' will be available soon - full details to follow



EY3 - Industry London - 28/11/09 - Motorbikes In Tokyo - Parralox (UK debut performance) - Red Blooded Women
Grab a ticket below...

Coming up - Hot Chip live in Cambridge and guess what record they played in their dj set after the show ...Sheffield, waitress, video shot in Slough..?



Update constructed to Noush 'Tropic' Fotonovela Remix - on repeat.

EY wouldn't normally do this kind of thing when it comes to that hopeless non-event called the Brit Awards. A ceremony so pointless that they announce the winners four months before the televised event, but the Brits have decided to throw a gong at one of the UK's most important pop acts of the last 20 years - the Pet Shop Boys.

Famed for their beautifully designed CD sleeves, classic singles and b-sides that often eclipsed their album tracks for sheer brilliance, the Pet Shop Boys will finally be presented with an outstanding contribution to music award at next year's Brit Awards - that probably won't be presented by future Dr Who contender and Daily Mail fave Russell Brand.

Ged Doherty, the chairman of the Brits described the Pets as ' one of the most influential groups of the modern era' and he's right, the PSB's carried the electro torch the late 80's after Live Aid opened the door to stadium rock and ghastly heavy metal from the US with perms (Guns & Roses, Bon Jovi) that said absolutely nothing about your life here in the UK..


It was the bleakest of times but sanctuary was provided by Factory, Depeche Mode, Inner City and PSB CD singles that were always lovingly packed with bonus tracks and extended mixes - EY faves include 1988's 'Domino Dancing' with one of the best single sleeves ever (the extended mix of Don Juan is b-side heaven) and 'Left To My Own Devices'.
Special mention must go to the CD single of 'Being Boring' with perhaps EY's favourite b-side of all time 'Miserablism'.
Previous winners of the outstanding contribution to music award include U2, David Bowie, the Eurythmics and Sting and EY thinks that Depeche Mode should get the award in 2009 (back in the real world - it will probably go to Sting again...or Annie Lennox).


Far from taking a breather and living off from the royalties of worldwide record sales in the region of 50 million, Neil & Chris have been very busy laying down tracks with famed Girls Aloud production team Xenomania. The new PSB album is expected to be released early next year on EMI.

The Pets have also co-written a track on the Girls Aloud album 'Out Of Control' that was released this week to some very good reviews. 'The Loving Kind' was described as 'club floor 80's electro' by London's The Metro under the headline 'Applause Allowed'.
Prior to the release of the new Girls Aloud album, Xenomania found time to knock out a rather good remix of Saint Etienne's 'Burnt Out Car'.
Have a listen via this link.

Heaven 17 live!

There was a special warm-up show in Dublin last weekend for the highly anticipated Steel City Tour that will feature Sheffield electro legends The Human League, ABC and Heaven 17 - bands whose influence extended far beyond the shores of the UK .
EY is yet to see a full Heaven 17 live gig and we envy all those who have but we are hoping that Steel City will lead to such a tour in 2009.
.
Partick Carr attended the Dublin warm-up for Steel City and he kindly sent EY the following thoughts:

'Just a note to say Heaven17 played a great show in Dublin on Sunday night. It was a slimmed down version of the Steel City tour. The Human League cancelled their appearance when the show was moved from the original venue. ABC for their part also played a great show in a packed venue.

Heaven17 played all their hits as well as a fantastic 'Being Boiled' as their encore. Glenn Gregory introduced 'Let Me Go' as his and Martyn's favourite song which made my night. They played a fantastic version of 'Being Boiled'that had everybody singing along.

I was lucky enough to meet Martyn Ware on Monday while he was out and about in Dublin. He chatted about the show and was very pleased with the reaction they had received.

Many thanks for running such an informative site.'



The Steel City Tour Dates

'The tour of the decade' - EY

Glasgow Carling Academy SUN 30/11/2008
Newcastle Carling Academy MON 01/12/2008
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall WED 03/12/2008
Brighton Centre FRI 05/12/2008
Bournemouth Int'nl Centre SAT 06/12/2008
London Hammersmith Apollo MON 08/12/2008
Wolverhampton The Civic Hall THU 11/12/2008
Liverpool Echo Arena THU 04/12/2008
Manchester Apollo WED 10/12/2008
Newport Friday 12/12/2008
Sheffield Arena SAT 13/12/2008

Tickets available here.


Ladyhawke feedback

Ladyhawke is undoubtedly EY's album of the year, and our most recent Pip update prompted Australia reader Anthony Leary to send us these thoughts on the Ladyhawke album and the loss of David Tennant....

'Just thought that I would drop you a quick email to say thanks for the tip on Ladyhawke. Had heard the name around the traps here a little but after your review went out and committed to the album.
It is indeed a gem and gets my vote (in a dead heat with Goldfrapp's Seventh Tree) for album of the year.
Your EY compilation album can't be far away now can it?
As for David Tennant retiring, I can assure you that there has been an outpouring of grief over this in Australia...'


A frenzy of electro remixes...

Finally, 'EY VOL 1' is now due to be released on November 27th 2007.
This delux 2 CD set full of the very best of EY from 2007 - 2008 plus a bonus CD of remixes that includes a blinding new extended 'EY3' remix of 'X Minus One' - delivered today to Undo Records from Parralox - whilst Fotonovela have just completed a remix edit of the Noush track 'Tropic'.
A Marsheaux remix of 'Shaper Than A Knife' has also been sent over this week for the forthcoming CD single from Parralox.

We've been blasting out the three mixes tonight since 5.00pm - all are full of lovely analogue bleeps, thumping fairlight basslines, isolated basslines and Bladerunner soundscapes.
If you could only see the smile of the face of EY right now...

Full tracklisting for the double EY VOL 1 CD plus sleeve artwork and orac production notes can be expected imminently ;)





Shameless plug:


EY3 Live at Industry Shoreditch: Parralox (UK live debut) - Red Blooded Women - Motorbikes In Tokyo - 28th November 8pm - 1am