Poems. Lydia Tomkiw. Collected.

Dan Shepelavy from ‘Universal Exports of North America’ is the the publisher & editor of a new, comprehensive re-issue of the hopelessly out-of-print poems of Lydia Tomkiw.
It features an introduction by poet and Tomkiw’s teacher Paul Hoover, a recollection by poet and close friend Sharon Mesmer, and an assessment of Algebra Suicide by music critic/Trouser Press editor Ira Robbins.

Besides each book also includes a download of Algebra Suicide’s 1986 debut album Big Skin – significantly the only time a book & record were released simultaneously, with the same poems, in the same order.

Today available only splattered on the re-issue LP Compilations by Dark Entries (Feminine Squared and on Still Life) but luckily also saved in it’s original form but from a 2nd gen source at archive.org.

This is most likely the only chance to get all of her out of print collections and more for a reasonable price and as someone who collected Algebra Suicide and Lydia Tomkiw works for years I know how expensive (if for sale at all) a copy of “Popgun Sonatas” can be.

A Prison Of Measured Time (Isolation in Italy and beyond)

As my thoughts go to the catastrophe in progress which hardly leaves anyone unaffected now I like many others found more time than usual to takea look how some of the musicians I follow react to it and deal with the situation of quarantine and isolation.

Not sure if this ambient experimental work by DsorDNE with Onda Lunga was recorded in hindsight of the current overall mood but it’s quite impressive transmitting a special mood;

Due the unforeseen time he had on his hands Maurizio Pustianaz aka Gerstein remastered some of his elder recordings and reissued them via his bandcamp. Two fine examples are shown below.

Also the gorgeous “Colonna D’Aria” Compilation from Snowdonia (Reissued as SP 002 several years ago) is now professionally remastered online @ Klappstuhl Records – featuring exclusive Gerstein and DsorDNE tracks hidden in one long flow of early late 80’s Italian eclectic underground music.

Ex-Italian ‘Superstars’ PANKOW are giving away their latest re(re-)leases on the Canadian Artoffact label as “pay what you want” for the time being, as do most of this label’s artists currently, among them the incredible and unforgotten Nash The Slash (R.I.P.).

Directly responding to the current pandemic is Amplify 2020 -an online action initiated by Jon Abbey of Erstwhile Records – free downloads of musical pieces created especially during this time as direct reaction. Submissions are still open for those interested to participate.

Genesis P-Orridge R.I.P.

Neil Andrew Megson later Genesis P-Orridge and Genesis Breyer P-Orridge born in Manchester in February 1950 to move and shake the art and music world boundaries with COUM, Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, a.o. died aged 70 yesterday. You did not need to like or agree with his ever changing development and his ways to be influenced, direct or indirect in many ways. It was an Inspiration. Thank You.

Pandrogyne Genesis

An excellent short orbiturary can be found at the NY Times.

Enjoy “Time” by and with the amazing Mr. Concept! (SP 026)

40 Year after ‘The Amazing World Of Mr. Concept‘ burst onto the tape scene here is the conclusion… “a continued rapid stream of delight”……………… true to the spirit of his early Cassette only albums this release is made and mixed for listening in one go.
Includes extensive liner notes by Mr C! as PDF booklet and of course printable artwork to make your own CD (Sorry, blank tapes are expensive nowadays).

But this is by far not the only project he was working on in the time since ‘XXXVII‘ was released, discover more Concept City productions at the new bandcamp site and enjoy the reissue as digital version or facsimile copy of the legendary ltd. Cordelia Records 1985 Album ‘November’ on LP. Currently available via Platform 23 from Nepal.

There is also a limited amount of original Klappstuhl CDr’s for those who prefer a physical product, including a free dl of the digital booklet. Rumours state it will be only 22 copies of this one which was already issued on February 20th. In any case – Mr. Concept wishes you a good time

concept city

Siegmar Fricke Funk Wellen

01 01 20 20 was the perfect futuristic date to publish this hardly recognized work of SF’s late electro / technohouse phase. All tracks where recorded during 1994 before he abounded the pop elements in search for new structures; less melodic but more abstract and rhythmic with a clinical approach to sound design which led to his current Pharmakustik output.

Klappstuhl Records is proud to publish this updated definitive version, carefully remastered in 24 Bit quality by Siegmar himself and now even including “Realtime” – a track never released before.

The graphic artwork is one of SF’s early 90’s works which seemed perfect to accompany this issue, colorful but technoid which sort of expresses the spirit of these days; optimistic onwards into a promised world of virtual reality, wealth and mental freedom for all.

Of course he also developed this side of his activity further, a recent exhibiton in Oldenburg, Germany showed his current approach of “froming complex organic structures” as does his online gallery.

Seasonal greetings from Andy Falconer

AFP 2019

A great x-mas gift arrived from (Andy) Falconer of Orb fame in my inbox – the complete unaltered recording of the Ozora Festival 2019 performance. Together with a new batch of beautiful pictures taken on the Costa de Luz, provence Cádiz in Spain to enlighten the short days of Winter.
Included is printable art as he lovingly provides for each of his digital available releases allowing one to build an AFP archive on discs easily. For your pleasure find this and more @ afp online.

The Cleaners From X-Mas Eve

Yes it’s already that far with Martin Newell, just after Robbie Williams offered his seasonal highlight to the record buying public here he rides the season with his very own free digital EP with a lovely designed used 7″ cover;

Martin Newell on the other side far from retiring with a youthful age of 66 he just published his second Memoir, “The Greatest Living Englishman” (of course…).
No this does not sound pretentious – This is of course a homage to his best-known solo Album which finally put him on the map for wider recognition and left critics overwhelmed with joy due to the Andy Partridge production. Well, just to let you know I think the production is far from superior – at least the tracks I’ve known before sounded more direct and electrifying before this elder statesman of complicated Pop layed hands on them. But it worked and Newell was gained with moderate success so I won’t complain.
In this bound (!) book he tells his story 1975 up to 1995, if it’s as entertaining written as his “Little Ziggy” in which he took a close look on his 60’s let’s hope that he continues up to the revival he went through during the last years general reissue campaigns by Captured Tracks a.o.

lost in musick II