Electronic, New Wave, RIP

The long good-bye of Soft Cell

DAVE BALL PHOTOGRAPH: Mike Owen

When the news broke which reached me first through the official mailing list it made me really sad. Following Soft Cell it was no secret that he had been fighting with his health for some time now. But it’s forever the same – you keep up the hope for a better future until it’s gone.
So… Soft Cell will go out on a high – with forthcoming mixes, versions, the long in the works deluxe version of ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’, various limited 12″ singles and their now really final Album ‘Danceteria’ which Dave finished only a short while ago for a release in 2026. Hopefully the announced expanded reissue of his 1983 solo Album ‘In Strict Tempo’ will appear sooner or later too.

In 2020 he published his memoir ‘Electronic Boy’ which is highly recommended, esp. as the picture of the quiet man behind the keyboards gets expanded in his larger view than being a part of Soft Cell – working with Cabaret Voltaire, Genesis P. Orridge / Psychic TV, Annie Hogan, Gavin Friday and The Virgin Prunes – his one off projects Other People, Ronnie B., English Boy On The Loveranch, plenty of guest appearences, remix and production work. And a bold step into the 90’s starting with the ‘Electric Head’ album leading to another career together with Richard Norris as The Grid.

Intergalaktische Abenteuer

I would like to use a very small quote which sums it up for me:

“Thank you Dave for being an immense part of my life and for the music you gave me. I wouldn’t be where I am without you.”
Marc Almond, Soft Cell

The full and fitting orbiturary can be found at their homepage.

Books, DIY, RIP

Goodbye Vital Weekly, Hello Again Korm Plastics !

Vital Weekly Book

Vital (Weekly) was the longest running review newsletter for any experimental / drone / post-punk / whatever outside of the categories releases. At first it was published as A4 leaflet which was copied and distributed freely by anyone in contact with him (or against postage) starting in 1987. I remember a few odd copies which reached me in the late ’80’s/ early 90’s when there was still a healthy diy/fanzine/tape culture arround which had grown over the years and postal ways. The last of these appeared in 1995 and all the issues have been documented as seen above in a book collection a few years ago. The internet had become a handy tool with it’s homepages, e-mail info services, discussion boards and suddenly an incredible wealth of information could be found and distributed at very low costs (depending on your connection and bandwidth). In Vital Weekly Frans and his allies reviewed nearly anything they got – with a few limitations only: it needed to be a physical product which was sold or kept after being reviewed and since several years the permission to use excerpts for the accompanying podcast.
Still up and running are the lates issues at the mixcloud channel or with tracklisting at Vital. The decision not to review any digital only releases excluded quite a lot interesting music but seemed to work fine as a pre-selection at least for the reviewers. Now after Marc Almond’s e-mail service closed recently (due being not more relevant as other ways of posting are more popular) Vital closed with #1500 too in September. The site and archive is still up and can be found at vitalweekly.net.

The reason for this is different – Frans decided to concentrate again on his label Korm Plastics once again but this time it’s mutation as music book publishing house. So after 40 years and various phases from fanzine, tape label, releasing CD’s and Vinyl, working 10 years+ for Staalplat (see his published resumee below) and also being – judging on the amount of releases – permanent active as Musician (Freiband, Kapotte Muziek f.e.) one can hope he enjoys what he does next equally. Thanks Vital for all your input and time!

Of course you can also listen to a lot of his works via bandcamp nowadays as of Korm Plastic Releases.

Ambient, Dub

The Collapse Of Everything – Adrian Sherwood

the collapse

Another fitting comment to the times we live in comes in pastell artwork by Mark Stewart associate Peter Harris who was also responsible for quite a few recent ON-U Sound covers. A mellow genre bending new work by Adrian Sherwood without vocals and no words besides the song titles – “Hiroshima Dub Match”, “Battles Without Honour And Humanity” or “Spaghetti Best Western” which speak for itself.
He’s taken actually 13 years since “Survival And Resistance” which was equally short but one of my personal highlights of his impressive amount of work. Of course he did not rest all this time – issuing two albums in collaboration with Pinch in 2015/17 and more collaboration work with The Near Jazz Experience, Fire, Panda Bear besides his restless work producing and mixing and releasing archive box sets for the most prominent ON-U Sound acts; Dub Syndicate, African Head Charge, New Age Steppers and Creation Rebel.

Back to his current album which is surprisingly coherent and peaceful compared to the preceeding 10″ single of “The Grand Designer” and it’s additional tracks which ended up as bonus on the Japanese CD version. As it’s 2025 there’s also a transparent LP version available together with a casual black one. Actually I can see the endless praise coming along but not without reason.
Musicians involved are mainly Doug Wimbish and Mark Bandola but there are plenty of guest spots for Horseman, Gaudi, Jazzwad and even Brian Eno.

Posthumous featured is Keith LeBlanc, the incredible drummer from Tackhead and so many related projects, on “Body Roll” and “Spirits” and these are the most driving rhythms inmidst this post-everything cocktail.

Daily Life, DIY

BYE BYE – 2025

Video

All proceeds from “BYE BYE 25!” will be donated to reproductive rights nonprofit NOISE FOR NOW.

“Justin Raisen had this idea to redo ‘Bye Bye’ starting at the end of the song. When I was thinking of lyric ideas, it occurred to me to use words taken from a site that had all the words that Trump has essentially banned, meaning any grant or piece of a project or proposal for research that includes any of those words would be immediately disregarded or “cancelled.” I guess Trump does believe in cancel culture, because he is literally trying to cancel culture.” – Kim Gordon

The words Gordon speaks in “BYE BYE 25!” have begun to disappear under Trump’s agenda.

Directed by
Vice Cooler
Kim Gordon

Cam Op / Editor:
Vice Cooler

For a little more background see https://kimaltheagordon.com/#byebye25

Dub, Electronic, Post Punk, RIP

Memory Of You – Mark Stewart’s Surprising Return

mute recently announced to issue a complete unreleased Album by Mark Stewart; The Fateful Symmetry, which was completed shortly before Mark’s untimely passing in April 2023!

I can’t find the proper words to express my astonishment, in utter disbelief I had waded through all of his many collaborations of the last years including the hell of emergency hearts digital releases and remixes of the 2022 “VS” Album and tried to make my peace with this great loss at any cost. Never was there any hint of another Album and now I consider myself speechless but lucky as I’m sure it will grow on me whatever musical course he took at last.

Release is set on 11 July 2025 on mute in the usual formats – Digital / CD / LP (Red colored).

DIY, Electronic, Gothic, New Wave

Life Is A Lonely Path – A Prayer For The Worst

A few years ago, while still locked up with the internet at home I stumbled upon this one man project from Herr B., Paris, France. The artwork of it’s first release in tasty pink was surprisingly bizarre as the project title promising and I was lucky enough to get the CD so I realized the care which went into the sound design and the overall release easier then with a download.
In the meantime the return to Vinyl boom kept going and a reissue on fitting colored LP of ‘Lullabies For Babies’ is available, as will be the new work (in grey marbled) I heard about pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago.

a prayer for the worst

While the new cover art seems to be more fitting to the overall melancholic mood this time in fact he kept his style of subtle experimentation and painting careful shades of grey, instrumental and with added lyrics where fitting.
Once again this is a brilliant collection of temporary electronic neo gothic music consisting of slow and mindful movements and melodies setting a distinctive sign against the panic and hectic of modern everyday life…
A first track found it’s way pre-release to youtube, the full release in various versions and bundles will be available on March, 14th.

Support the artist’s own label ‘Lonely Demon Records‘ and get it – or both – directly on his bandcamp.

Dub, Experimental, RIP

Wild At Heart – David Lynch R.I.P.

Born in Missoula, Montana, on January 20, 1946 – Died Los Angeles, January 15, 2025.
Best known for directing the films “Eraserhead” (1977), “Blue Velvet” (1986), “Wild At Heart” (1990), the TV series “Twin Peaks” (1990-91, 2017) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001).
David Lynch was one of the great artists dabbling in the worlds of the bizarre, abstract and subconscious and dared to be different with varying success but true to his artistic visions. His influence in music and arts was immense as his sense in expression a wide range of emotions without compromising.

For anyone who cares, song being played is an altered version of Far Away Chant by African Head Charge.

David Lynch not only made the music for Eraserhead by himself or selected the scores to his films carefully, he also released two ‘alternative rock’ albums by his name and two more with chanteuse Chrysta Bell, the latest “Cellophane Memories” last August. Here is a great and very recent mix done by Jeff Chill for your pleasure:

All that’s now left to say : Thanks for all the inspiration.
R.I.P.

Anarcho, DIY, Electronic, Experimental, Klappstuhl Records, Reissues

Transgerman Mind Configuration – Solanaceae Tau


[Berlin Wall, pictured by Tomas Val, London]

25 years ago one of the most tumultous phases in German history reached one of it’s highlights with a call for Unity in East Germany (GDR) shortly after the Berlin Wall was open.

It took less than a year (November 9th, 1989 to October 3rd, 1990) until the German Democratic Republic dissolved – one year which caused plenty of emotions; the fear of German Third Reich fantasies, strong right-wing tendencies and the prediction of heartless capitalism, loosing wealth and security and more. 1990 was a very intense year for all, the feeling of living in historical times paired with big question marks. Many promises where made concerning a bright future for all.
Many decisions where made hastily and from some of them we still suffer today.
In June Solanaceae Tau released this tapework, now available in a new redesigned and remastered edition by the talented hands and mind of Maurizio ‘Noisebrigade’ Pustianaz.

Solanaceae Tau reflected most of these themes from Fascism, Opression to Industrial Production vs. Individual Human Needs (not for the first or last time) in their 1990 album including historical quoatatios and unfiltered lyrics and the imminent feeling of pressure and change.

Nihilistick Noise Archive proudly combined this reissue – which still feels very current concerning various global incidents and trends – with a 3 track single, featuring an exclusive edit and an L.H.D. Remix.

lost in musick II