Mannequin is really happy to present the 30th Anniversary Edition of the 12’’ EP ‘Loving Machinery” from Central Unit, the cult New Wave mitteleuropean band based in Bologna (nowdays reformed with a different lineup). Formed in 1981, they were among the first in Italy to manipulate synths, drum machines and other electronic devices (as far as we know they were one of the few bands in the world able to program a Korg-KR55 drum machine) to create atmospheric soundscapes and they were considered the Italian answer to Tuxedomoon, who spawned a whole school in the Italian underground.
After the first live appareances as opening act to bands like Spandau Ballet and Monochrome Set in their Italian tours, Central Unit published in March 1982, the 12’’ EP “Loving Machinery” with 4 tracks, including a cover of “What Use?” from Tuxedomoon.
The EP first entered Belgian and German charts with the single "Saturday Nite", thanks to its skeletal electronic beats and minimal synth atmospheres, combined with mechanical basslines and relentless bass guitar meanderings, with slothy saxophone murmurs peeping out here and there.
Central Unit joined some important live shows in Italian and foreign festival (remarkable their show in 1983 at No Wave, No Jazz festival in Berlin where they played with Fad Gadget, Einsturzende Neubauten and Notorische Reflexe), and they released an album for major label CGD, produced by Tuxedomoon bassist Peter Principle in 1983.
Cover art by the renowned cartoon artist Giorgio Carpinteri (Frigidaire, Linus). Carpinteri was part of the so- called Valvoline group, a group of experimental comics artists, that followed in the footsteps of José Muñoz, Joost Swarte and Art Spiegelman.
12’’ EP Version: Limited edition of 300 copies, clear vinyl
DIGITAL Version: Distribution through The Orchard in the most important digital stores (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, Nokia, Spotify and many others).
Tracklisting:
A1 Saturday Nite
A2 Rock Onze
B1 What Use?
B2 Beset City
While waiting for more news concerning their new album & world tour, you can download (another) free live-EP (+- 20 minutes!) if you subscribe to the newsletter of Dead Can Dance. Visit their website soon !
Tracklist:
- Saltarello
- The Wind That Shakes The Barley
- How Fortunate The Man With None
- Dreams Made Flesh
Der Klinke are working on their new album that will be released on Echozone. Here is the first video of the new album: a futurepop-ish EBM track that captures the 80's. Well said, not?
Shadowplay are proud to announce VNV Nation, Noisuf-X and from Paris, The Cemetary Girlz.
All three bands will play on Sunday the 15th Of July 2012!
CRASH COURSE IN SCIENCE, the legendary cult electro/Industrial /wave group from Philadelphia, USA is returning to Europe again! This time to promote the release of their double LP/CD album that will be released by the German Vinyl On Demand label in March. Crash Course In Science is of course best know from their club hits 'Cardboard Lamb' and 'Flying Turns' and the more experimental 7' 'Kitchen Motors', songs that have marked and inspired a generation musicians and DJ's like Terrence Fixmer, David Carretta, Vitalicand Trentemoller.
Crash Course In Science - 2012 Euro-Mini-Tour
04.04 @ La Zone, Liege, B
06.04 @ Point Ephemere, Paris, FR
07.04 @ Rewind Festival @ Vooruit, Ghent, B
08.04 @ KlickClub @ Berlin, D