On this day, 29 years ago, British post-punk band Wire released their 7th studio album Manscape (15.05.1990). It was produced by David M.Allen (who, amongst others, produced various albums of The Cure and The Sisters Of Mercy's First Last And Always) and introduced even more the use of electronic instruments than on Wire's previous albums. Almost all bass and drums were sequenced and even-though Wire drummer Robert Gotobed co-composed all tracks on this album he didn’t join them on stage during the 1990 promotional tour.

Upon release the album was received with mixed feelings by music critics mainly because Wire pretty much abandonned the whole rock-band setup switching primarily to synthesizers but, according to some critics, lacked to put them to great use.
The original vinyl release has a significantly different running order and omits "Life in the Manscape", "Stampede" and "Children of Groceries".

Manscape UK Vinyl Version (STUMM 80)

1. "Patterns Of Behaviour"
2. "Goodbye Ploy"
3. "Morning Bell"
4. "Small Black Reptile"
5. "Torch It!"
6. "Other Moments"
7. "Sixth Sense"
8. "What Do You See? (Welcome)"
9. "Where's The Deputation?"
10. "You Hung Your Lights In The Trees / A Craftsman's Touch"

Manscape CD version (CDSTUMM 80)

1. "Life in the Manscape" – 3:28
2. "Stampede" – 4:35
3. "Patterns of Behaviour" – 4:33
4. "Other Moments" – 3:50
5. "Small Black Reptile" – 3:14
6. "Torch It!" – 7:31
7. "Morning Bell" – 4:22
8. "Where's the Deputation?" – 3:51
9. "What Do You See?" (Elvander, Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman) – 6:47
10. "Goodbye Ploy" – 3:50
11. "Sixth Sense" – 4:19
12. "Children of Groceries" – 3:03
13. "You Hung Your Lights in the Trees/A Craftsman's Touch" – 10:03

All tracks written by Bruce Gilbert, Robert Gotobed, Graham Lewis and Colin Newman, except as indicated.

The coming-of-age movie Locating Silver Lake, distributed by Gunpowder & Sky (Cam, Lords of Chaos...), is available on VOD and DVD now!

About the movie:

When I traveled to Edinburgh Film Fest last June there was one movie I really wanted to see: Locating Silver Lake. Maybe the coming-of-age movie, written and directed by Eric Bilitch, was the main reason to for visiting Scotland. Actually, I'm pretty sure it was.

I had watched Eric's first movie The Submarine Kid in advance and I got really curious about his latest feature film starring Josh Peck, Aubrey Peeples and Finn Wittrock. To be honest, I didn't manage to write a review right after the international movie premiere. Of course, not because the movie had been so bad. It simply left me thoughtful and somewhat puzzled as the storyline had been anything but predictable. This is why I waited for the movie to be eventually released digitally on March 22! Locating Silver Lake is definitely a movie you have to watch more than once! And I instantly got lost in details. Wonderful details.

Ok, let's talk about the movie plot. Don't worry, I won't spoil it here :)

College-graduate Daniel (Josh Peck) gets dumped by his girlfriend and moves to Los Angeles to find his place there as a writer. He rents an apartment from the very helpful José (Amaury Nolasco) and tries to get over his Ex. Later on, Daniel meets Seth (Finn Wittrock) in a local bar. He is the flamboyant leader of a group of friends - one of them Daniel's old friend Ella (Zelda Williams). Seth seems to have all the answers to Daniel's questions and offers him his help for the best possible start in LA. The new friendship ends abruptly when Daniel falls in love with Ella's sister Talya (Aubrey Peeples). What's really behind the glitter curtain? Why does Seth's boyfriend Mack (Robbie Kay) leave the group in a mad rush and why is Talya treating Daniel so dismissively? And what lies behind the machismo of José's friends?

Locating Silver Lake comes up with an outstanding cast, most notably Finn Wittrock's performance which surpasses all my expectations.. Like no other Wittrock manages to breathe a soul into Seth's controversial key character. It should not be forgotten to mention the fabulous movie score composed by Harlan Silverman. An insider tipp for music enthusiasts! The movie is definitely a must-watch - not only for the fans of indie movies! You can watch it via iTunes, Amazon, Vudu and more!

Order the DVD here via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RG2TC3T/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_WR90CbKHC01WY

The cast includes Josh Peck, Finn Wittrock, Aubrey Peeples, Amaury Nolasco, Valerie Cruz, Zelda Williams, Robbie Kay, Dan Lauria and many more.

Writer/director: Eric Bilitch

Producers: Doug Bilitch, Deborah Del Prete, Annet McCroskey, David Polemeni, Monica Raymund, Daryn Simons, Finn Wittrock, Ronald Zamber

Composer: Harlan Silverman

Production companies: Cohesive Entertainment Group (CEG), Coronet Films

Distributor: Gunpower & Sky

Interview with Eric Bilitch: www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/eric-bilitch-2018/

twitter.com/Loc8SilverLake?s=09

The title song was originally written for the David Lynch cult film Lost Highway (1996) and appeared for the first time in early 1997 on the soundtrack with the same name which was produced by Trent Reznor himself. The soundtrack album included original filmscores written by Trent Renzor, Barry Adams and Angelo Badalamenti, as well as songs by, amongst others, David Bowie, Marilyn Manson and Rammstein.

Musically the song was very influenced by the late 90s Drum and Bass hype and was most successful in Canada where it peaked at the 2nd position in the regular ‘Single Chart’ as well as in the RPM Rock/Alternative Chart. In the US the single peaked at 17th position on the Billboard Hot Single Sales.

Until today however, the song was never performed live by the band.

Later Trent Reznor would state in an interview on BBC1 radio that The Perfect Drug is one of his least favourite songs he ever produced.

Besides the single, The Perfect Drug - Versions EP featured remixes by Nine Inch Nails, Meat Beat Manifesto, Plug, Spacetime Continuum and The Orb. The original version of The Perfect Drug however was only included on non-US releases.

The music video for this single was directed by Mark Romanek and inspired by the illustrations of 20th century artist Edward Gory. Besides Trent himself, the video also features his bandmates Charlie Clouser, Danny Lohner and Chris Vrenna.

The Perfect Drug (Lyrics)

I got my head but my head is unraveling
Can't keep control can't keep track of where it's traveling
I got my heart but my heart's no good
You're the only one that's understood
I come along but I don't know where you're taking me
I shouldn't go but you're wrenching, dragging, shaking me
Turn off the sun pull the stars from the sky
The more I give to you the more I die
And I want you

You are the perfect drug
You make me hard when I'm all soft inside
I see the truth when I'm all stupid-eyed
The arrow goes straight through my heart
Without you everything just falls apart
My blood just wants to say hello to you
My soul is so afraid to realize
How very little there is left of me
And I want you

You are the perfect drug

(Take me with you)

Without you everything just falls apart
It's not as much fun to pick up the pieces

Songwriters: Charles Clouser / Chris Alan Vrenna / Daniel Patrick Lohner / Trent Reznor

www.discogs.com/Nine-Inch-Nails-The-Perfect-Drug-Versions/master/3848

Gothic/Death Rock legends CHRISTIAN DEATH are very pleased to announce their very first LIVE VIDEO CHAT and premiere of their new video, "FORGIVEN."

Live Chat on Facebook Sunday 19th of May 2019 18:00 UTC/ 6pm GMT (London time).

Presented by SONIC SEDUCER magazine.

Christian Death (Facebook)

View the first two video premiere/live chat promo clips HERE & HERE!

And the third, HERE!

Furthermore, CHRISTIAN DEATH will be embarking on a European tour beginning on 22nd May and ending on 22nd June.

Tues. May 21: Stoke-on-Trent, UK / @Underground
Wed. May 22: Plymouth, UK / @The Junction
Fri. May 24: Leeds / @Temple of Boom
Sat. May 25: London, UK / @Underworld
Sun. May 26: Manchester, UK / @Rebellion
Wed. May 29: Zagreb, CRO / @Boogaloo
Thu. May 30: Padova, IT / @summer festivals-
Fri. May 31: Torino, IT / @Padiglione 14-
Sat. June 1: Roma, IT / @Traffic
Sun June 2: Pomigliano D’Arco, IT / @First Floor Club
Mon. June 3: Milano, IT / @Soundclub -
Wed. June 5: Frankfurt, GE / @The Cave
Thur. June 6: Oberhausen, GE / @Kultempel 6
Fri. June 7: Hamburg, GE / @Logo
Sat. June 8: Kassel, GE / @Goldgrube
Sun. June 9: Leipzig, GE / @Wave Gothic Treffen, Festival
Mon. June 10: Osnabruck, GE / @Works
Wed. June 12: Lyon, FR / @Rock’n Eat live
Thur. June 13: Paris, FR /@Room tba
Fri. June 14: Rotterdam, NL / @Baroeg
Sat. June 15: Leige, BE / @Le Garage - Creative Music
Sun. June 16: Ernegem, BE / @B52 Rock Club
Fri. June 21: Wroclaw, PL / @ Liverpool
Sat. June 22: Warszawa, PL / @ Poglos

More info: Christian Death (Facebook)

www.facebook.com/christiandeath

This month it’s been 41 years since Kraftwerk released Die Roboter (The Robots), the first single which was taken from their iconic album Die Mensch-Machine (The Man-Machine) album (May 1978).

The original 7” single releases contained Die Roboter (The Robots) on at the A-side and Spacelab on the B-side. Both were shorter (radio) edits as they would appear on the album. The single was released with German sung version of Die Roboter, as well as an English sung version on the A-side. Both featured the English sung Spacelab on the B-side.

The lyrics reference to the at that time revolutionary technique of programming robots and how they can act as slaves for the human race.

The Russian words "Я твой слуга" (Ya tvoy slugá, " mean “I am your servant") and "Я твой работник" (Ya tvoy rabótnik, "I am your worker”).

When the song is performed live, the band is nowhere to be seen onstage but is replaced by legless robotic copies bearing recabling faces of all members.

In 1991, a re-recorded and re-arranged version of the song was issued as a single from the band's album The Mix.

Die Roboter - 7”
A. Die Roboter 4:20
B. Spacelab 3:34

Die Roboter - Lyrics

Ja tvoi sluga
Ja tvoi rabotnik
Jetzt sind wir voller Energie
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir funktionieren automatik
Jetzt wollen wir tanzen mechanik
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Ja tvoi sluga
Ja tvoi rabotnik
Ja tvoi sluga
Ja tvoi rabotnik
Wir sind auf alles programmiert
Und was du willst wird ausgeführt
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir laden unsere Batterie
Jetzt sind wir voller Energie
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter

Ja tvoi sluga
Ja tvoi rabotnik
Ja tvoi sluga
Ja tvoi rabotnik

Wir sind auf alles programmiert
Und was du willst wird ausgeführt
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir funktionieren automatik
Jetzt wollen wir tanzen mechanik
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter
Wir sind die Roboter

Songwriters: Ralf Hütter / Florian Schneider-Esleben / Karl Bartos
© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

Chart peak postions (1978)
18 German Singles Chart
39 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play

DISCOGS