On this day, 34 years ago, Kraftwerk released their remix album The Mix. It was released on 11 June 1991 and featured re-recorded and, in some cases, re-arranged versions of a selection of songs which were released on their previous albums.

Ralf Hütter stated in interviews that he regarded The Mix as a type of live album, as it captured the results of the band's continual digital improvisations in their Kling Klang studio. The band had made a return to the stage in 1990, after a nine-year hiatus from touring, and since then the band's live setlist has used arrangements drawn from The Mix rather than the original recordings. As the band didn't want to release a traditional "Greatest Hits" or "Best of" collection they opted for 'The Mix'.

At the time, the band were in the process of reconfiguring their Kling Klang studio from analog to digital recording technology; integrating MIDI into their setup and creating sound archives from their original master tapes that were stored onto computers. This proved to be an ongoing task, as new upgrades and equipment were continually made available in the years following the album project. Despite no new, original recorded material or live tours outside of Europe, Ralf Hütter did not want Kraftwerk to appear defunct to the public.

The album's production is credited to Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, and Fritz Hilpert, the latter of whom had replaced percussionist and stage set designer Wolfgang Flür after Flür left the group in 1987. Karl Bartos also left the band in 1991 and was replaced by Fernando Abrantes. Bartos claimed in later interviews that much of his programming work was still featured on The Mix, uncredited.

The album received rather mixed reception on its release. Although many music magazines and citric rated the album from good to very good, many fans were disappointed at the lack of new compositions and, moreover, the production values of the re-recorded tracks did not strike many listeners as particularly cutting edge, something which Kraftwerk had previously been renowned for. The Mix was created entirely digitally, albeit during a period when the technology had yet to reach its maturity, and thus featured a sound which many listeners tend to find somewhat "sterile" compared to the analogue electronics employed on most of Kraftwerk's previous recordings of these songs. Nevertheless, The Mix placed first in The Wire's year-end poll, the first time the magazine—previously known for its focus on jazz—opened up an all-genre category.

The album has been released in both an English and German sung version and on various different formats like double 12" vinyl, Cassette and CD and was officially re-released in 2009.

The Mix - Tracklist

1. The Robots / Die Roboter 8:56

2. Computer Love / Computerliebe 6:35

3. Pocket Calculator / Taschenrechner 4:32

4. Dentaku / Calculator 3:27

5. Autobahn 9:27

6. Radioactivity / Radioaktivität 6:53

7. Trans-Europe Express 3:20

8. Abzug 2:18

9. Metal on Metal / Metall auf Metall 4:58

10.Home Computer / Heimcomputer") 8:02

11.Music Non Stop / Musik Non-Stop 6:38

DISCOGS

On this day, 29 years ago, Nitzer Ebb released the 'As Is' EP (10 June 1991), prior to their fourth studio album 'Ebbhead', on 7" vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD, and cassette through Mute Records (MUTE122).

The EP features four tracks, each mixed by a different artist / producer. The first track, 'Family Man' is the only one which was also featured on Ebbhead album, albeit in a different version. It was mixed by Jaz Coleman, vocalist and frontman of Killing Joke. The second track, 'Lovesick' was mixed by Flood who produced the band's second and third albums, Belief and Showtime as well as the previously mentioned Ebbhead. The third track, 'Come Alive' was mixed by Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode, who would eventually be hired to co-produce the Ebbhead album. The last track, 'Higher' was mixed by Barry Adamson and Paul Kendall (PK). Barry Adamson was the bassist for Howard Devoto's Magazine and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and PK is an engineer/producer who has worked mainly for Mute Records on various Depeche Mode and Flood projects.

As Is (tracklist)

1. Family Man 3:56
2. Lovesick 4:00
3. Come Alive 6:12
4. Higher 5:50

Nitzer Ebb

Bon Harris – programming
Douglas McCarthy – vocals
Julian Beeston – additional drums and percussion

DISCOGS

This month, 43 years ago, Virgin Prunes released the stand-alone single Pagan Lovesong. It was originally released as 7” and 12” only by Rough Trade Records (RT 106) in 1982. Although it was a relative succes, reaching the UK indie chart’s 13th position, the songs of this release were not included on their upcoming debut album If I Die, I Die (November 1982). It was not only until the re-release of that album on CD (1990) Pagan Lovesong was included on the album. For the 12” and almost 7 minutes lasting version of Pagan Lovesong, the so called ‘Vibeakimbo’ version, and b-side ‘Dave is Dead’, the fans had to wait until the single was re-released as an CD single by New Rose Records in 1993. Then again, this CD-single didn’t fear the original single version edit but instead a slightly longer ‘Tormentallama’ version, exclusive to this release until today.

Pagan Lovesong (Lyrics)

Heathen, a pagan
No sun shines for me
Savage but gentle
The animal within
And I see it now
And I see it now

I had a weird dream
Watch but don't touch
I had a weird dream
I'm taking it away

Put it in a bag, hide it in a tree
Put it in a bag, hide it in a tree
I want to steal your heart, your heart
With these eyes I cannot see
And this cold heart never bleeds, never, oh no, never
Sweet smell this poison, the colour you bring
Tongue swollen venom, to touchâ?¦to love

And I see it now
And I see, see it now
I had a weird dream
Watch but don't touch
I had a weird dream
I'm taking it away
Put it in a bag, hide it in a tree
Put it in a bag, hide it in a tree

I want to steal your heart
I want to eat, eat your heart

I reach for the sky but never, never can touch
It seems so easy, easy to me
Still I cannot, will not take this thing

Hearsay, this heresy
A victim to sin
Eternal the torment, the answer lies within

I had a weird dream watch but don't touch
I had a weird dream I'm taking it away

The love you give is the love, the love you get, you get

Songwriters: David Kelly / Trevor Rowen / Richard Evans / David Watson / Gavin Friday / Derek Rowen

Pagan Lovesong - 7" single (RT 106)

a. Pagan Lovesong – 3:28
b. Dave-Id Is Dead – 4:17

Pagan Lovesong - 12" single (12 RT 106)

A. Pagan Lovesong (Vibeakimbo) 6:49
B1.Pagan Lovesong 3:28
B2. Dave-Id Is Dead 4:17

Pagan Lovesong - CD single (New Rose Records - 1993)

1. Pagan Lovesong (Tormentallama) 4:51
2. I Like the Way You're Frightened 8:25
3. Pagan Lovesong (Vibeakimbo) 6:49
4. Dave-Id Is Dead 4:18

DISCOGS

Today, 47 years ago, Joy Division self-released their very first EP, An Ideal For Living! All four tracks were recorded in just one day at the Pennine Sound studios in Oldham, UK, on 14th December 1977 and released as a 7” on the band’s own Enigma label. The band self-financed this recording on a budget of £400.

The original release was pressed as 1000 copies and sold out by September the same year.

While the band was still known as Warsaw during the recording sessions for this release, they changed their name to Joy Division before the release took place.

The sleeve was printed on a 14' x 14' piece of thin cardstock and then folded into four squares. The front cover has a black-and-white Hitler Youth member beating a drum, which was drawn by guitarist Bernard Sumner and their bandname printed in a German gothic style blackletter font. The cover design, coupled with the nature of the band's name, fuelled controversy over whether the band had Nazi sympathies. When the EP was re-released on 12-inch vinyl, the original cover was replaced by artwork featuring scaffolding.

Numerous counterfeit editions of this release exist. Only the original vinyl has serrated vinyl around the label and different contours on the label.

Today, original copies are being traded between collectors and fans for prices from € 1500 to a stunning almost € 3000!

An Ideal For Living - Tracklist

DISCOGS

On this day, 67 years ago, Jerry Wayne Hussey (26 May 1958) was born in Bristol, England. He is best known as the lead singer of The Mission and ex-guitarist of The Sisters of Mercy.

The first real success for Hussey as a guitarist was with Dead or Alive. After frontman Pete Burns retreated to become a more studio-based artist, Hussey left to join The Sisters of Mercy, concentrating on 12-string and 6-string guitars. Besides playing guitars he also contributed to The Sister Of Mercy arrangements with his higher ranged voice which was brought into place to contrast with Andrew Eldritch's melancholic baritone.

When The Sisters of Mercy disbanded, Hussey and bassist, Craig Adams, set up The Mission, recruiting Mick Brown on drums and Simon Hinkler on guitars.

In 2009, he released his first solo album called Bare and in 2014 his second solo album Songs of Candlelight and Razorblades followed.

Hussey lived in Leeds for a while before moving to London towards the end of the 1980s. Currently he lives in São Paulo, Brazil.

Photo © Luc Luyten