In April 1979, 45 years ago, Tubeway Army, the first band of and led by singer frontman Gary Numan released their second and final album 'Replicas' on the British label Beggars Banquet Records. It was recorded at the Gooseberry Studios (London) during December 1978 and January 1979.
It followed their self-titled debut which was released one year before, in 1978. After this release, Gary Numan would continue to release records under his own name, though the musicians in Tubeway Army would continue to work with him for some time. Replicas was the first album of what Numan later termed the "machine" phase of his career, preceding The Pleasure Principle and Telekon, a collection linked by common themes of a dystopian science fiction future and transmutation of man/machine, coupled with an androgynous image and a synthetic rock sound.
Fuelled by a surprise No. 1 hit single, "Are 'Friends' Electric?", the album also reached No. 1 in the UK charts in July 1979 and was certified Gold by the BPI for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.
Replicas was based on a dystopian book Numan hoped to complete someday, set in a not-too-distant future metropolis where Machmen (androids with cloned human skin) and other machines keep the general public cowed on orders from the Grey Men (shadowy officials).
The recording was a development of the sound of the first Tubeway Army album. While the tracks "The Machman", "You Are in My Vision" and "It Must Have Been Years" recalled the earlier album’s guitar-oriented rock, the rest were built solidly around an analog synthesizer, the Minimoog.
Along with "Are 'Friends' Electric?", this included "Me! I Disconnect from You", the atmospheric "Down in the Park" (released as a single prior to the album and acquiring cult status though not commercial success), the multi-layered title track and the closing instrumentals "When the Machines Rock" and "I Nearly Married a Human", the latter featuring Numan's first use of a primitive drum machine.
Replicas' synthesizer sound and occasionally nihilistic lyrics had a major impact on the industrial acts that came to prominence in the mid-1990s such as Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails, both of whom covered Numan's songs on record.
The album was reissued several times, some including bonus tracks, like three single B-sides. "We Are So Fragile" (from "Are 'Friends' Electric?"), and "Do You Need the Service?" and "I Nearly Married a Human" (from "Down in the Park").
Replicas (1979 Beggars Banquet LP tracklist)
A1. Me! I Disconnect from You – 3:23
A2. Are 'Friends' Electric? – 5:25
A3. The Machman" – 3:08
A4. Praying to the Aliens – 4:00
A5. Down in the Park" – 4:24
B1.You Are in My Vision – 3:15
B2. Replicas – 5:01
B3. It Must Have Been Years – 4:02
B4. When the Machines Rock – 3:15
B5. I Nearly Married a Human – 6:31
On this day, 27 years ago, Rammstein released the single ‘Engel’ (01.04.1997). It was the first preliminary single taken from upcoming second Rammstein album Sehnsucht (August 1997).
The almost angel-like vocal chorus of the song was sung by Christiane "Bobo" Hebold of German pop band Bobo in White Wooden Houses. On some occasions she joined Rammstein to sing her parts live from inside a flaming cage.
Engel (The video)
The videoclip for Engel was inspired by the horror movie ‘From Dusk Till Down’ (1996), directed by Robert Rodriguez. The whole band appears in the video although, while Lindemann, Schneider and Flake can be seen in the audience, the other band members can be seen performing as a band. However not playing their usual rol/instruments. Norbert Heitker, the director of the video, was awarded the Echo for this music video in the Best National Video category in 1998.
The MTV Boycot
The aesthetic elements of the video (Nudity, zombie children in cages, phallic imagery, foot fetishism and guitars as flamethrowers) made MTV refuse to broadcast the video stating “the Engel's video does not match MTV's on-air look”.
Allegedly Rammstein protested against this boycott MTV by tying an MTV manager to a chair in their backstage at the 1997 Hurricane Festival in Scheeßel and tying a smoke bomb to his leg. The action of the band was seen as a tasteless one but proved to be a successful promotion for the album Sehnsucht, which appeared shortly thereafter. In April 1998, guitarist Paul Landers told a magazine that the action was not a protest against the video boycot but was an action against the bullying behavior of the affected MTV manager, who made the work of several musicians difficult with his methods. The manager then prosecuted the band for assault.
Gold!
The single entered the official German weekly charts (Offizielle Charts Germany) on 14 April 1997 and reached the 3rd position by June 1997, staying there for 4 weeks. It entered the single charts at Number 12. A month later the single has sold more than 250,000 copies.
An Fan-edition with a different tracklist was released in May that celebrated the original release’s ’Gold’ status in Germany.
It ended up on the 11th position in the OCD 1997 year-end charts.
Engel (tracklist original CDS release)
1 Engel - 04:24
2 Sehnsucht - 04:04
3 Rammstein (Eskimos & Egypt Radio Edit) - 03:40
4 Rammstein (Eskimos & Egypt Instrumental Edit) - 03:32
5 Rammstein - 04:25
Engel (tracklist fan CDS release)
1 Engel (Extended Version) - 04:34
2 Feuerräder (Live Demo Version 1994) - 04:47
3 Wilder Wein (Demo Version 1994) - 05:41
4 Rammstein (Eskimos & Egypt Instrumental) - 03:27
Engel (Lyrics)
Wer zu Leb-zeit gut auf Erden
Wird nach dem Tod ein Engel werden
Den Blick gen Himmel fragst du dann
Warum man sie nicht sehen kann
Erst wenn die Wolken schlafen gehen
Kann man uns am Himmel sehn
Wir haben Angst und sind allein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Sie leben hinterm Sonnenschein
Getrennt von uns unendlich weit
Sie müssen sich an Sterne krallen
(Ganz fest)
Damit sie nicht vom Himmel fallen
Erst wenn die Wolken schlafen gehen
Kann man uns am Himmel sehn
Wir haben Angst und sind allein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Erst wenn die Wolken schlafen gehen
Kann man uns am Himmel sehn
Wir haben Angst und sind allein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
On this day, 35 years ago, Front Line Assembly released Gashed Senses & Crossfire!
On this day 30 years ago Front Line Assembly released their seventh album Gashed Senses & Crossfire (1 April 1989). Two singles were taken from this album: Digital Tension Dementia being the first and released prior to the album in November 1988 and No Limit which was released later in August.
Digital Tension Dementia became FLA’s first Billboard appearance in the U.S. reaching nr. 45 in the 1988 Dance Club Songs.
All tracks were written by Bill Leeb and Michael Balch.
Gashed Senses & Crossfire - Tracklist
01. No Limit 4:53
02. Antisocial 4:41
03. Hypocrisy" 3:48
04. Shutdown 5:24
05. Prayer 3:29
06. Digital Tension Dementia 4:46
07. Big Money 4:15
08. Bloodsport 5:55
09. Foolsgame 3:36
10. Sedation 3:56
******************************************************NEDERLANDS***********************************************************
Vandaag precies XXXYEARXXX jaar geleden verscheen Gashed Senses & Crossfire (1 April 1989), het zevende album van Front Line Assembly. Er werden 2 singles van dit album uitgebracht: Digital Tension Dementia, dat als eerste en reeds vóór het verschijnen van het album in november 1988 werd uitgebracht en No Limit dat later in augustus verscheen.
Digital Tension Dementia werd de eerste single van FLA die in de Verenigde Staten op Billboard verscheen, met als hoogste notering nr. 45 in de 1988 Dance Club Songs.
Alle tracks werden geschreven door Bill Leeb en Michael Balch.
Gashed Senses & Crossfire - Tracklist
01. No Limit 4:53
02. Antisocial 4:41
03. Hypocrisy" 3:48
04. Shutdown 5:24
05. Prayer 3:29
06. Digital Tension Dementia 4:46
07. Big Money 4:15
08. Bloodsport 5:55
09. Foolsgame 3:36
10. Sedation 3:56
Atlanta-based darkwave band, Now After Nothing recently unveiled their latest single, "Sick Fix" (Spatial Remix). The song is a remix of last year's debut single, "Sick Fix" by Now After Nothing's own Matt Spatial who wanted to give fans something new while the band wraps production on their debut EP set for release this summer.
Spatial says, "I wanted to put something different out so I lined up another artist to do a remix of "Sick Fix". I never intended to remix "Sick Fix" myself, The "Sick Fix" (Spatial Remix) just kind of happened. When the remix was done, I loved it so much that I began to incorporate elements of it into the live version of the song."
The lyrics to "Sick Fix" and the remix are about dealing with 'toxicity' and the very real struggle to stay away or detach from the things we know are harmful to us: the family member that treats everyone poorly or the narcissistic partner for example.
The track is also about the attachment to social media or the commercial media that spews false narratives to instill fear. Deep down we might know that continuing to engage in these things/situations is unhealthy. Yet, like the proverbial 'car crash', we can't seem to turn away. Over time maybe it becomes so all-consuming that it might feel similar to addiction. It's a 'sick fix' that we begin to subconsciously crave.
The "Sick Fix" (Spatial Remix) is available on all major digital platforms including Bandcamp and Spotify.
On this day, 32 years ago (30 March 1992), Nitzer Ebb released the single ‘Ascend’. It was taken from their fourth studio album with the ironic tittle Ebbhead (1991), fifth if you like include the original self-released tape Basic Pain Procedure from 1983. ‘Ascend’ was officially released as cassette single, 10” vinyl single, and CD single with various tracks and remixes. Beside various mixes by Flood there was also ‘Anonymous Mix’ made which was actually done by Vince Clark of Yazoo. At that time, and besides the promo 12”, the only commercial release of this remix could be found only on the cassette single version.
Besides Flood, who also produced the previous two Nitzer Ebb albums, Depeche Mode’s Alan Wilder was brought in to co-produce the Ebbhead album, giving the album and it’s songs, a quite unique sound and atmosphere.
Ascend (CD single - track-list - CDMUTE145)
01. Ascend (Single Mix) - remixed by Flood
02. Ascend (Pro-gress Three Vox) - remixed Mark Stagg
03. Ascend (Remix) - remixed by Flood
04. Trigger Happy (Remix) - Philipp Erb
Ascend (Cassette single - track-list - CMUTE 145)
A1. Ascend (Anonymous Mix) - remixed by Vince Clark
A2. Ascend (7” Mix) - remix Flood
A3. Ascend (12” Mix) - remix Flood
B-side tracklist idem
Ascend (Lyrics)
I first saw you
Without love and then you knew
Your fingers reached
I moved in the distance breached
Tell me what I'm doing here
Tell me what I'm doing here
To my surprise
I kissed you, you made me rise
Now by my side
I've missed you and let it slide
Tell me what I'm doing here
Tell me what I'm doing here
If all I ever wanted wasn't good for you
If the thing that I said, they just weren't true
Ascend, ascend my friend
I turned my head
And looked back, I had been led
When my heart jumped
We lost touch, our love had slumped
Tell me what I'm doing here
Tell me what I'm doing here
If all I ever wanted wasn't good for you
If the thing that I said, they just weren't true
Ascend, ascend my friend
I can see you looking down to keep away from me
But I'm stuck with this lack of ability
I can't refrain
From coming here
It causes pain
You're so sincere
Ascend, I must ascend
So now alone
I find out your heart is stone
A helping hand
There is none from where I stand
Tell me what I'm doing here
Tell me what I'm doing here
If all I ever wanted wasn't good for you
If the thing that I said, they just weren't true
Then don't restrain from telling me
That all this pain is good for me
I can see you looking down to keep away from me
But I'm stuck with this lack of ability
I can't restrain from coming here
It causes pain you're so sincere
Ascend
Ascend, I must ascend
