On this day, 38 years ago, Nitzer Ebb released their 3rd single ‘Let Your Body Learn’ (NEP3, 23 May 1986) through their own label Power Of Voice featuring 'Get Clean' as b-side. 'Let Your Body Learn' was re-released by Mute Records (EU) and Geffen Records (US) in April 1987 with different track-lists and variating artwork, preceding their cult album to be, That Total Age on Mute Records (1987).
Let Your Body Learn (Original 12” - 1986 NEP3 - tracklist)
A. Let Your Body Learn
B. Get Clean
Let Your Body Learn (Lyrics)
Fast beat the feet
Fast fall the hands
Fast beat the feet
Fast fall the hands
Meld in the music
The music of drums
Meld in the music
The music of drums
Choose the fast beat
Choose the hard line
Choose the fast beat
Choose the hard line
Try to show us one better
Not sick to the heart
Not calling with flesh
Suffer little children
Suffer little children
Suffer little children
Written in pain
Boys at one
Girls at peace
Boys at one
Girls at peace
Boys at one
Girls at peace
Boys at one
Girls at peace
Fast beat the feet
Fast fall the hands
Fast beat the feet
Fast fall the hands
Hold onto rhythm
The music of drums
Hold onto rhythm
The music of drums
The pulse is alive
Making me sane
Let your body learn
Let your body build
Let your body learn
Let your body build
Suffer little children
Suffer little children
Suffer little children
The pulse is alive
Fast beat the feet
Fast fall the hands
Boys at one
Girls at peace
Boys at one
Girls at peace
Boys at one
Girls at peace
Boys at one
Girls at peace
Freedom from fear
Giving release
Freedom from fear
Giving release
Giving release
Giving your heart
Fast beating feet
Fast falling hands
Fast beating feet
Fast falling hands
Fast beat the feet
Fast fall the hands
Choose
Fast beat the feet (learn)
Choose
Fast beat the feet (learn)
Feel
Choose
Let your body learn
Let your body build
Let your body learn
Let your body build
Choose
Learn
Build
Choose
Learn
Build
Choose
Learn
Build
Choose
On this day, 43 years ago, Siouxsie And The Banshees released the single 'Spellbound'. It was released on 22 May 1981 by record label Polydor as both 7" and 12" and was the first single from the band's fourth studio album, Juju.
The single peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart in 1981 and also reached 64th position on the U.S. National Disco Action Top 80 chart.
The 12" extended version of the song appeared for the first time again on the 2006 remastered version of Juju.
Spellbound (Lyrics)
From the cradle bars
Comes a beckoning voice
It sends you spinning
You have no choice
You hear a laughter
Cracking through the walls
It sends you spinning
You have no choice
You hear laughter
Cracking through the walls
It sends you spinning
You have no choice
Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound
Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
And don't forget
When your elders forget
To say their prayers
Take them by the legs
And throw them down the stairs
When you think
Your toys have gone berserk
It's an illusion
You cannot shirk
You hear laughter
Cracking through the walls
It sends you spinning
You have no choice
Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound
Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Spellbound
Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Entranced, entranced
Entranced, entranced
Entranced, entranced
Songwriters: Steven Severin / Susan Janet Ballion / Peter Edward Clarke / John Alexander Mcgeoch
Spellbound 7"
A. Spellbound 3:19
B. Follow the Sun 2:49
Spellbound 12"
A. Spellbound (Extended) 4:40
B1. Follow the Sun 2:49
B2. Slap Dash Snap 3:42
On this day, 46 years ago, Kraftwerk released their iconic album The Man-Machine or Die Mensch-Maschine as the original german pressing was called. The Man-Machine is Kraftwerk’s seventh studio album and was released on 19 May 1978 by their own label Kling Klang. A further refinement of their mechanical style, the album saw the group incorporate more danceable rhythms and less minimalistic arrangements. It includes some of Kraftwerk’s best known singles ‘The Model’ and ‘The Robots’.
In Germany the album peaked at the 12th position in the Offizielle Album Top 100 and reached the 26st position in the German Offizielle Top 100 year-end album charts. The first German pressing was on red vinyl.
In the UK the albums took a slow start, peaking at the 9th position of the UK Albums Chart only 8 months later in February 1982, making The Man-Machine Kraftwerk’s band's second highest-peaking album in the United Kingdom since Autobahn (1974).
The Man-Machine was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 15 February 1982, denoting shipments in excess of 100,000 copies.
The Man-Machine is the first Kraftwerk album to have Karl Bartos co-credited as a composer along with Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Emil Schult co-wrote the lyrics for 'The Model'. AllMusic described the album as "closer to the sound and style that would define early new wave electro-pop", and noted its "feel of a divided concept album", with some songs (such as the title track and 'The Robots') exploring the science fiction-esque links between humans and technology", and others (such as 'Neon Lights' and 'Metropolis') celebrating “the glamour of urbanization.
The artwork for the cover was produced by Karl Klefisch, based on the work of the Russian suprematist El Lissitzky. The back cover image is an adaptation of a graphic from Lissitzky's book for children About Two Squares: A Suprematist Tale of Two Squares in Six Constructions.[9][10]
Reviewing the album in 1978, NME stated: "The Man-Machine stands as one of the pinnacles of 70's rock music", adding that "the sparsity of the lyrics leaves the emphasis squarely on those robot rhythms, chilling tones and exquisite melodies."
AllMusic wrote that the album is "less minimalistic in its arrangements and more complex and danceable in its underlying rhythms" than the group's previous works, and noted its "tremendous impact" on subsequent synth-pop artists.
In October 2009, a remastered edition of the album was released on CD and digitally by Mute Records (EU) and by Astralwerks (US) United States, followed shortly after by heavyweight vinyl editions.

On this day, 34 years ago, British post-punk band Wire released their 7th studio album Manscape
On this day, 34 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)
- "Patterns Of Behaviour"
- "Goodbye Ploy"
- "Morning Bell"
- "Small Black Reptile"
- "Torch It!"
- "Other Moments"
- "Sixth Sense"
- "What Do You See? (Welcome)"
- "Where's The Deputation?"
- "You Hung Your Lights In The Trees / A Craftsman's Touch"
Manscape CD version (CDSTUMM 80)
- "Life in the Manscape" – 3:28
- "Stampede" – 4:35
- "Patterns of Behaviour" – 4:33
- "Other Moments" – 3:50
- "Small Black Reptile" – 3:14
- "Torch It!" – 7:31
- "Morning Bell" – 4:22
- "Where's the Deputation?" – 3:51
- "What Do You See?" (Elvander, Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman) – 6:47
- "Goodbye Ploy" – 3:50
- "Sixth Sense" – 4:19
- "Children of Groceries" – 3:03
- "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.
Pennsylvania's "aggro-punk" duo, MALICE MACHINE have unleashed their long-awaited new album, Act Of Self-Destruction.
Act Of Self-Destruction introduces the band's original concept of "aggro-punk". Inspired by their song "Corpse Painter" from their previous album, Chemical Violence, the duo have meshed the harsh electronic synth, bass, and drum assault of aggrotech with the rebellious, raw energy, and to-the-point aspects of punk.
As with their previous releases, Act Of Self-Destruction remains lyrically bleak, dark and foreboding, Tracks like "Delete Me" offer an inward-looking perspective of feeling useless or dejected while others such as "Hyena" criticize society and its leaders for the destabilized world they perpetuate. In any case, the songs on Act Of Self-Destruction speak of the darkest parts of the human psyche and the world around us.
MALICE MACHINE is unleashing their unforgiving message upon the frenzy of their wicked musical sense. With this album, the band feels it has found its identity.
Act Of Self-Destruction is available on all major digital outlets including Bandcamp and Spotify.