On this day, XXXYEARSXXX 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
Electro / EBM pioneers PORTION CONTROL strike hard with new album 'Head Buried'!
Portion Control, formed in 1979, pioneered the use of electronic instruments and sampling and clearly inspired bands as for instance Front 242. They have also been cited as an influence by Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Orbital and Nine Inch Nails.
Head Buried is Portion Control's first release since their 2012 album 'Pure Form' and is a digital only release that features "a clash of trademark malevolent pieces from transmissions along with the other clumsy, broken, distressed monotone slabs."
But there's even more good news! According to Portion Control headquarters.. "the next new full release is underway, machines rumbling".
More info and media on 'Head Buried' on the link below!
40 years ago, producer/fan/friend Ric Ocasek (The Cars) brought SUICIDE: ALAN VEGA · MARTIN REV to ZE Records to record "The Second Album" (May 1980).
Suicide was always about life:
Nightlife decadence with “Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne”… “Mr. Ray” who was the arresting officer - Detective Inspector Ray - when Alan & Marty got caught up in a raid on The Clash & Suicide's hotel in Blackburn on that infamous Clash On Parole Tour (1978)… street drama in “Harlem” and a sweet sexy lady “Shadazz” that came from outta the skies.
During the recording January 1980 at Power Station Studios, NYC, Alan Vega and Martin Rev received a surprise visit by Bruce Springsteen. A quarter of a century later The Boss would cover “Dream Baby Dream”, the single Suicide recorded with Ric Ocasek a year prior to the album’s release.
Listen for yourself why SUICIDE: ALAN VEGA · MARTIN REV is no “Fast Money Music” and just as essential as its predecessor. “Dance”-Dance-Dance. All night long.
Martin Rev and Alan Vega of Suicide working with Ric Ocasek of The Cars on their second record at the Power Station in New York City on January 12th, 1980. (Photo by Ebet Roberts)
The 1999 re-issue on Blast First/Mute contains The Second Album plus 3 bonus tracks: “Super Subway Comedian” and the “Dream Baby Dream”/“Radiation” single. Also included is a bonus disc with The First Rehearsal Tapes, recorded by Suicide at Museum - Project for Living Artists, NYC 1975.
Martin Rev and Alan Vega - Suicide (Original tracklist)
Side A
01. Diamonds, Fur Coat, Chanpagne
02. Mr Ray (to howard t.)
03. Sweetheart
04. Fast Money Music
05. Touch Me
Side B
01. Harlem
02. Be Bop Kid
03. Las Vegas Man
04. Shadazz
05. Dance
Suicide - Mr. Ray (Fan video)
Suicide - Shadazz (Fan video)
On this day, 42 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.
New single for Jean-Marc Lederman Experience featuring Claus Larsen from Leaether Strip
Jean-Marc Lederman presents new single featuring Claus Larsen from Leaether Strip.
"Letter From Claus Larsen" is taken from the upcoming Jean-Marc Lederman Experience album "Letters To Gods (and fallen angels)".
Jean-Marc in his own words:
"This was actually the last song I did for the album and Claus, the hardest working man in the industrial music scene, was really REALLY fast.
It took him only a few hours to pen the lyrics and come back to me with stems.
(...)
Touched by your faith
Learning forgiveness soothes me
We are followed
Let me discard my chains now
Calling your name
Gazing into the dark sky
(...)
Bass synth is an old 80's Korg, mixed with many analog drum sounds, it all fits well, me think..."
Jean-Marc Lederman Experience "Letters To Gods (and fallen angels)" is due May 29th and will be released by Wool-E Discs. It comes as a 2CD in a 36 pages hardcover artbook containing 24 tracks, with 21 different guest singers/performers, and 3 novels. Limited to 300 copies.
The album can be pre-ordered here
"Letter From Claus Larsen" is now available on all major download and streamingservices
