"Live In London 1982" is the Beat Generation revamped.
Recorded in Brixton four years before the death of Beat legend, this live set features Gysin reciting poems from the late '50s and early '60s, accompanied by a makeshift no wave backing band consisting of Slits bassist Tessa Pollitt (also on cello), Rip Rig Panic, drummer Steve Noble, Penguin Cafe Orchestra percussionist Gile and guitarist Ramuntcho Matta.
Most of the texts were written upon meeting Burroughs, at the time of the invention of the cut-up. The influence that Brion Gysin has had on contemporary music may never be taken fully into account. The music is resolutely avant rock: dissonant, provocative, and largely improvised. Gysin called this session "White Funk".
Live in London 1982 is an interesting document, which will appeal to connoisseurs of William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin's legacy.
The Belgian label Alfa Matrix was started up exactly 10 years ago.
On this occasion the label decided to started up an own magazine in which they offer interviews and fresh news from the bands signed to our label, plus an extended Q&A with fans and customers from the label.
The magazine can be found on their website.
In Camera & Mass: two early classic 4AD bands, to be reissued on Desire Records
Desire Records will re-release two classic 4-AD recordings.
IN CAMERA
Limited edition of 500 copies on black vinyl.
Comprised of singer/keyboardist David Steiner, guitarist Andrew Gray, bassist Pete Moore and drummer Jeff Wilmott, London post-punkers In Camera came to Ivo's attention when they opened a show for Bauhaus. Displaying a spiky, PiL and Joy Division-influenced sound on their 1980 debut single ‘Die Laughing’ (the first 4AD release engineered by John Fryer) the group had matured considerably by the time of their IV Songs EP at the end of the year.
By 1982 the quartet had fallen apart. The Fin EP was their 4AD epitaph: a Peel session from December 1980 which Ivo licensed from the BBC.
Desire will release this record comprising the very first 7’’ (Final Achievement/Die Laughing) coupled with the first 12’’ (IV Songs). Fully licensed from 4AD it’s the first time in 30 years these recordings are available on vinyl.
MASS
Limited edition of 500 copies on black vinyl with printed inner-sleeve with rare flyers and posters replicas.
After Rema-Rema split, Gary Asquith, Mick Allen, and Mark Cox formed arty post-punk outfit Mass with Danny Briottet. The quartet debuted in 1980 with the single ‘You And I’/’Cabbage’, following it up a year later with their sole album, Labour Of Love.
The group subsequently split into two halves: Asquith and Briottet formed Renegade Soundwave, while Allen and Cox remained with 4AD for their new project, The Wolfgang Press.
Desire is extremely proud to release this long deleted album. Fully licensed from 4AD it’s the first time in 30 years these recordings are available on vinyl.
Jewels of the Nile are a trio out of Portland with an obvious influence from the dark Northwest.
Formed early in 2010 by Meghan Christine and Jessy Montaigne (Subtonix) while playing in their other project Magick Daggers, the two bonded over a common love of more primal, downtempo electronic music, also sharing double air in the stars, combining to create a spark of desire to form something that allowed the freedom of complete exploration in music and the world. The two are joined by Amity Givens on electric drums and floor tom, bringing driving beats and a dynamic live performance.
In the past annum, even without a physical release, they’ve already played both coasts with kindred spirits Jessie Evans, The Present Moment, Soft Metals, Bestial Mouths and Arohan on the West Coast, with a short tour of Mexico City performing in underground art gallery parties with RIitualz, and in New York City with their second live performance at QxBxRx.
The music transcends boundaries of dark electronic dance beats, to hints of tropical upbeat tango rhythms, laced with psychedelic reverb and infectious new wave hooks in others. Montaigne provides ether based come- hither lyrics that at times span into a deeper velvet clad register, bringing the suggestion of a more sensuous gnosis. The textures of the multiple synth layers range from pensive organ sounds to bell-like island melodies over tribal beats.
Their first release was a cover split 7” single with Soft Metals out on desire earlier this year and is now sold out.
Pleasure is their debut album and will be released by desire on CD, LP and digital next September and on cassette by Portland’s Sweating Tapes.
Last year, on the occasion of their debut album “Per Aspera Ad Astra” the Goth Rock duo from Germany shot their video.
This was done in coop with Zeche Carl (colliery), a mine where all the big bands ranging from Gwar to Zeromancer have played. Inspired with a do-it-yourself idea, this video was show with only a handful of friends in a span of 2 days. A special thanks goes to Upie Guava (producer/director), Melanie Dittmer (Subkultur2010, organization), Dirk Bussler, and the administration of Zeche Carl (location). Also, last but not least Kid_A (driver).
