On February 17, 2014, Bob Casale died at the age of 61, in Los Angeles, California, due to heart failure. As with most musicians their legacy is both the influence and the music they leave behind, in the case of Casale what he accomplished with Devo is astounding.
The debut full-length album by Devo-“Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” broke into the UK charts reaching a high of number-twelve, that set the chain reaction of legend.
Although released to mixed reviews, since then Rolling Stone has listed in amongst the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, it is also listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die-for a reason. It is the punk-electronic crossover, somewhere balancing between all-out rage and novelty recording. Produced by Brian Eno and David Bowie on the back of their experimental Berlin-trilogy, Devo became the perfect project.
“This is the band of the future”-David Bowie on Devo.
The strangest album-title comes from the lead single, released this month in 1978-“Jocko Homo" introduced the call-and-response "Are we not men?-We are Devo!". Indeed that single charted in the UK’s top-100.
“Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” broke down barriers as it reflected perfectly the state of rock-music. The death of glam, the cliches which were already falling into the punk movement and the heavyweight stadium acts who played for the money and not the audience is meshed into every inch of the album. It flung back the pretentious notions of the old-guard with a cover of The Rolling Stones “Satisfaction”, became spokespeople for the hippy-drug generation with “Too Much Paranoias”. In time Devo could be perceived as journalists, highlighting their perception of what the music business had become.
Bob Casale was intricate in the Devo sound, providing back vocals, keyboards and that sixties-based rhythm guitar sound. Though his later years was spent in the field of soundtracks to movies such as - Four Rooms, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, the past would always reach for him in the form of reunion shows from 1996 until 2007.
Along with bands like Kraftwerk, Talking Heads, and Pere Ubu, Devo hailed a new era of electronic based compositions that set the trajectory for much of modern music. Looking deep with the modern framework of music points directly in the sound of LCD Soundsystem, Radiohead, even in Arcade Fire, you frequently find strong traces of Devo.
[KB]
Continuing the promotional campaign for their current album “Pitfalls”, Norwegian Rock outfit LEPROUS are now launching a drum playthrough video for the most epic track on the album, “The Sky Is Red”. Check it out below:
LEPROUS drummer Baard Kolstad comments:
“I always like to do full honest video playthroughs of certain LEPROUS songs after the different album recording processes. A nice way to share details and a different kind of energy for the listener/viewer. There’s no secret that “The Sky Is Red” is a tough one and after 27 shows playing it live, it’s interesting to see how the interpretation of the song and performance has evolved and changed.”
LEPROUS are kicking off their next European tour with support by Klone fom France and fellow Norwegians Maraton this weekend in Dortmund, Germany. The band checked in as follows:
“The shows and response of the 1st leg of the “Pitfalls” European tour was mind-blowing, and we had some of the greatest moments of our career. There was no doubt we needed to play way more territories and countries for this album than “only 4 weeks”, so here we go again, with a full production, headlining for 3 more weeks in several new countries that never have seen the new live show. Klone and Maraton as guests! We cannot wait!“
Here is a list of the upcoming LEPROUS dates (Recent updates marked ***):
LEPROUS – European Tour 2020
Supports: Klone & Maraton
08/02 – Dortmund (Germany) - Junkyard
09/02 – Strasbourg (France) - La Laiterie
10/02 – Grenoble (France) - l'hyliade
11/02 – Fribourg (Switzerland) - Fri-Son
12/02 – Graz (Austria) - Explosiv
13/02 – Istanbul (Turkey) - Zorlu Turkcell Stage *
14/02 – Tel Aviv (Israel) - Havanna *
15/02 – Athens (Greece) - Fuzz Club
17/02 – Bucharest (Romania) - Quantic
18/02 – Cluj-Napoca (Romania) - /Form Space
19/02 – Budapest (Hungary) - Durer Kert
20/02 – Krakow (Poland) - Kwadrat
21/02 – Warsaw (Poland) - Progresja
22/02 – Gdansk (Poland) - B90
24/02 – Nijmegen (The Netherlands) - Doornroosje
25/02 – Savigny (France) - l'empreinte
26/02 – Toulouse (France) - Le Rex
28/02 – Porto (Portugal) - Hard Club
01/03 – Lisbon (Portugal) - Lisboa Ao Vivo
* = Without Maraton
LEPROUS – Festival Appearances 2020
19/06 – Clisson (France) - Hellfest
26-27/06 – Madrid (Spain) - Rock The Night
3-5/07 – Cluj-Napoca (Romania) - Form Days Festival
20-22/08 – Bristol (UK) - Arctangent Festival ***
And many more international dates are to be announced soon...
LEPROUS line-up:
Einar Solberg - vocals/synth
Tor Oddmund Suhrke - guitar
Robin Ognedal - guitar
Simen Børven - bass
Baard Kolstad - drums
LEPROUS online:
www.leprous.net
www.facebook.com/leprousband
www.youtube.com/leprouschannel
This February, it's 33 AGO Kraftwerk released 'The Telephone Call / Der Telefon-Anruf'.
"The Telephone Call / Der Telefon-Anruf" by the German band Kraftwerk was released in February 1987 as the second single from their ninth studio album, Electric Café (1986). The single became Kraftwerk’s second number-one on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and stayed two weeks at the number-one spot. Although the unsettling black-and-white video suggests Wolfgan Flür is singing the lyrics It’s actually Karl Bartos Vaclas that can be heard!
The remixes on the singles were done by François Kevorkian.
The Telephone Call / Der Telefon-Anruf" (7")
A. The Telephone Call (Remix) 3:49
B. Der Telefon-Anruf 3:49
The Telephone Call / Der Telefon-Anruf" (12")
A1. The Telephone Call (Remix) 3:49
A2. Der Telefon-Anruf 3:49
B1. House Phone 4:54
B2. Der Telefon-Anruf" (Remix)
The Telephone Call - Lyrics
[EN]
I give you my affection and I give you my time
Trying to get a connection on the telephone line
You're so close but far away
I call you up all night and day
I give you my affection and I give you my time
Trying to get a connection on the telephone line
You're so close but far away
I call you up all night and day
You're so close but far away
I call you up all night and day
I give you my affection and I give you my time
Trying to get a connection on the telephone line
I call you up from time to time
To hear your voice on the telephone line
I call you up from time to time
To hear your voice on the telephone line
[DE]
Ich geb' dir meine Zuneigung und meine Zeit
Ich muß dich wiedersehen, wann ist es soweit?
Du bist mir nah und doch so fern
Ich ruf' dich an, ich hör' dich gern
Songwriters: Florian Schneider Esleben / Karl Bartos / Ralf Huetter
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
Today, exactly 41 years ago, John Peel broadcast the first Peel Sessions, performed by Joy Division
Today, exactly 41 years ago (14 February 1979) John Peel broadcast the first Peel Sessions, a studio live session performed and recorded by Joy Division at the BBC Maida Vale studios in London on January 31st, 1979.
Below the setlist of this recording & broadcast session.
Exercise One
Insight
She's Lost Control
Transmission
At the time of broadcasting, all performed songs were previously unreleased.
Later that same year, on 10th December, John Peel broadcast a second recording session by Joy Division
7 years later, in 1986, the first 'The Peel Sessions' EP, was released by Strange Fruit Records. The version of Transmission featured on this EP is one of the few recordings available where both Ian Curtis and Bernard Sumner played guitars at the same time.
The EP spent thirteen weeks on the UK Indie Chart, peaking at number 4.
The release of a second volume of the Joy Division Peel Sessions would follow in 1987.
Below you can listen to the original repeat tranmission broadcasted by John Peel on 5th April.
German Electronic/Synthpop Act SEA OF SIN Presents Their Single & Video Release For 'YOU'
German Electronic/Synthpop Duo SEA OF SIN presents the release of their single and video, "You."
For fans of: New Order, Depeche Mode & Camouflage
"YOU" is a homage to all the beloved ones who make our lives so special and help us to get through! "YOU" contains the classic SEA OF SIN ingredients with a catchy hook-line and strong melodies which makes it stick to listeners hearts and in their heads."
The new album Unbroken shows the two founding members Frank Zwicker (vocals & words) and Klaus Schill (synths, guitars & production) musically more mature than ever. The songs on the new album have the classic SEA OF SIN ingredients: high‐quality electronic pop music with a penchant for melancholy and strong, catchy melodies that get stuck in the head and heart.
Stylistically the spectrum ranges from mid‐tempo numbers with influences from classic 90s electropop to energetic songs that contain elements from indie bands such as New Order or The Editors. The distinctive and unmistakable voice of Frank and the sophisticated production handwriting of Klaus always ensure the special SEA OF SIN touch.
"If you like the typical synth pop sound of the ’90s, then this album should find its way into your CD shelf as fast as possible." - Electrozombies
