James Ray & The Performance originally formed in Newcastle in the mid-1980s, around the duo of James Ray on vocals and Carl Harrison on various electronic instrumentation. Prior to the release of their debut

single 'Mexico Sundown Blues', produced by Andrew Eldritch from The Sisters Of Mercy in 1986, Ray had offered his vocals for the indie chart topping single 'Giving Ground' by The Sisterhood. This led directly to The Performance signing to The Sisters Of Mercy's own "Merciful Release" label, immediately making The Performance a cult smash, and 'Mexico Sundown Blues' an indie dance floor filler. 

This release kicks off with the 9 minute, 12" epic version of 'Mexico Sundown Blues', as well as the radio edit of the song, plus the brooding B-side 'Edie Sedgwick', also produced by Andrew Eldritch, all aided and abetted by the Sister's trusty drum machine, Doktor Avalanche.

A year later, and also on Merciful Release, The Performance released their second single 'Texas', which follows a similar dance-rock-industrial groove as the debut. The original version of 'Mountain Voices' from the b-side of 'Texas' is included here on CD for the first time, as well as the song 'Johnny Goodbye'.

Third and last single from The Performance, 'Dust Boat' from 1989, also featured a live version of 'Southern White Knight', and what could almost be considered their theme song, 'A New Kind Of Assassin', with the latter two included here on CD for the first time.

This collection from their Merciful Release output also includes some rare and never before heard demos recorded prior to signing to the label, plus plenty of rare memorabilia and extensive liner notes based on new interviews with James Ray.

MEXICO SUNDOWN BLUES (12" VERSION)

EDIE SEDGWICK 

TEXAS 

MOUNTAIN VOICES (ORIGINAL VERSION)

JOHNNY GOODBYE 

DUST BOAT 

A NEW KIND OF ASSASSIN 

SOUTHERN WHITE KNIGHT (LIVE) 

BONUS TRACKS

MOUNTAIN VOICES (REMIX) 

PBR STREEGANG 

EDIE SEDGWICK (DEMO)

ASSASSIN 64 

A NEW KIND OF ASSASSIN (DEMO) 

MEXICO SUNDOWN BLUES (EDIT) 

FOR FANS OF: THE SISTERS OF MERCY, MINISTRY, SUICIDE…

James Ray made his sonic debut topping the indie charts in January 1986 singing lead vocals on 'Giving Ground' by The Sisterhood, a short lived spin-off from Leeds' favourite sons, The Sisters Of Mercy.

Signing to The Sisters Of Mercy's own Merciful Release record label, James Ray And The Performance released three cult EPs between 1986 and 1989, before James Ray left to form James Rays Gangwar at the end of 1989. 

Making an immediate impact with their visceral live shows, and taking a far more rock orientated approach than the industrial/dance/rock hybrid pursued by The Performance, Gangwar released 'Another Million Dollars', backed by 'Hell Blonde Chiara', at the end of 1989. 

"Without Conscience' backed with 'Destination Assassination' was released by Merciful Release on 12" in 1990, and continued many of the themes developed by The Performance, but with a more brutal, and aggressive guitar based attack, joining the samples, sequencers and relentless drum machine. 

James Ray finally issued his full-length debut album in 1992 with "Dios Está De Nuestro Lado" (Spanish for 'God is on our side'), kicking off with the seven minute single, 'Rev Rev Lowider', an electronic 'Born To Be Wild' for the end of the millennium. 

Inevitable comparisons were made with label boss Andrew Eldritch and The Sisters Of Mercy, but fans and critics alike were at last recognizing the singer's unique talent, with positive press from everyone from Melody Maker to The Times.

As well as extensive liner notes based on new interviews with James Ray, the release includes many rare and previously unreleased demo recordings, available on CD for the first time.

CD ONE

ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS (12" A-SIDE)

HELL, BLONDE, CHIARA (12" B-SIDE)

WITHOUT CONSCIENCE (12" A-SIDE)

DESTINATION ASSASSINATION (12" B-SIDE)

"DIOS ESTÁ DE NUESTRO LADO"

REV REV LOWRIDER

HEART SURGERY

35 THOUSAND TIMES

BADLANDS

HARDWAR

CADILLAC COMING

BAD GIN

SANTA SUSANA

COO CA CHOO

CD TWO: (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED DEMOS)

COLD BLOOD AND MURDER

ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS (DEMO VERS 1)

HELL, BLONDE, CHIARA

WITHOUT CONSCIENCE

DESTINATION ASSASSINATION

REV REV LOWRIDER

HEART SURGERY

35 THOUSAND TIMES

BADLANDS

HARD WAR 

CADILLAC COMING

SANTA SUSANA

BAD GIN

ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS (DEMO VERS 2)

INSTRUMENTAL

COO CA CHOO 

FOR FANS OF: THE SISTERS OF MERCY, MINISTRY, SUICIDE

Special and awesome collaboration recording by the Spanish Industrial music pioneers ESPLENDOR GEOMETRICO and the legendary HIJOKAIDAN (a.k.a. the King of Noise in Japan)! Live recording in Tokyo 2013 (SuperDeluxe club). This is a collaborative release between 3 labels: Geometrik (Madrid), Alchemy & Suezan Studio (Tokyo) – the latter released this album on CD format in Japan only (sold out immediately). “In November 2013, E.G. made their fourth trip to Japan. After a first 2 shows in Tokyo, Day 3 foresaw this special E.G.Kaidan show and I confess: I was very nervous because E.G. had almost never played with other bands on stage. However, my concerns were entirely blown away as they kick-started the show.

Overlapping with the material chosen from E.G.’s latest album ‘Ultraphoon’, Jojo Hiroshige´s guitar sound and the harsh noise generated by Mikawa, combined with Junko´s eccentric voice, mingled together into an unprecedented mass of sound and hit everybody in the crowd. The two ensembles fused their sounds together and assaulted the audience with an overpowering force… The vocal interchange between Arturo Lanz and Junko, got the audience involved and drove the whole house into frenzy. The show ended in triumph – I filed away the atmosphere in the venue right after the performance, the air was filled with a mixture of excitement and stunned euphoria” Kaoru Koyanagi (Suezan Studio) An apocalyptic collision E.G. – HIJOKAIDAN for fans of old-school Industrial-Rhythmic Noise in a highest quality live recording in Tokyo 2013 (at SuperDeluxe Club).

Character actor Alex Rocco, who played casino owner Moe Greene in “The Godfather” and appeared in dozens of other movies and TV shows, died Saturday. His daughter Jennifer Rocco reported his death on her Facebook page.

Often appearing as a heavy, hood or cop, in “The Godfather,” he had the famous line, “Do you know who I am?” Recently he had a recurring role in Starz’ “Magic City” and appeared on “Episodes” and “Maron.”

He appeared in several episodes of 1980s TV show “The Facts of Life” as Charlie Polniaczek, and had recurring roles on other shows including “Starsky and Hutch” and “The Famous Teddy Z.” He did voices for animated shows including “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.”

His film career included roles in “Freebie and the Bean,” “Get Shorty,” “Gotcha!,” “The Stunt Man” and “That Thing You Do.” His son, Marc Rocco, who died in 2009, directed him in “Dream a Little Dream” and “Scenes from the Goldmine.”

He was born Alexander Federico Petricone Jr. in Boston, and studied acting with Leonard Nimoy, making his TV debut on “Batman.”

He is survived by his wife, actress Shannon Wilcox, daughter Jennifer, son Lucien and a grandson.

Source: Variety

Arrow Films, the distributor of The Voices and Good Kill are pleased to announce the home entertainment release of the acclaimed Argentinean thriller The Burning, this ‘Machete Western' which premiered in Official Selection at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, arrives on Blu-ray and DVD from 10th August 2015.

Honing the spirit of Sergio Leone and echoing shades of Rambo First Blood, Argentinean director Pablo Fendrik’s slow-building thriller is essential viewing for all fans of world cinema. Gael Garcia Bernal (Babel, The Motorcycle Diaries) joins forces with Alice Braga (I Am Legend, Elysium) in this tale of unfolding revenge.

Kai (Garcia Bernal), a mysterious and mystical figure, emerges from the Argentinean rainforest to rescue Vania (Braga), who has been kidnapped by mercenaries. Together they face off against the men who have ruthlessly murdered Vania’s father, a poor farmer, and taken over his land.

Part love story, part western, Fendrik turns this latter genre on its head as so-called civilisation becomes a destructive force over both the rich jungle setting and the communities living within it.

The Burning premiered in Official Selection at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival following Fendrik’s previous two films’ selection in Critics’ Week at Cannes: Blood Appears (La Sangre Brota) and The Mugger (El Asaltante). Garcia Bernal also takes an executive producer credit.