Cerysmatic Factory

Links for 2012-05-24 [del.icio.us]

2012-05-25T00:00:00-07:00

Saint Anthony
Mike Garry performs his poem live at Hacienda XXX

Peter Saville for Castlefield Gallery

2012-05-24T21:25:00.003+01:00

Peter Saville has joined many internationally-acclaimed artists in making a donation to the Castlefield Gallery's Fundraising Auction which takes place on 30 May 2012. The money raised will help to secure the organisation's future as a leader in artist development in the North West of England.

The Gallery has already received a large number of spectacular drawings, sculptures, photographs and paintings from artists such as Mark Leckey (Turner Prize 2008 winner), Haroon Mirza (Silver Lion, Venice Biennale 2011), David Shrigley and Liam Spencer. Every artist is donating 100% of the auction sales proceeds to the Gallery.

Peter Saville's contribution is a signed artist's proof lithograph on paper of the artwork produced for the reissue of Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division.

The auctioneer will be highly respected artist and teacher Professor Pavel Büchler of Manchester Metropolitan University, assisted by Stephen Snoddy, Director, The New Art Gallery Walsall. Plus lending his support to the auction will be special guest, author, DJ and journalist, Dave Haslam.

SXXV X.O.Dus Band on the Wall double-header

2012-05-24T21:02:00.000+01:00

X.O.Dus continue their comeback trail as they co-headline with Section 25 at the Band on the Wall [->] on 25 October 2012. Tickets priced 10.00 advance are on sale now.

Meanwhile, the previously-announced X.O.Dus 6 July comeback show at Fort Perch Rock will be filmed for a future dvd.

Section 25 FACT 90 From The Hip vinyl issue

2012-05-24T19:55:00.000+01:00

Factory Records Ltd (the resurrected imprint via LTM) releases a new double vinyl edition of Section 25's 1984 landmark album From The Hip on 28 May. The album, produced by Bernard Sumner, combined smooth synthpop with seamless electro beats. This new version features digitally re-mastered audio, with the original FACT 90 album on a single LP plus a bonus 12" single with two versions of seminal single FAC 108 Looking From A Hilltop. The 8-minute proto-techno Megamix version was edited and mixed by Sumner and Donald Johnson of ACR, and later sampled by both Orbital and The Shamen. The flip features Stephen Morris's (New Order/The Other Two) 2010 remix.

Peter Saville has 'digitally remastered' his original cover design with help from Matthew Robertson and Idea Digital.

Tracklisting

Disc 1

1. The Process
2. Looking From A Hilltop
3. Reflection
4. Prepare To Live
5. Program For Light
6. Desert
7. Beneath The Blade
8. Inspiration

Disc 2

1. Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)
2. Looking From A Hilltop (Stephen Morris Mix)

Although original vocalists Larry and Jenny Cassidy have sadly passed away, Section 25 continue to perform and record in 2012 with work on a new album ongoing. Fronted by founder member Vin Cassidy, along with Beth Cassidy (daughter of Larry and Jenny) on vocals and keyboards they are joined by Steven Stringer on guitar and keyboards & Stuart Hill on keyboards. The band brings their retro-futurism to selected live dates throughout 2012:

29 May - Leadmill, Sheffield (with Peter Hook and The Light)
1 June - Islington 02 Academy, London (with Peter Hook and The Light)
1 July - DV8 Festival, York
25 Oct - Band On The Wall, Manchester (co-headlining with X-O-Dus)
10 Nov - Wroclaw Festival, Poland

HAC XXX 1X

2012-05-23T21:00:00.000+01:00

Disorder, Box, Detroit and now XXX. The first Hacienda 30th anniversary party - organised by Peter Hook and taking over the two levels of car park in the basement of the Hacienda apartment block - was up there with the best of them.

There were no half measures: permissions were sought from the management company and residents of an entire apartment block; parking spaces were rented across the road to create the space; council licences were granted; an impressive PA, stage, light show, bar and (a generous supply of) portaloos installed; (Greg) Wilson, Hook, Haslam, DaSilva and Park were booked; and all for 500 invited guests paying GBP 10.00 each to charity.

The Old Order were, of course, famous for such philanthropic displays of largesse.

Links for 2012-05-22 [del.icio.us]

2012-05-23T00:00:00-07:00

Creaky Dancers
MEN review of Hacienda XXX
Rave marks Hacienda anniversary
BBC Entertainment review of Hacienda XXX

Links for 2012-05-21 [del.icio.us]

2012-05-22T00:00:00-07:00

The Photo Kid (aka Ben Kelly)
For the Hacienda 30th Anniversary via ditto.tv

Joy Division - Le Terme?

2012-05-20T21:00:00.001+01:00

Almost two years to the day since Peter Hook and The Light debuted their live reworkings of early Joy Division, centered around Unknown Pleasures, and a year since Closer et al was replayed, Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May 2012 saw Hooky complete the tri-cycle with Still - performed "in its entirety for the first ever time" at Factory 251.

The set matched the disjointed original album perfectly: powerful and previously unreleased/overlooked Joy Division tracks (The Only Mistake, Something Must Break) were added to The Light's now-enormous repertoire whilst earlier Warsaw tracks (The Kill, Walked In Line) and the Velvet cover version (Sister Ray) were added for completeness.

But it's the crossover points, when tracks from the Unknown Pleasures and Closer shows - now honed to powerful near-perfection through constant touring to obscure, surprised and eternally grateful foreign audiences - drop almost randomly into the set, that the band comes alive and the place explodes in mass catharsis.

The best is saved for last, though, with an excursion into New (Order) territory - 12 bass strings combine for The Him, Dreams Never End and a sublime Doubts Even Here.

The Light are alternating Unknown Pleasures and Closer around the UK in the next few weeks, then beyond. Festival headline/own tent stuff. Must see.

Links for 2012-05-12 [del.icio.us]

2012-05-13T00:00:00-07:00

All Was Numbered by Kevin Hewick
Album review by Paul Pledger via Allgigs

Section 25 live at DV8Fest York 1 July

2012-05-12T10:48:00.001+01:00

Taking a short break from their hectic summer recording schedule for their next studio album Section 25 will be appearing live at the DV8 Festival York on Sunday 1 July 2012.

Links for 2012-05-07 [del.icio.us]

2012-05-08T00:00:00-07:00

New Order are here to stay
Live review via STV

Links for 2012-05-05 [del.icio.us]

2012-05-06T00:00:00-07:00

New Order live at Manchester Apollo
YouTube clips via Polewka123

Links for 2012-05-04 [del.icio.us]

2012-05-05T00:00:00-07:00

Hooky’s not spoken to us in God knows how many years
Stephen Morris interviewed by Dave Kerr for The Skinny
New Order live review
Brixton Academy, London - via The Guardian

X-O-Dus set for summer live dates

2012-04-28T20:20:00.002+01:00

Manchester reggae band X-O-Dus, best known for the Dennis Bovell produced single FAC 11 English Black Boys and currently with a similarly-titled album out on LTM are set to return to the stage this summer.

A warm-up gig at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, on 6 July 2012 is confirmed and will be the band's first gig for 30 years. More dates will hopefully follow and we will let you know as soon as we have details.

FBN 36 Short Stories for Pauline

2012-04-27T14:21:00.001+01:00

The long-lost Factory Benelux album by The Durutti Column, Short Stories For Pauline, is set to be released, complete with original FBN 36 catalogue number, on 18 June 2012 via LTM.

The album was originally recorded by Vini Reilly in Brussels in 1983 but was never released. The 14 tracks include College, Take Some Time Out and Duet. The latter was recorded with Blaine L. Reininger (Tuxedomoon viola player) but at Tony Wilson's insistence was pulled from the album and developed into what became FACT 84 Without Mercy and Short Stories… fell by the wayside.

Of course certain tracks have surfaced on official compilations including Crépuscule's Hommage à Marguerite Duras, this limited edition vinyl release will be the first time the original FBN 36 album has appeared in its entirety. New artwork has been prepared with the help of Crépuscule designer Benoit Hennebert and one of the 1000 copies of the vinyl album will entitle the purchaser to a free digital download version.

Tracklisting

At First Sight
Duet
College
Invitations
Destroy, She Said
Model
Journeys by Vespa
Take Some Time Out
A Silence
Mirror A
Cocktail
Telephone Call
Mirror B
A Room In Southport

Martin Moscrop's Manchester 10K

2012-04-26T22:52:00.001+01:00

A Certain Ratio's Martin Moscrop is running the Manchester 10K on 20 May to raise money for Venture Arts, a specialist in the provision of arts and crafts workshops for people with learning disabilities. Running over 1000 varied workshops to over 100 people a year, they provide a high quality arts experience in a friendly, stimulating and inclusive environment, focusing on bringing out the best in every individual, nurturing talent and enhancing overall wellbeing and quality of life.

Martin says: "By sponsoring me for the Manchester run you will be directly helping Manchester people who have a learning disability to take part in meaningful, creative opportunities which otherwise they would be unable to do.

"Many have already donated generously to this very worthy cause. Any amount, no matter how small, will help me reach my target. Please help me raise money for this excellent cause by going to my fundraising page."

www.charitygiving.co.uk/martinmoscrop

The Distractions live @ King's Arms Salford

2012-04-22T08:58:00.000+01:00

The Distractions will play their first gig since the mid-Nineties on Friday 31 August 2012 at the King's Arms in Salford with Occultation Recordings label mates Factory Star and The June Brides. Original members of The Distractions Mike Finney and Steve Perrin will be joined by new recruits. A London date for Saturday 1 September is also planned. Ticket details to follow. -- The King's Arms 11 Bloom Street Salford, M3 6AN More info at distractionsnothing

New Order/Happy Mondays @ Titanic Lockdown

2012-04-12T23:24:00.000+01:00

Belfast's Titanic Lockdown 2012 Festival on 1-2 June will be headlined by New Order and Happy Mondays writes Paul Pledger on allgigs.co.uk.

More info at titanic-lockdown.com

FACTVM Factory Records 1978–1992 Exhibition

2012-04-12T22:44:00.000+01:00

Factory music fan Colin Gibbins presents an exhibition of his complete collection of the Factory Records discography at The Ice Plant in Ancoats, Manchester on 5-7 May in aid of local charity Forever Manchester.

A limited edition t-shirt designed by Trevor Johnson will be on sale at the FACTVM exhibition. This reworking of the original exhibition which Colin put on at the Ducie Bridge last year is back again (now with added Piers Adams - the missing item having been donated by no less than Piers himself).

The exhibition features a complete collection of all music releases on the Factory Communications Ltd label, in their original form, as issued at the time, including rarities, promos, test pressings and variations on cassette, CD and more.

Trevor Johnson has created the FACTVM identity for the exhibition, as well as limited edition merchandise to raise additional funds for the charity.

Colin comments: "I love Manchester, and I love Factory. We met massive enthusiasm for the small exhibition we did last year, and now my collection is complete I wanted to share it with others that share my passion, and by doing do raise money for Forever Manchester, a charity that supports the people that live here. It’s been a long journey to get here, with a huge amount of support along the way, and I cant wait to welcome people through the door to see this amazing collection."

Nick Massey from Forever Manchester added: "Forever Manchester is the Charity for people who have a passion for Manchester and Colin's passion for Manchester is obvious, the effort that he and his team of supporters have put into this exhibition to raise money for us is immense and for that we are extremely grateful. Manchester has a history of doing it our way, and Forever Manchester is about doing things the Mancunian way, and the FACTVM exhibition is a prime example of this."

The FACTVM exhibition will run from 11am to 6pm on Sat 5 and Sun 6 May and 11am to 4pm on Monday 7 May

--

The Ice Plant
Blossom Street
Manchester M4 6AJ

More info at factvm.com

Peter Staessens Photography

2012-04-12T22:27:00.000+01:00

Check out peterstaessens.be for Factoryesque live photography featuring Section 25, The Names, Peter Hook, A Certain Ratio, Biting Tongues, Minny Pops, The Wake and more. The recently-updated site features pics the Plan K Factory nights in 2007 and 2009 plus and other European gigs.

All Was Numbered

2012-04-04T20:23:00.000+01:00

Kevin Hewick releases his new, Factory Records-inspired album All Was Numbered, on Monday 9 April 2012 on download from Hacienda Records. This will be followed by a wider release on iTunes, Beatport and Spotify from Monday 23 April 2012. The album, which is Kevin's 'a singing book' to the history and legacy of Factory Records, was recorded at Deadline Studios in Leicester in December/January 2011/12.

Tracklisting

1. Now Is Then
2. FAC 501
3. Overshadowplaying
4. Memory Stone
5. Out Of Order
6. Larry
7. French Jazz Station
8. Then Is Now

Kevin plays a selection of live dates in Spring 2012:

April

6 & 8 - 12 Bar Club, London
13 - The Criterion, Leicester
14 - Arts Centre, Kettering

May

13 - The Red Tent, Leicester
18-19 The Factory, Manchester (supporting Peter Hook and The Light performing 'Still')
31 - The Musician, Leicester, supporting Terry Reid

Shakespeare: The Sonnets

2012-04-04T20:06:00.000+01:00

Robert Hollingworth, the Gramophone award-winning director of ex-Factory Classical ensemble I Fagiolini, presents a new collection of musical versions of the sonnets of William Shakespeare.

Out on the birthday of the bard himself - 23 April - these musical pieces were written during the time of Elizabeth I and re-imagined for the 2012 Diamond Jubilee year of Elizabeth II. Shakespeare: The Sonnets was recorded in London over the last 6 months.

The album is played on replicas of period instruments by some of the most highly talented and specialised musicians in the world. The harpsichords, virginals, lutes, harps and theorbos (no, me neither) can be yours for £10-20K (hey, it's cheaper than a Damien Hirst plastic skull!).

Watch a short YouTube video about the making of Shakespeare: The Sonnets.

Tracklisting

1. Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore (Sonnet 60)
2. Against that time - If ever that time come (Sonnet 49)
3. Who will believe my verse in time to come (Sonnet 17)
4. How oft, when thou, my music, music play'st (Sonnet 128)
5. O, never say that I was false of heart (Sonnet 109)
6. Love is too young to know what conscience is (Sonnet 151)
7. No longer mourn for me when I am dead (Sonnet 71)
8. Thou blind fool love (Sonnet 137)
9. Those lines that I before have writ do lie (Sonnet 115)
10. When I do count the clock that tells the time (Sonnet 12)
11. Shall I compare thee to summers day? (Sonnet 18)

More info at ifagiolini.com

Happy Mondays in MOJO

2012-04-01T09:42:00.000+01:00

There's an apparently exclusive interview with Happy Mondays in, oddly enough, issue 222 (May 2012) of Mojo magazine. All the original line-up plus ex-manager Nathan McGough are involved and on good form. But it seems that the tour billing should be slightly modified because Bez reveals that he won't be dancing on the upcoming tour but rather will be DJing and compering. This is because his "whole pelvic-leg region that's given up the chase".

MOJO is out now priced £4.50.

Jez Kerr to support New Order in Scotland

2012-04-01T09:24:00.000+01:00

Jez Kerr out of A Certain Ratio and the Family Bizarre have been confirmed as support for New Order on the Scottish leg of their forthcoming UK tour. The play Glasgow O2 Academy on 5 May and Usher Hall in Edinburgh on 6 May.

For all of you going to watch New Order in Scotland, enjoy the support band a little bit more by hearing a few tracks off Jez's current album Numb Mouth Eat Waste at jezkerr.com.

The Periodic Table of Factory Records

2012-04-01T09:20:00.000+01:00

Our sister site The Factory Records Catalogue has recently launched The Periodic Table of Factory Records, a graphical representation of the classic Factory Records (Factory Communications Ltd) catalogue. Based on the print version which appeared several years ago in Scream City fanzine, the table links to each of the catalogue entries and shows trends in the numbering of releases by the key protagonists in Factory's history.

Section 25 Outernationale remix on Aurovine

2012-03-23T10:52:00.000Z

Independent music startup Aurovine.com launches on 11 May 2012 with a portfolio which includes two exclusive remixes from Section 25 latest release, the 'Invicta' EP on Hacienda Records. Colour, Movement, Sex & Violence and Inner Drive have been remixed by Scottish beatmasters Outernationale.

Aurovine aims to be an antidote the major label-endorsed free streaming services which marginalise artists. Their launch day is being styled 'download store day' and their selection policy is to encourage bands to make rare, unreleased and demo tracks available, with a nominated charity set to benefit from the proceeds.

Pips Roxy Room Revival Night

2012-03-23T10:38:00.000Z

On 4 June 2012 (Bank Holiday Monday/Tuesday), original Pips DJs Alan Maskell and Dave Booth (ex-The Hacienda) will host a one-off Pips Roxy Room revival night at The Venue, 29 Jacksons Row, Manchester.

- via the Manchester District Music Archive newsletter

More info: Facebook event

The Wake 'A Light Far Out' (LTMCD 2550)

2012-03-04T17:13:00.001Z

LTM releases the first studio album in 15 years by ex-Factory/Sarah band The Wake. Entitled 'A Light Far Out' the recording is their first since the band reformed in 2009 to play selected live dates in Brussels, London, Paris and New York. Core duo Caesar (guitar, bass and vocals) and Carolyn Allen (keyboards and vocals) worked with Ian Catt (St Etienne), Duncan Cameron (Teenage Fanclub) and remixer Drew Diver of NYC-based duo Horse Shoes.

'A Light Far Out' is out 7 May 2012 on CD/Download.

Tracklisting

Stockport
If the Ravens Leave
Methodist
The Back of Beyond
Starry Day
Faintness
A Light Far Out
The Sands

Peter Hook & The Light play Joy Division’s 'Still'

2012-03-04T16:59:00.000Z

Hooky returns to FAC 251 The Factory on Fri/Sat 18/19 May 2012 to play Joy Division's final album 'Still' (itself a recorded document of Joy Division's last gig). The concert is presented in association with Mind and Forever Manchester. The special guest for both nights is Kevin Hewick who is shortly to release All Was Numbered via Hacienda Records.

Tickets priced £20.12 (including charity donation) available now via fatsoma.com or call 24 Hour Credit Card Hotline People on 08444 77 10000 or in person at Piccadilly Records / Gaffs in Manchester

--

The Factory
112–118 Princess Street
Manchester M1 7EN

Peter Hook & The Light live in Buxton

2012-02-26T17:14:00.001Z

Check out some video clips of Peter Hook and The Light live at Buxton Opera House last night.

Watch Love Will Tear Us Apart for a quality moment as Hooky strolls over to ATR's rig and gently whispers 'Alex is a Twat' into it at the end of the set.

Colony
Disorder
Doubts Even Here
Insight
Isolation
Love Will Tear Us Apart
New Dawn Fades

Section 25 join Peter Hook live

2012-02-25T20:27:00.000Z

Section 25 will be Peter Hook and The Light's special guests at Sheffield Leadmill on Tuesday 19 May and Islington Academy on Friday 1 June.

Larry Cassidy's Section 25 posters

2012-02-25T19:25:00.000Z

Vinyl Revival in Manchester is selling a rare collection of posters which belonged to the late Larry Cassidy of Section 25. Highlights include Au Plan K, Bedford Boys Club (supporting New Order) and ICA Rock Week (with ACR and The Durutti Column).

Further information and bids to Vinyl Revival.