tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12576982388460454922024-03-05T05:43:24.359+00:00Cerysmatic.FactoryCerysmatic Factory - a blog, history and archive about Factory Records, the independent record label from Manchester, EnglandUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger50120tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-26868135804690185142019-12-19T07:00:00.000+00:002019-12-19T07:00:00.400+00:00The PKRP Cerysmatic Factory Favourites Playlist<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/3ZgXmFHOQa9jstec1BJ0VZ" width="311"></iframe><br />
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The PKRP Favourite Cerysmatic Factory Playlist is available now via <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ZgXmFHOQa9jstec1BJ0VZ">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/pkrp-cerysmatic-favourite-factory-playlist/pl.u-pMyl16muXV4eo">Apple Music</a> for your musical factorial edification and here are the Playlist Sleevenotes:<br />
<br />
<i>Wim Mertens - No Plans No Projects</i><br />
<br />
A prolific minimalism composer from small-town Belgium doesn't sound like a typical place to start a Factory Records playlist. But then No Plans No Projects isn't a typical <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/wim_mertens.php/">Wim Mertens</a> piece either. Built around a simple keyboard refrain, this superb track from the <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact190c.php">Educes Me</a> album bursts into life around halfway through with LOUD synths and portentous piano. Mertens's other contribution to Factory was the soundtrack to Peter Greenaway's arthouse movie The Belly Of An Architect (<a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact195.php/">Fact 195</a>), while Educes Me holds the accolade of having one of the most sought after (and expensive) formats - the boxed cassette in the yellow case has been known to fetch up to a £200! <br />
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<i>OMD - Almost (Hannett Mix)</i><br />
<br />
The Wirral duo's sprightly iconic debut single <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac6.php">Electricity</a> has always been a favourite of mine, but this lo-fi Hannett mix of its attendant b-side has stayed with me since its release. Electricity has just been reissued in a new sleeve with a Vince Clarke remix of Almost on the b-side - it should have been the main attraction, not relegated to a flip. I've always liked the strange hissing sound and off-beat drum machine, the plaintive sorrowful lyric and vocal, Saville's braille sleeve and of course the fact Tony Wilson released the single for his then wife Lindsay. It really should have been a double a-side. Either track could have been a hit with a spread of radio play. <br />
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<i>Joy Division - These Days</i><br />
<br />
All those amazing and iconic album-tracks and I go and pick an often-overlooked b-side - is this bloke for real? Thing is, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac23.php">Love Will Tear Us Apart</a> will always be one of the most important singles ever and needs no introduction. You'd need a heart of estuary mud to hate it. But tucked away on side two of both formats is what I consider to be one of three very important <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/joy_division.php">Joy Division</a> tracks and the link to where the band were heading at the time. Isolation, Decades and These Days demonstrate the band's increased interest in electronics at the time, before Ian's sad demise. Almost 40 years on and still nothing on Movement comes close to any track on the second JD album Closer, with the possible exception of the synth-layered Doubts Even Here, but head to New Order's sophomore set Power Corruption and Lies and preceding single Everything's Gone Green and the link becomes a little more obvious. I love how this song bustles along - great drumming and driving bass from Morris and Hook.<br />
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<i>Fadela - N'Sel Fik</i><br />
<br />
Back in the '80s, when global sounds permeated the curious music-lover's conscience via John Peel's interest, Peter Gabriel's Real World and related WOMAD festivals, the public remained a bit nonplussed with the emotional synth-pomp of North African Rai. Wonderfully off-kilter and at odds with typical 4/4 beats being peddled across the pond, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac197.php">N'Sel Fik</a> became a frequently dropped track at the more eclectic parties in Manchester and London. It's tenuous link to rave-culture is derived from the opening line of Fadela's lovely song being lifted and dropped onto "We Are E", a huge breakbeat tune issued in 1991. I suspect the originator was less than pleased with being associated with 'being on one' but it's a decent enough and sought after hardcore banger. Fac 197 itself remains a regular go-to when I'm playing out. <br />
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<i>The Durutti Column - What Is It To Me (Woman)</i><br />
<br />
In truth, I could have picked dozens of DC tracks to pop on this playlist but What Is It To Me (Woman) has always captivated me. It demonstrates everything great about the interplay between guitarist Vini Reilly, drummer Bruce Mitchell and attendant guests, including harmonica maestro Rob Gray. Taken from the Stephen Street-produced <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/facd204.php">The Guitar and Other Machines</a> (Fact 204) released in 1987, this track has aged very well and benefits from not being quite so drum-heavy as other tracks on the otherwise pin-sharp GOTM. It's more future jazz than art-rock (or whatever <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_durutti_column.php">The Durutti Column</a> were being tagged in those days) and is as contemporary as anything in Reilly's enviable and essential canon. <br />
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<i>Marcel King - Reach For Love (NY Remix)</i><br />
<br />
For a short spell in Factory's existence, the label acted as a springboard for soulful club tracks with a house twist. Soon-to-be M People luminary Mike Pickering made a decent fist of it with his <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/quando_quango.php">Quando Quango</a> project (Genius is just that, Love Tempo and Atom Rock were also rightfully regarded), while Section 25, New Order and A Certain Ratio embraced new technology to create the likes of Looking From a Hilltop, The Perfect Kiss and Life's A Scream. Straight out of the blocks came this bruising rework of former Sweet Sensation, er, sensation Marcel King's glorious <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/marcel_king.php">Reach For Love</a>. Velveteen vocals and a big-stringed 'n' synthed-up arrangement were given an overhaul by revered producer Mark Kamins, who coincidentally had mixed two of the aforementioned Quando singles. Its flip-side Keep On Dancin' was a favourite of mine for a while but this song translates better when pumped through a decent sound-system. Great record. <br />
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<i>X-O-Dus - See Them A Come</i><br />
<br />
When it came to sound-system mixes, reggae dub-lord Dennis Bovell certainly fitted the bill. The great man's deft touch can be found on one of the most collectable 12" on Factory, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/x-o-dus.php">X-O-Dus</a>'s epic <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac11.php">English Black Boys</a> (Fac 11). It's such a shame that an album never materialised after such a fine landmark debut record, although LTM Records did curate a rather fetching round-up of studio material some years back. My personal preference, as with many Factory singles, is its speaker-scaring b-side See Them a Come. This is some serious heavyweight material and when piped through a capable mixing desk, is eight straight minutes of pure rib-cage rattling reggae euphoria. <br />
<br />
<i>Kalima - Take It Easy</i><br />
<br />
I've got a soft spot for the unsung <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/kalima.php">Kalima</a>, a soul-jazz collective born out of the remains of the rather more avant-garde Swamp Children. Along the way, Kalima issued a handful of unjustly ignored singles like The Smiling Hour, Whispered Words and Weird Feelings, as well as a string of albums that had one foot in the golden age of crooners and one in the latter day Acid Jazz age. The band's final Factory album <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/facd249.php">Feeling Fine</a> (Fact 249) is perhaps their most consistent, least 'trad' set and includes some remarkable musicianship and decent songs, including this cracker. Languid, woozy and slinky, Take It Easy surpasses the album's curious single choice Shine and, in fact, most of the band's mostly likeable catalogue. <br />
<br />
<i>Section 25 - Inspiration</i><br />
<br />
One of the first Factory albums recommended to me by one Nick Clarke who ran Rhythm Records in Plymouth during the early to mid '80s was <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/section25.php">Section 25</a>'s crystalline <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact90c.php">From The Hip</a>. Fact 90 remains one of my all-time favourite LPs and still sounds timeless to this day. When most synth acts from the decade pummelled the hell out of our earholes with leaden drums, the Blackpool outfit wove featherlight beats with hopeful and er, inspirational songs that took the band to another level. many cite the single Looking From a Hilltop as the key track on this album but I'm positive that this epic closer made far better use of the available New Order-donated technology. <br />
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<i>Stockholm Monsters - Partyline</i><br />
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The original scallies and Perry guys and gals weren't afraid to get all controversial and political on our asses with songs like How Corrupt Is Rough Trade?, Your Uniform and this stunning electro post-romantic belter. Issued as a 12" only, one can't help thinking that a radio 7" might, MIGHT, just have landed the <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/stockholm_monsters.php">Stockies</a> with a minor cult hit back in the day. Somewhat unlike their usual edgy alternative jangle-pop, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac146.php">Partyline</a> is the sort of tune that Pet Shop Boys or New Order might have made if they'd upped the speedball dosage at a Top of the Pops rehearsal. I love this record. Its flipside, Militia, is also essential, making this one of those archetypal Factory singles that works on both sides. <br />
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<i>The Railway Children - Brighter</i><br />
<br />
And here's another landmark single. Wigan's oft-forgotten songsmiths <a href="http://the_railway_children.php/">The Railway Children</a> knocked out several sprightly singles and a pair of decent albums for both Factory and latterly Virgin Records. <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac167.php">Brighter</a> sported great b-sides in History Burns and Careful and sounded like a Top 10 hit all summer long. Great sleeve from Johnson Panas too. How, HOW, did this not strike a chord with the then radio DJs? It still sounds like a burst of summer some thirty years later. <br />
<br />
<i>The Wake - Torn Calendar</i><br />
<br />
Melancholy is something that Factory Records was very good at. In Scotland's <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_wake.php">The Wake</a>, they had it in litres. The band's debut album was Harmony, a solemn post-punk postscript that inadvertently invented twee-pop without actually being 'pop', while celebrated single Talk About The Past earned plaudits aplenty from media to fanbase. But it was the peerless much-delayed <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact130.php">Here Comes Everybody</a> LP that really put The Wake amongst the indie pigeons. The entire album is nothing short of a sad-face masterpiece, with the slightly trippy pretty Torn Calendar leading the field of many many centrepieces and would-be singles. <br />
<br />
<i>The Names - I Wish I Could Speak Your Language</i><br />
<br />
My first non-JD/NO Factory single purchase was <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac29.php">Fac 29</a>, the exemplary Nightshift by Brussels-based rock 'n darkwavers <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a>. Along with its powerful boundary-crossing flip I Wish I Could Speak Your Language, here was a 7" single that delivered some of Martin Hannett's most brutal production, without compromising the band's delicate and austere lyricism. Everything about this song demonstrates everything about those involved - the huge smash-snare drums typified by Hannett's dextrous hands, urbane almost paranoid lyrics and subtle uses of synth and guitar hooks. The Names' track record might not have spawned 'hits', but their concise canon contains few misses. <br />
<br />
<i>New Order - Everything's Gone Green</i><br />
<br />
This is the record that kickstarted indie dance-music, no arguments. The likes of Franz Ferdinand, LCD Soundsystem, Friendly Fires and The Rapture probably wouldn't have had their 15 seconds / minutes / hours / years of exposure without this truly majestic record. It doesn't say or do much but it does everything. Never mind Blue Monday or Temptation, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac53.php">Everything's Gone Green</a> remains <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/new_order.php">New Order</a>'s first active foray into disco hi-hats and club mixes. Extended for a Factory Benelux 12" with new b-sides, EGG is not only one of New Order's most important records, it remains a masterclass by Martin Hannett who was ultimately swiftly spurned by band and label soon after they'd figured out how he operated his studio toys. Its attendant double 'A' Procession is also prime New Order material from the Movement sessions. <br />
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<i>John Dowie - Idiot</i><br />
<br />
Often dismissed as too surreal but revered by the likes of Stewart Lee (and myself), Birmingham's rather edgy humourist looked a bit like Jasper Carrott but couldn't have been more different. His attachment to Factory was all too brief with just three odd grin-worthy vignettes on the label's very first release, the double-7" <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac2.php">A Factory Sample</a>, and a lone headline single, the somewhat pub-singalong It's Hard To Be An Egg coupled with its 'visual' flip Mime Sketch. All five Factory tracks formed part of his then live poetry shows and were finally gathered together with his half-dozen Virgin label EP tracks and a slew of hilarious live tracks on the album An Arc of Hives. "I'm the kind of idiot who always ends a sentence with question. Don't I?" - we've all met someone like it and there are even more of Dowie's Idiots around nowadays. <br />
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<i>Happy Mondays - Weekends</i><br />
<br />
My first encounters with the <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/happy_mondays.php">Mondays</a> were the Factory 'Supertent' gathering in Finsbury Park in 1987 when the band performed a somewhat chaotic set wearing huge parka jackets and puffing on suspect smoking material and the passable single Delightful, aka the Forty-Five E.P. I've always been of the opinion that Ryder's charges were more talented than people gave them credit (or abuse) for. But Delightful didn't help their cause. The two b-sides however certainly did, especially the song Oasis which eventually ended up in re-recorded form on their debut album <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact170c.php">Squirrel and G-Man 24 Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)</a>. Recorded with a certain John Cale, 24 Hr (etc, etc) is an unexpected funky treasure in Factory's late canon. Perhaps a little more grown-up than the more familiar Madchester material, the gritty street funk of Kuff Dam (Mad Fuck backwards) and Tart Tart became a regular go-to for me at parties, as did Weekends (or Weekend S as it appears on some copies). Its odd galloping rhythm and barbed lyrics is short, sweet and might have made a hit-single in a parallel universe. <br />
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<i>Minny Pops - Dolphin's Spurt</i><br />
<br />
Dutch semi-industrialists with a near 7ft tall singer might not sound very Factory, but <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/minny_pops.php">Minny Pops</a>'s brief honeymoon in Manchester spawned two pin-sharp electro-dance singles and an album for sister-label Factory Benelux. With the man Hannett at the helm for this single, both sides of the <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac31.php">Dolphin's Spurt</a> 7" are on point to this day, danceable and timeless, littered with its producer's trademark effects and atmospherics and lyrically insistent, nagging and a little confrontational. It's almost impossible to make out the words spat out by singer Wally van Middendorp but who cares? He's bigger than all of us. <br />
<br />
<i>Royal Family and the Poor - Visions</i><br />
<br />
Liverpool's Mike Keane was the north-west's resident anarchic occultist, renouncing conventional mass-media and musical practice in favour of creating early demos and live shows of ritualistic chants, highly charged howling and the odd song here and there. After a few personal struggles, Keane's Factory output remains something of a treasure chest. Debut single Art on 45 was a sort of funky My Favourite Things and has since been given the nod by Maximo Park's Paul Smith and first album Temple of the 13th Tribe had a helping hand from Peter Hook and Stockholm Monsters' Lita Hira. For me though, sophomore set <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact140.php">We Love The Moon - the Project Phase 2</a> continues to be Keane's masterpiece. Recorded with Pink Industry's Ambrose Reynolds, WLTM includes the superb Pagan Way (which still isn't on Spotify after all this time) and the 'hit' Visions, a glorious example of Keane's occasional foray into sensitive pop songs. <br />
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<i>The Distractions - Time Goes By So Slow</i><br />
<br />
Rightly acclaimed as one of Factory's most charming and rewarding singles, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac12.php">Time Goes By Slow</a> was issued just after the band had already signed to Island. Musically and lyrically embedded in both '60s pop charm a la Adam Faith or The Hollies and post-punk favourites Buzzcocks, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_distractions.php">The Distractions</a> followed up TGBSS with a handful of singles and a long-forgotten album Nobody's Perfect before taking a lengthy hiatus into the 21st century. More recently, the band have been busy writing and recording for Exeter-based indie Occultation, including the rather splendid sophomore album The End Of The Pier. For me, Fac 12 remains one of Factory Records' most important and timeless early singles. <br />
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<i>A Certain Ratio - Waterline</i><br />
<br />
A staple of the band's live set to this day, the funky near-instrumental <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac52.php">Waterline</a> was and still is a bit of a game-changer. Unmistakably <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/acr.php">ACR</a>, the exclusively recorded Fac 52 single ushered in their post-Hannett future with an ankle-deep bassline, vocodered vocals, tight handclap drums and some speaker-bothering effects and atmospherics. Alongside the attendant album Sextet, Waterline with its bonged up and dubbed out flip Funaezekea turned the conventional Brit-funk sounds and ideals into the unconventional. And you can't get a much more unconventional ending to a track than the final 45 seconds on this 12".<br />
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- sleevenotes by Paul Pledger/Flipside Reviews for Cerysmatic Factory<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" height="450" style="width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.music.apple.com/gb/playlist/pkrp-cerysmatic-favourite-factory-playlist/pl.u-pMyl16muXV4eo"></iframe>Flipside Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16505888789665787378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-15019997461196083762019-10-22T07:00:00.000+01:002019-10-22T07:00:08.916+01:00Scream City 5 - The International Edition<img alt="Scream City 5 - The International Edition" src="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/sc5-front-cover-320.jpg" width="311" /><br />
<br />
<a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/scream-city-5.php">Scream City 5</a> was the last edition of the fanzine that I produced, back in 2010 after a 2-year gap from the fourth edition. I didn't know at the time that there wouldn't be any others. In fact, for quite a while after this edition I had an active concept for SC6 "the Video Edition" which would have delved into the world of Ikon, Doublevision, Play at Home, etc and probably come with a free VHS tape glued to the front cover (seriously, this was in the concept!). I did some tests for video titles and had some ideas for articles including the Ikonathon (a non-stop marathon of video-watching that would somehow morph into a critical masterpiece plus, on a more serious note, the extensive interview by Brian Nicholson with the late Malcolm Whitehead that eventually made it onto Cerysmatic (and which, in turn, inspired the whole Scream City digital archive).<br />
<br />
Back to Scream City 5 and its international theme, starting with the cover and Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion projection which has absolutely nothing to do with Factory but just seemed right for this edition. I stopped short of doing the fold-out inside front cover which would've enabled a build-it-yourself Dymaxion globe but I resolve to make the template available for those who are geometrically inclined. This, and other supporting materials such as alternate covers, source materials, etc will be made available once the main issues are published.<br />
<br />
There were 10 different articles spread across 60 pages: Andrew James took a Factory Trip Around the World, I interviewed Fiona Allen about The Area and The Haçienda, James Nice presented an extract from his Shadowplayers book and discussed the background, David Quantick sleevenoted The Distractions, Ian McCartney gave us his magnum opus on Mozart vs Joy Division, Matthew Robertson had an exclusive interview with Andrew Penhallow of Factory Australasia, I talked to Mark Reeder, Ike Yard and Michael H Shamberg and David Nolan paid tribute to Larry Cassidy. <br />
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To top things off there was a limited edition compilation CD featuring Section 25, Ike Yard, Thick Pigeon, The Wake, The Names, The Durutti Column, Biting Tongues, The Distractions, Shark Vegas and Fidelity Kastrow & Spartak.<br />
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Phew! Enough fanzines already!!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-23651446870866151042019-08-30T07:30:00.000+01:002019-08-30T07:30:07.804+01:00The Names @ A Question of Wave Post-Punk Festival<img alt="The Names @ A Question of Wave Post-Punk Festival" src="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/a-question-of-wave-the-names-2019.png" width="311" /><br />
<br />
Saturday 9 November 2019<br />
A Question of Wave<br />
Post-Punk Festival<br />
<br />
3 concerts<br />
3 interviews<br />
1 dispute<br />
1 bar<br />
<br />
<b>Schedule</b><br />
<br />
17:30 concert * Mouvement Perpetuel<br />
18:30 interview * Mouvement Perpetuel<br />
19:30 concert * <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a><br />
21:00 interview * The Names<br />
21:20 dispute * No future en 1977, et pourtant...<br />
22:00 concert * Frakture<br />
23:45 interview * Frakture<br />
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<b>Venue</b><br />
<br />
Foyer socioculturel d'Antoing<br />
Rue du Burg, 23<br />
7640 Antoing<br />
Belgium<br />
<br />
<b>Misc</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2371709189543820" target="_blank">Facebook Event</a> | <a href="https://www.billetweb.fr/a-question-of-wave1">Buy Tickets</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-9285925709179367422019-08-15T17:00:00.000+01:002019-09-22T14:11:36.925+01:00Use Hearing Protection - Fac 1-50 / 40 exhibition<img src="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/use-hearing-protection-fac-1-50-40-311.jpg" width="311" alt="Use Hearing Protection - Fac 1-50 / 40 exhibition" /><br />
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To commemorate the early works and ongoing influence of Factory Records there will be an exhibition: <a href="https://www.londondesignfestival.com/event/use-hearing-protection-fac-1-50-40">Use Hearing Protection FAC 1-50 / 40</a> [->], taking place at Chelsea Space in London, SW1.<br />
<br />
The exhibition will tell the story of its formative years from 1978 to 1982 through the first 50 numbered Factory artefacts, including works by <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/peter_saville.php">Peter Saville</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/joy_division.php">Joy Division</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/john_dowie.php">John Dowie</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/cabaret_voltaire.php">Cabaret Voltaire</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/new_order.php">New Order</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/acr.php">A Certain Ratio</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/omd.php">OMD</a>, Linder Sterling, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_distractions.php">The Distractions</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_durutti_column.php">The Durutti Column</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/section25.php">Section 25</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/minny_pops.php">Minny Pops</a>, <a href="https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/kevin_hewick.php">Kevin Hewick</a> and many more. <br />
<br />
Of course, this is not the first time the First 50 concept has arisen in Factory folklore. FAC 301 was assigned to Tim Chambers's <a href="https://www.factoryrecords.org/factory-records/fac-301-first-50.php" target="_blank">First 50</a> [->] project. A while ago, Tim told Cerysmatic that Tony Wilson wrote him a cheque for £75 to do a Filofax-type Fac historical document but it never happened and FAC 301 became the <a href="https://www.factoryrecords.org/factory-records/fac-301-factory-conference-think-about.php" target="_blank">Think About The Future</a> [->] international congress.<br />
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Use Hearing Protection FAC 1-50 / 40 is supported by rare and unseen materials from personal archives, as well as non-Factory period items of influence. These combine to describe a period from which Factory Records was proposed and realised, underpinning its revolutionary cultural impact on the music, art, design and ideas of our times.<br />
<br />
Curated by Jon Savage and Mat Bancroft, the exhibition is featured in this year's London Design Festival (although it continues for longer than the Festival) and will be free entry, running from 13 September until Friday 25 October.<br />
<br />
As if a whole exhibition devoted to the early history of Factory Records was not enough, an expanded exhibition, with the Use Hearing Protection, FAC 1-50 objects at its core is being developed by the <a href="https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/about-us/we-are-changing" target="_blank">Science and Industry Museum</a> [->] in Manchester. This exhibition will build on the Chelsea Space display and is due to open July 2020, telling the story of Joy Division and the founding of Factory Records in the city. More on that as we have it...<br />
<br />
p.s. if you own the <a href="https://www.factoryrecords.org/factory-records/fact-104-posters.php" target="_blank">Fact 10+4 posters</a> [->] (mega-rare Saville-designed promo posters for Unknown Pleasures plus 4 other then upcoming Factory releases) and are willing to loan them for this exhibition please do get in touch. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-49187869449816018152017-06-23T09:00:00.000+01:002017-06-25T17:16:56.328+01:00The Names - German Nights [FBN 122 CD]<img alt="The Names - German Nights [FBN 122 CD]" src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/fbn-122-cd-the-names-german-nights-311.jpg" width="311" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.php">Factory Benelux</a> presents a brand new live CD by <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a>. German Nights was recorded in 2016/2017 over the course of three concerts in Berlin, Hamburg and Freiburg. Produced by Thomas Neidhardt, the set draws heavily on the albums Swimming and Stranger Than You, as will as classic singles including Nightshift, Calcutta, The Astronaut and Spectators of Life. The set concludes with a cover of Velvet Underground classic What Goes On.<br />
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"The new members have injected new life into the band," explains singer and songwriter Michel Sordinia, "and together we've updated the arrangements on some of the older songs. But ultimately we're still the same new wave band who joined Factory Records in 1980."<br />
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Covert art by Twilight. CD booklet features tour photography by Peter Staessens.<br />
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<i>CD tracklisting</i><br />
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1. Intro/Discovery<br />
2. Life By the Sea<br />
3. Hands Off Love<br />
4. This Is Harmony <br />
5. The Fire<br />
6. Spectators of Life<br />
7. Shanghai Gesture<br />
8. I Wish I Could Speak Your Language<br />
9. Boy With a Gun<br />
10. Nightshift<br />
11. Calcutta<br />
12. The Astronaut<br />
13. My Angel of Death<br />
14. What Goes On <br />
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More details and info on how to order at <a href="http://factorybenelux.com/" target="_blank">factorybenelux.com</a>.<br />
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See also: <a href="http://thenames.be" target="_blank">thenames.be</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-49564502651476981272017-05-24T06:30:00.000+01:002017-05-24T06:30:38.337+01:00Respect and thanks to those on the sampler<img src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/noblesse-oblige-twi1234-fbn125.jpg" width="311" alt="Noblesse Oblige [FBN 125 / TWI 1234]" /><br />
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Noblesse Oblige (FBN 125 / TWI 1234) is a free sampler CD from <a href="http://www.factorybenelux.com" target="_blank">Factory Benelux</a> and <a href="http://www.lesdisquesducrepuscule.com" target="_blank">Les Disques du Crépuscule</a> featuring new and rare tracks from releases in 2016/17, together with several exclusives, and tracks from selected label friends. The line-up includes The Names, The Durutti Column, Paul Haig and Minny Pops. <br />
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It's available free when you order two or more CDs, records, t-shirts or card sets via <a href="http://factorybenelux.com/mailorder.html" target="_blank">FBN mailorder</a> service (i.e. two or more items in total). It will not be available in the shops.<br />
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<i>Tracklisting</i><br />
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1. Cathy Claret - Todo Se Va<br />
2. Isabelle Antena - Over You<br />
3. Marsheaux - Treasure<br />
4. White Sea - Gangster No. 1<br />
5. Fritz Catlin - Shooting the Hunter<br />
6. Maxwell Sterling - The Death of Juno<br />
7. Blaine L. Reininger - Demis<br />
8. Jean-Marc Lederman - A Darker Snare<br />
9. Ultramarine - Equatorial Calms<br />
10. Dislocation Dance - Songs That I Like<br />
11. ElutzC!a <br />
12. The Names - Spectators of Life (2013)<br />
13. Minny Pops - Island (Remix)<br />
14. Paul Haig - Do We Have the Time?<br />
15. The Durutti Column - Requiem For a Father (live 1980)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-31812655976141749612015-03-20T17:17:00.000+00:002017-06-25T16:06:53.060+01:00The Names - Stranger Than You [FBN 119 + FBN 119 CD]<img src="http://thenames.be/images/fbn119-stranger-than-you.jpg" width="311" border="0" alt="" /><br />
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Stranger Than You, the fourth studio album by <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a> is out on 18 May 2015 via <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.php">Factory Benelux</a> on CD and double vinyl LP (with free download code).<br />
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Recorded in 2014, Stranger Than You marks a conscious return to the sounds and styles explored on their debut album Swimming in 1982. "There's a strong element of reconnection," explains singer/songwriter (and bassist) Michel Sordinia. "Yet at the same time it's also about developing your own legitimate strangeness, just as the great Surrealist poet Rene Char invited his readers to do. A new mystery singing in your bones."<br />
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Michel and guitarist Marc Deprez are joined by new members Laurent Loddewyckx (drums) and Christophe Boulenger (keyboards and piano). Stand-out tracks include the dynamic title track, Kids On Fire and quickfire Boy With A Gun, as well as more contemplative, elegiac numbers such as Lights and My Angel of Death.<br />
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The cover art is an original painting by long term Names associate Benoit Hennebert, celebrated for his work as design director for Les Disques du Crépuscule, with portrait photography by Peter Staessens. The double vinyl edition is housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve and includes a free digital download code.<br />
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<i>Tracklisting (CD and vinyl)</i><br />
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1. Stranger Than You <br />
2. Nowherarians <br />
3. Lights <br />
4. Life Again <br />
5. My Angel of Death <br />
6. Kids On Fire <br />
7. What She Knows About the Night <br />
8. Hands Off Love<br />
9. Boy With a Gun<br />
10. Fear<br />
11. Baby You're Scary<br />
12. The Passengers<br />
13. The Days<br />
14. The State I'm In<br />
15. Dare<br />
16. Die Mauer Is No More<br />
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Stranger Than You is available to pre-order now via <a href="http://factorybenelux.com/mailorder.html">Factory Benelux mailorder</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-50368425519911100882014-10-25T09:28:00.000+01:002017-05-08T12:47:23.178+01:00The Names are back at thenames.be<img src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/the_names/the_names_logo_1a.jpg" width="311" style="border: 0px solid #777777;" alt="The Names" /><br /><br />As flagged <a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2014/06/our-friends-in-belgium.html">earlier this year</a>, our friends in Belgium, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a> are back - recording a new album and with their new website at <a href="http://thenames.be" target="_blank">thenames.be</a>.<br /><br />Michel Sordinia (vocals and bass guitar) and Marc Deprez (guitars), with Christophe Boulenger on keyboards and Laurent Loddewijckx on drums will be in the Noise Factory studio in Wierde from tomorrow to work on the new album 'Nowherarians', a double album of totally new songs, and will follow its 2015 release with a string of new concerts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-54731107825638386882014-06-28T20:16:00.000+01:002017-05-08T12:47:23.579+01:00Our Friends in Belgium<img src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/the_names/the_names_logo_1a.jpg" width="311" style="border: 0px solid #777777;" alt="The Names" /><br /><br />It's a big welcome to <a href="http://twitter.com/thenamesmusic1">The Names on Twitter</a>. Whilst their <a href="http://thenames.be" target="_blank">website</a> undergoes renovations this will be the go-to place for news about the band as they prepare to release a new double album for release in Autumn 2014.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the latest album '<a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2013/12/the-names-in-time-fbn112cd-factory-benelux.html">In Time</a>' is out now via Factory Benelux.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-50640701359544525882014-03-05T22:15:00.000+00:002017-05-08T12:47:24.059+01:00Crépuscule Polite postcards set<img src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/crepuscule/crepuscule_postcard_set_311.jpg" width="311" border="0" alt="Les Disques du Crépuscule Polite postcards" /><br /><br />The Les Disques du Crépuscule postcards set (TWI 1150) is out now via Polite Cards. Produced in association with James Nice of the current label the hand-finished box set is a unique look at the design, graphics, photography and documents of the label from its launch to the present day.<br /><br />There are 25 colour / black & white postcards featuring Crépuscule acts including <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_durutti_column.php">The Durutti Column</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/section25.php">Section 25</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/acr.php">A Certain Ratio</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/anna_domino.php">Anna Domino</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/cabaret_voltaire.php">Cabaret Voltaire</a>, posters, badges and more from across the years.<br /><br />The set is 25.00 GBP and is available direct from <a href="http://site.politecards.com/products/les-disques-du-crepuscule" target="_blank">Polite</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-28860994003572410462013-12-02T18:59:00.000+00:002017-05-08T12:47:24.720+01:00The Names - In Time [FBN 112 CD]<img src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/the_names/fbn112cd_in_time_311.jpg" width="311" style="border: 1px solid #c0c0c0;" alt="The Names - In Time [FBN 112 CD]" /><br /><br /><a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a>, the Belgian new wave group best known for their classic recordings with Factory Records, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.php">Factory Benelux</a> and Les Disques du Crépuscule release a new collection of studio material entitled 'In Time' via <a href="http://factorybenelux.com" target="_blank">Factory Benelux</a> on 10 February 2014.<br /><br />In Time comprises selected tracks from two previous studio albums released in 1997 and <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/monsters_next_door.php">2009</a>. Replete with striking cover art and typography by the master himself, Benoît Hennebert, the music is conceptually split into into contrasting 'day' and 'night' 'sides' with both dynamic modern rock songs and longer, more contemplative tracks.<br /><br />Highlights include <i>Halloween In June</i> featuring Isabelle Antena on guest vocals and <i>Zeroes</i> which is the band's tribute to their late, original producer Martin Hannett.<br /><br /><i>In Time</i> will available to buy via <a href="http://factorybenelux.com/mailorder.html">Factory Benelux mailorder</a>.<br /><br /><i>Tracklist</i><br /><br />Flesh Wounds <br />Halloween In June <br />I Am the Rain <br />This Teflon Skin <br />The Tether Ends Here <br />Wild World <br />Swimming <br />Zeroes <br />Friendly Fire <br />The Fall <br />In Time<br /><br />--<br /><br />Artist: The Names<br />Title: In Time<br />Label: Factory Benelux<br />Catalogue number: FBN112CD<br />Released: 10 February 2014<br />Format: CDUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-53423462328096588902013-11-13T19:12:00.000+00:002017-05-08T12:47:24.885+01:00The Names - 'In Time' [FBN 112]More new album news in from <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.php">Factory Benelux</a> and this time it's <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a> with a new album entitled 'In Time'.<br /><br />FBN 112 will be released in February 2014 and more details as soon as we have them.<br /><br />More info at <a href="http://factorybenelux.com" target="_blank">factorybenelux.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-56035587506730497762013-10-03T18:00:00.000+01:002017-05-08T12:47:25.522+01:00Facs In The Attic Part 3After exploring the vaults of Factory Records in both <a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2013/09/facs-in-attic-part-1.html">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2013/09/facs-in-attic-part-2.html">Part 2</a>, the third chapter in our Facs In The Attic series deals with the first overseas releases. We'll have a peek at Factory Benelux issues, old and new, plus round up a few interesting related items released on Belgian cousin Les Disques du Crepuscule. <br /><br />Factory Benelux <br /><br />Recently revived as part of the LTM empire (though run as a separate entity), <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.php">Factory Benelux</a> was a comparatively short-lived project that ran initially for eight years from 1980 to 1988. It could be argued that some of the label's earlier exclusive releases were superior to those issued by the same acts on Factory. Regardless, the value of most of the Benelux catalogue is encouraging - clearly the availability of many of the original FBN releases proved to be scarce in the UK at best, impossible at worst, making the label a hit with collectors. <br /><br /><img alt="Factory Benelux" border="0" src="http://factorybenelux.com/images/Benelux_CMYK_BW_Logo_320.jpg" width="311" /><br /><br />The earliest singles by <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/acr.php">A Certain Ratio</a> (Shack Up 7" - FBN 1-004), <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_durutti_column.php">The Durutti Column</a> (Lips The Would Kiss/Madeleine 7"/12" - FBN 2-005) and <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/section25.php">Section 25</a> (Charnel Ground / Haunted 7") all fetch around £15-£20 depending on seller, while further later exclusives by <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/crispy_ambulance.php">Crispy Ambulance</a> (Live On a Hot August Night 12" - FACBN 4), Section 25 (Je Veux Ton Amour 7" - FACBN 5) and <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/crawling_chaos.php">Crawling Chaos</a> (Gas Chair LP - FACBN 6) weigh in from anything between £20 and £50 (for the latter) - these need to be in mint condition to achieve those prices.<br /><br />Other highlights from the catalogue (now with a shorter FBN prefix) include The Names' sprightly Calcutta 7"/12" at around £15-£20, two further Section 25 releases, Key Of Dreams LP (FBN 14 - £35) and Crazy Wisdom 12" (FBN 45 - £25), two <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/minny_pops.php">Minny Pops</a> records, Time 7" (FBN 11 - £30) and Sparks In a Dark Room (FBN 15 - up to £50!), two <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/stockholm_monsters.php">Stockholm Monsters</a> 12" singles Miss Moonlight (FBN 19 - £15) and How Corrupt Is Rough Trade? (FBN 46 - £15) and the original pressing of Durutti Column's wistful Deux Triangles 12" EP (FBN 10 - £30), all of which were only pressed in the Low Countries. <br /><br />Remaining releases from the initial tenure can be found priced upwards of £10, even those that seemingly match Factory UK singles and albums. However, such as in the case of <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/swamp_children.php">Swamp Children</a>'s So Hot LP (FBN 21 - £20) and <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/quando_quango.php">Quando Quango</a>'s Love Tempo (FBN 23 - £20-£30), a different sleeve can increase collectibility somewhat. <br /><br />The new, all-sparkly, Factory Benelux label, revived in 2013, has already notched up one rarity - the limited 1000 copies edition of Durutti Column's Short Stories For Pauline (FBN 36) has already prompted a few chancers on Discogs to charge upwards of £30 for a copy. <br /><br />Les Disques du Crepuscule <br /><br />Cousin <a href="http://lesdisquesducrepuscule.com/" target="_blank">Les Disques du Crepuscule</a> (originally based in Brussels) didn't release a lot of music by Factory artists but occasionally licensed material by a few of the acts and vice versa. <br /><br /><img alt="Les Disques du Crepuscule" border="0" src="http://factorybenelux.com/images/crepuscule_logo_330.jpg" width="311" /><br /><br />Wim Mertens <br /><br />You may remember one <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/wim_mertens.php">Wim Mertens</a> from Part 2 of our Facs In The Attic series - £200 for a cassette version of Educes Me should jog your memory. His Belgium <a href="http://www.wimmertens.be/" target="_blank">catalogue</a> is extensive to say the least but his early Crepuscule releases are also worth a small bankroll (most have admittedly been re-issued on EMI, but original vinyls still command decent prices). For vinyl issued under the collective name Soft Verdict, you can expect to cough up a small mortgage for The Power Of Theatrical Madness 12" (TWI 283 - £50), Maximizing The Audience on 12" (12 TWI 580 - £25), its attendant double-album of the same name (TWI 480 - £20 upwards) and the debut-album For Amusement Only (TWI 049 - £50 upwards). Albums under the Wim Mertens moniker aren't a lot cheaper with perhaps the scariest value being attributed to his (count 'em) 6 CD set Play For Me (TWI 831-2 - £100 average) and the 13 CD set Moment (TWI 1980 - £400). <br /><br /><a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/anna_domino.php">Anna Domino </a><br /><br />Rather more modest is Anna's fine catalogue of dark earthy and intelligent pop. Original vinyl versions of the albums East Meet West (TWI 187) and This Time (TWI 777) can fetch £10 upwards, while her 7" single Trust In Love (TWI 177) hits £15 regularly online, sometimes more. <br /><br />Cabaret Voltaire <br /><br />Providers of FAC 82 (Yashar), <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/cabaret_voltaire.php">Cabaret Voltaire</a> issued rather more records for their Belgian friends, including the landmark Three Crepuscule Tracks 12" EP, which includes Sluggin' Fer Jesus (TWI 007 - £10), Fools Game/Gut Level (TWI 120 - £10), the bleeptastic What Is Real on CD single (TWI 948-2 - £12) and the not dissimilar mini-album Percussion Force on CD (TWI 951-2 - £20). <br /><br />Devine & Statton <br /><br />OK, not strictly a Factory artist but the Ludus/Young Marble Giants-related pair have a connection - their acoustic cover of New Order's <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac163.php">Bizarre Love Triangle</a>, issued as a 12" EP in 1989. TWI 908 was pressed in seemingly short supply and promptly deleted, just as it started to pick up airplay on Radio 1 evening shows. It's worth around £15 in mint condition. <br /><br />The Durutti Column <br /><br />Vini Reilly's music probably appeared on more Crepuscule compilations than actual headlining releases but DC did issue a couple. Both on CD, Fidelity (TWI 976-2) and a re-jigged Circuses and Bread (previously issued on Factory Benelux FBN 36 <i>and </i>Factory <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/facd154.php">FACD 154</a>, now called Bread and Circuses) (TWI 988-2) can raise you about £10-£15. <br /><br />The Names <br /><br />Responsible for one of Factory's most-revered 7" (Nightshift), The Brussels-based outfit not surprisingly booked themselves a place on their home-label with two releases. <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.php">The Names</a>' Martin Hannett-produced Swimming LP (TWI 065) can earn you £20-£25 for a top copy while the 12" The Astronaut (TWI 111) came in two colours, black and green vinyl. The former is worth about £10, the green about double. <br /><br /><a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/thick_pigeon.php">Thick Pigeon </a><br /><br />The quirky outfit's Two Crazy Cowboys album on Factory isn't their only money-spinner worth seeking out - two of their 7" singles are too. Subway (TWI 023) is one of the label's defining moments and is worthy of a £20 note while Dog/Tracy and Pansy (TWI 108) is worth around £10. <br /><br />Various Artists <br /><br />There isn't enough space to mention the Crepuscule compilations blessed with the presence of a Factory artist but we'll mention just one that is seriously worth having. From Brussels With Love (TWI 007 and TWI 008, depending on version) sports tracks by The Durutti Column, Martin Hannett (solo track), The Names, A Certain Ratio and a collaboration between <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/kevin_hewick.html">Kevin Hewick</a> and <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/new_order.php">New Order</a>. Early copies cost £25 on average (it's a double album) or as little as a tenner for a re-press (or the LTM CD reissue). The original cassette in PVC pouch with booklet is upwards of £25.<br /><br />Prices quoted are from Discogs, eBay, sightings in shops and other online sources. <br /><br />You can find new releases and further information on forthcoming projects on Factory Benelux <a href="http://factorybenelux.com/" target="_blank">here</a> and Les Disques du Crepuscule <a href="http://news.lesdisquesducrepuscule.com/" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br />The final part of Facs In The Attic will deal with other international releases and non-audio Facollectables! Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-89847193713960862412013-09-26T21:56:00.000+01:002017-05-08T12:47:25.552+01:00Facs In The Attic Part 2And so we continue with our trawl through the Factory rarities in order to dig out some valuables, some to be found in the unlikeliest of places. All prices are extracted from the 2014 Record Collector Guide, some eager Discogs listings and my own experiences.<br /><br /><b>Wim Mertens</b><br /><br /><img alt="Educes Me" border="0" src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/fact190c2.jpg" width="311" /><br /><br />Take one Belgian neo-classical composer and two simultaneously issued albums (on <a href="http://lesdisquesducrepuscule.com/index.php">Les Disques Du Crepuscule</a>), switch the logos and alter the labels and what happens? Er, very little. By the time Factory got its act together and added them to its catalogue, both Educes Me (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact190c.php">FACT 190</a>) and the soundtrack to the heavy Peter Greenaway art-house film Belly Of An Architect (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact195.php">FACT 195</a>) had already sold as many copies as they could muster a few months earlier. To be fair, Belly did fairly well and shifted a few units off the back of the film's VHS release (on Palace, sigh) and via continued interest in Greenaway's work. Educes Me, on the other hand, didn't exactly benefit from being on Factory but it did get a curious re-release as a boxed-cassette. If you happen to have such an item - smartly packaged in a bright yellow hue with a colourful inlay booklet - then have a seat. Record Collector valuations clock in at an eye-watering £200. For a tape. No, really. Check out our Wim Mertens <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/wim_mertens_discography.php">discography</a> to feast your eyes on his other work (much of which fetches serious money - see Part 3 of our Facs In The Attic series). <br /><br /><b>Various Artists </b><br /><br /><img alt="A Factory Sample" border="0" src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/fac2frontcover.jpg" width="311" /> <br /><br />Inevitably, that most frequent purveyor of releases comes up trumps when it comes to Factory valuables. Various Artists releases include the A Factory Quartet double-album (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact24.php">FACT 24</a> - £20), the Palatine box-set (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact400.php">FACT 400</a> - £40 to £100), particularly the vinyl and CD sets and two curios that don't feature in the RC book of dreams. The first is the 4 x 12" promo pack which has no number but comes loosely-housed in a PVC sleeve with each track's BPMs helpfully printed on it, plus four white-label copies of Pleasure Crew's I Could Be So Good For You (FAC 169), Fadela's N'Sel Fik (FAC 197 - worth a tenner on its own), The Hood's Salvation (FAC 182) and Meatmouth's Meatmouth Is Murder (FAC 196). I'd estimate a £15 price-tag, partly for at least two of the enclosed records but also for the attractive Johnson Panas sleeve. The second is Martin (FACD 325), a collection of Hannett's finest production work including Joy Division, U2 and A Certain Ratio etc.. I'd pitch this at £15 to £20 all day long for the CD and vinyl. <br /><br />All of which is peanuts when compared to A Factory Sample. <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac2.php">FAC 2</a> was the first release on the label, came packaged in expensive polythene outers, bolstered by some natty stickers and four sides of music. No wonder it's valued from around the £200 mark. Without the stickers, it's probably worth £100 - £125 and with a scruffy sleeve minus the polythene, around half that again. <br /><br /><b>The Wake </b><br /><br /><img alt="Harmony" border="0" src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/fact60a.jpg" width="311" /><br /><br />Before jumping the sinking Factory ferry and high-tailing it to the Sarah label, Glasgow's The Wake released some of the most beautiful songs to ever grace the label. Vinyl copies of debut-album Harmony (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact60.php">FACT 60</a>) and gorgeous (and delayed) follow-up Here Comes Everybody (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact130.php">FACT 130</a>) command around £20 - £25 each, although the former has just been exquisitely reissued as a double-vinyl version on Factory Benelux which may or may not have an effect on prices. The band's singles aren't too hard to come by although the 7" of Talk About The Past (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac88.php">FAC 88</a>) is trickier to track down (£8). <br /><br /><b>Stockholm Monsters </b><br /><br /><img alt="Happy Ever After" border="0" src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/fac58a.jpg" width="311" /><br /><br />This under-rated outfit feature in this article due to their two earlier singles, Fairy Tales (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/stockholm_monsters.php">FAC 41</a>) and Happy Ever After (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac58.php">FAC 58</a>), both capable of reaching £15 in top condition. There are two different-coloured sleeves for Fairy Tales, a burgundy and a green one, both as easy (or as hard) to find as each other. The band's only album, Alma Mater (FACT 80) is worth £10 of anyone's money, while their superb Partyline 12" (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac146.php">FAC 146</a>) might scrape a few quid less (a travesty) with 7" test pressings doubling the price. <br /><br /><b>The best of the rest </b><br /><br /><img alt="Electricity" border="0" src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/fac6a.jpg" width="311" /><br /><br /><img alt="Dolphin's Spurt" border="0" src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/fac31f.jpg" width="311" /><br /><br /><img alt="Loved It" border="0" src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/fac251d.jpg" width="311" /><br /><br />In no particular order are just some of the other least likely (and most probable) rarities worth seeking out. <br />The braille sleeved Electricity (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac6.php">FAC 6</a>) by OMD - £60 <br />The only Distractions single on Factory (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac12.php">FAC 12</a>) - £15 <br />The first (and only) reggae 12" by X-O-Dus (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac11.php">FAC 11</a>) - £15 <br />That infamous Sex Pistols cassette (with gold tape, pouch and card) (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac30.php">FACT 30</a>) - £20 - £50 <br />The one and only ESG 7" (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/esg1.php">FAC 34</a>) - £30 <br />The majestic Nightshift by The Names (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac29.php">FAC 29</a>) - £15 <br />The white vinyl John Dowie 7" with feather (!) (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac19.php">FAC 19</a>) - £15 <br />The two Dutch masters by Minnypops, Secret Story (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac57.php">FAC 57</a>) and Dolphin's Spurt (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac31.php">FAC 31</a>) - £12 <br />The cassette version of Pigs and Battleships by Quando Quango (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact110c.php">FAC 110c</a>) - £18 <br />The rare as hen's teeth CD promo and invite of The Other Two's Loved It (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac251cd.php">FACD 251</a>) - £25 to £40 <br />The first James single Jimone (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac78.php">FAC 78</a>) - £12 <br />The stand-alone Thick Pigeon album (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact85.php">FACT 85</a>) - £40 <br />The sleazy Crawling Chaos 7" Sex Machine (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fac17_sex_machine.php">FAC 17</a>) - £20 <br />and the under-rated Chicken Rhythms by Northside on vinyl (<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/fact310us.php">FACT 310</a>) - £12 <br /><br />Thanks to Record Collector and Discogs for prices. <br /><br />Part 3 will feature rarities recorded by Factory artists and issued on Factory Benelux and Les Disques du Crepuscule. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-66860526287910516682013-04-12T08:05:00.000+01:002017-05-08T12:47:41.903+01:00Atmosphere #4 podcast on Factory BeneluxCheck out a 90-minute podcast on <a href="http://rectangleradio.podomatic.com/entry/2013-04-11T03_00_00-07_00" target="_blank">Rectangle Radio</a> (via Podomatic) by Frédéric Cotton about the long inactive (but now resurrected) Factory Records offshoot label <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.html">Factory Benelux</a>. <br /><br />The podcast is in French and features an interview with <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.html">The Names</a>.<br /><br />Fore more FBN info follow Factory Benelux on <a href="https://twitter.com/factorybenelux" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and at <a href="http://factorybenelux.com" target="_blank">factorybenelux.com</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-23100954057474631602012-11-19T10:05:00.000+00:002017-05-08T12:47:42.738+01:00A trip to the Factory Benelux vaultsThe resurrected <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.html">Factory Benelux</a> imprint which has already released Short Stories for Pauline this year, presents five new releases which will be out in the New Year.<br /><br /><a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2012/11/the-names-swimming-double-vinyl-fbn-9.html">FBN 9 The Names - Swimming [double vinyl]</a><br /><a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2012/11/the-names-swimming-fbn-9-cd.html">FBN 9 CD The Names - Swimming</a><br /><a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2012/11/crispy-ambulance-plateau-phase-fbn12-cd.html">FBN 10 CD Crispy Ambulance - The Plateau Phase</a><br /><a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2012/11/the-durutti-column-lc-fbn-10-cd.html">FBN 12 CD The Durutti Column - LC</a><br /><a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2012/11/the-wake-harmony-fbn-29-cd.html">FBN 29 CD The Wake - Harmony</a><br /><br />Watch this space for more releases to come on FBN.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-88595567166524083692012-11-19T09:56:00.000+00:002017-05-08T12:47:42.750+01:00The Names - Swimming double vinyl [FBN 9]As a companion to the <a href="http://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2012/11/the-names-swimming-fbn-9-cd.html">CD edition</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.html">Factory Benelux</a> is releasing a deluxe double vinyl edition of Swimming, the debut album by <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.html">The Names</a>, originally issued in June 1982.<br /><br />Bonus tracks include the popular singles <i>Calcutta</i>, <i>Nightshift</i>, <i>The Astronaut</i> and <i>Spectators of Life</i>, and the band's John Peel session from February 1982, the first ever recorded by a Belgian band. The gatefold sleeve also features original artwork and poster design by Benoit Hennebert, and photographs by Marc Portée.<br /><br /><img src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/the_names/fbn9_swimming_311.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #a0a0a0; width: 311px; height: 311px;" alt="The Names - Swimming [FBN 9]" /><br /><br /><i>Tracklisting</i><br /><br />Side One<br /><br />1. Discovery<br />2. Floating World<br />3. The Fire<br />4. Life By the Sea<br />5. White Shadow<br /><br />Side Two<br /><br />6. Harmony<br />7. Shanghai Gesture<br />8. Leave Her to Heaven<br />9. Light<br /><br />Side Three<br /><br />10. Music for Someone<br />11. Calcutta<br />12. Nightshift<br />13. The Astronaut<br />14. Spectators of Life<br /><br />Side Four<br /><br />15. Life By the Sea (Peel Session)<br />16. Discovery (Peel Session)<br />17. Shanghai Gesture (Peel Session)<br />18. Harmony (Peel Session)<br /><br />Artist: The Names<br />Title: Swimming<br />Label: Factory Benelux<br />Format: 2LP<br />Catalogue number: FBN 9 (18 tracks)<br />Release date: 11 February 2013Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-65584118618467938082012-11-19T09:20:00.000+00:002017-05-08T12:47:42.805+01:00The Names - Swimming [FBN 9 CD]<a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/factory_benelux.html">Factory Benelux</a> presents a new CD edition of Swimming, the debut album by Belgian new wave group <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.html">The Names</a>, originally issued in June 1982.<br /><br />Bonus tracks include the popular singles Calcutta and Nightshift (also produced by Hannett) and the band's February 1982 Peel session. This new CD edition also features original artwork and poster design by Benoit Hennebert, and photographs by Marc Portée.<br /><br /><i>Swimming</i> is out 9 February 2013 on the revived Factory Benelux imprint.<br /><br /><img src="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/images/the_names/fbn9cd_swimming.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #a0a0a0; width: 311px; height: 311px;" alt="" /><br /><br /><i>Tracklisting</i><br /><br />1. Discovery<br />2. Floating World<br />3. The Fire<br />4. Life By the Sea<br />5. White Shadow<br />6. Harmony<br />7. Shanghai Gesture<br />8. Leave Her to Heaven<br />9. Light<br />10. Calcutta<br />11. Postcards<br />12. Nightshift<br />13. Life By the Sea (Peel Session)<br />14. Discovery (Peel Session)<br />15. Shanghai Gesture (Peel Session)<br />16. Harmony (Peel Session)<br /><br />Artist: The Names<br />Title: Swimming<br />Label: Factory Benelux<br />Format: CD<br />Catalogue number: FBN 9 CD (16 tracks)<br />Release date: 11 February 2013Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-52448211498749656662012-04-12T22:27:00.000+01:002017-05-08T12:47:43.666+01:00Peter Staessens PhotographyCheck out <a href="http://peterstaessens.be" target="_blank">peterstaessens.be</a> for Factoryesque live photography featuring <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/section25.html">Section 25</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.html">The Names</a>, Peter Hook, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/acr.html">A Certain Ratio</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/biting_tongues.html">Biting Tongues</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/minny_pops.html">Minny Pops</a>, <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_wake.html">The Wake</a> and more. The recently-updated site features pics the Plan K Factory nights in <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/a_factory_night_once_again.html">2007</a> and <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/a_factory_night_and_then_again.html">2009</a> plus and other European gigs.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257698238846045492.post-8037027839451719992011-10-18T19:50:00.000+01:002017-05-08T12:47:44.429+01:00Hannett - Maverick Producer Genius MusicianCheck out Paul Pledger's <a href="http://www.allgigs.co.uk/view/review/5986/Martin_Hannett_Maverick_Producer_Genius_And_Musician_Album_Review.html" target="_blank">review</a> (via Allgigs) of the latest offering from Ozit Morpheus, a retrospective of the production and musical artist output of the late Martin Hannett including musical and spoken word content from John Cooper Clarke, George Borowski, Bernard Sumner, Pete Farrow, Peter Hook and Hannett himself. <br /><br />As Paul notes, of particular interest to Factory aficionados are the brief chunks of reworkings of <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_durutti_column.html">The Durutti Column</a>'s <i>Self Portrait</i> (given a powerful syndrum overhaul), <i>Calcutta</i> by <a href="http://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/the_names.html">The Names</a> and Hannett's own <i>The Music Room</i>, not to mention <i>First and Second Aspect of the Same Thing</i> flexidisc tracks.<br /><br /><b>Tracklisting</b><br /><br /><i>Disc One</i><br /><br />1. Martin and John Cooper Clarke - quick verbal quip<br />2. Office in a Bottle - Martin on vocals, synths along with John Hurst and Diane<br />3. Martin on synths, metronome, etc.<br />4. Martin on syndrums<br />5. Martin on synths, etc.<br />6. Bernard Sumner talks about Martin<br />7. Martin on Synths, etc.<br />8. Martin - strange piano mix<br />9. Martin on Synths, etc.<br />10. Martin plays bass<br />11. Chrysler - Belt and Braces<br />12. Benavila - Belt and Braces<br />13. Joe Smith - Belt and Braces<br />14. Derry - Belt and Braces<br />15. Trouble in A Major - Pete Farrow<br />16. Hold On - Pete Farrow<br />17. Sailaway - Pete Farrow<br />18. Maybe he’ll - Pete Farrow<br />19. Old Man’s song - Pete Farrow<br /><br />Disc Two<br />1. Hooky talks about Martin<br />2. Manchester Boys - George Borowski<br />3. Who is Innocent - George Borowski<br />4. Dangerous City - George Borowski<br />5. Giant - Belt and Braces<br />6. Questions - Belt and Braces<br />7. Grapes - Belt and Braces<br />8. Money - Belt and Braces<br />9. Banks of The Dee - Belt and Braces<br />10. Chains - Belt and Braces <br /><br /><i>Maverick Producer Genius and Musician - Martin Hannett</i> is available to <a href="http://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/mh-mpgm.htm">buy direct</a> from Ozit Morpheus.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com