Cerysmatic.Factory

FAC 318 Classics in Motion T-Shirt

2013-05-25T23:48:00.000+01:00

FAC 318 was allocated to the "Classics in Motion" Classical showcase event (featuring I Fagiolini, Rolf Hind, Graham Fitkin, Red Byrd, Steve Martland and The Durutti Column) to launch the second wave of Factory Classical CD releases (FACT 316, 326, 336, 346 and 356) at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on 29-31 October 1990.

FAC 318 was also issued to a 'Classics in Motion' T-shirt (in grey with black/yellow graphics), a poster and a leaflet; all with related graphics and "FAC 318" on them.

However, in typical Factory fashion, FAC 318 was ALSO later issued to the FAC 318 Flying Start exhibition stand...

An Experiment in Human Nature

2013-05-25T18:32:00.000+01:00

Check out a "Data Visualization" project (via behance.net) which maps the entire Factory Records catalogue, spanning 1978 through 2007 in a colour-coded "wagon wheel".

Polite Postcards and Badges Competition Result

2013-05-18T21:37:00.000+01:00

The winner of the Polite Postcards & Badges sets competition is Adam Tate who correctly answered that the typeface used on the boxes used for the original Factory "hessian" cassette box series and the new Polite sets is Bembo.

He wins a Factory Records Postcard Set1978-82 contains 25 postcards documenting the early era of the label and the Factory Records Enamel Badges 2013 set which contains both black and red versions of a FAC 120 reproduction plus a new badge based on the FAC 47 anvil logo courtesy of Polite Cards and Factory Editions.

Both boxed sets are available now for 25.00 GBP each via Polite.

Well done to Adam (Polite will be in touch to arrange delivery) and thanks to everyone who entered the competition.

Steve Martland

2013-05-07T17:59:00.000+01:00

It is with sadness that we report the death of Steve Martland, the composer and instrumentalist who recorded for Factory Classical.

Please see BBC News for full details.

Polite Postcards & Badges sets competition

2013-04-29T22:09:00.000+01:00

Here's your chance to win two splendid Factory Records boxed sets of postcards and badges courtesy of those lovely people at Polite Cards and Factory Editions.

The Factory Records Postcard Set1978-82 contains 25 postcards documenting the early era of the label. This lovingly put together set was released late last year and was accompanied by 3 enamel badges which earlier this year were given the boxed set treatment too. Factory Records Enamel Badges 2013 contains both black and red versions of a FAC 120 reproduction plus a new badge based on the FAC 47 anvil logo.

Both boxed sets are styled on the classic Factory Records boxed cassette series in complementary grey tones and retail at 25.00 GBP each via Polite.

In order to win one of each boxed set, all you have to do is answer this simple question:

What is the typeface used on the boxes used for the original Factory "hessian" cassette box series and the new Polite sets?

Answers please by email to reach us no later than 22:00 GMT on Sunday 12 May 2013. Usual Cerysmatic Factory competition rules apply - only one entry per person and the winner will be pulled out the Cerysmatic hat shortly after the closing deadline.

Good luck!

Atmosphere #4 podcast on Factory Benelux

2013-04-12T08:05:00.000+01:00

Check out a 90-minute podcast on Rectangle Radio (via Podomatic) by Frédéric Cotton about the long inactive (but now resurrected) Factory Records offshoot label Factory Benelux.

The podcast is in French and features an interview with The Names.

Fore more FBN info follow Factory Benelux on Twitter and at factorybenelux.com.

Surprize - In Movimento [FBN 26 CD]

2013-04-04T18:30:00.000+01:00

The next in Factory Benelux's editions series is by the Bologna-based funk outfit Surprize who recorded one single for FBN in 1984.

Full details to follow.

In other FBNews, Treatise on the Steppenwolf by The Durutti Column will be re-released as FBN 63 CD in June 2013. This edition will replace the existing LTM edition and is identical in content to that release.

Factory Records Enamel Badges 2013

2013-03-14T23:46:00.000+00:00

This slipped out whilst we weren't looking - it's a boxed set version of the three Factory badges issued by Polite / Factory Records in December 2012.

Presented in a boxed based on the classic boxed cassette series in a colour tone complementary to the Factory Records postcard set (also by Polite) this boxed contains three enamel badges and retails at GBP 25.00.

The first edition has sold out but pre-orders are being taken for when it comes back in stock at politecards.com.

Love and Hate [FBN 45 CD] tracks

2013-03-13T13:23:00.000+00:00

The full tracklisting for the upcoming Factory Benelux edition of Section 25's Love and Hate has been confirmed.

The original album is supplemented by 7 bonus tracks including both Bad News Week remixes by Bernard Sumner (from FAC 157), Crazy Wisdom (a Sumner/Dojo production from FBN 45) plus previously-unreleased demos and remixes.

Tracklisting

1. Sweet Forgiveness
2. Conquer Me
3. Sprinkling Petals Into Hell
4. The Last Man in Europe
5. Bad News Week
6. Tim Lick My Knees
7. Shit Creek No Paddle
8. Warhead
9. Carcrash
10. Crazy Wisdom
11. The Guitar Waltz
12. Bad News Week (12” Mix)
13. Bad News Week (Cough Mix)
14. Warhead (Retro Mix)
15. Crazy Wisdom (demo)
16. Boogie Beat (Retro Mix)

Love and Hate [FBN 45 CD]

2013-03-09T12:39:00.000+00:00

Section 25's final Factory Records album is scheduled for a Factory Benelux edition in May 2013.

Full details and tracklisting to be confirmed.

Don't forget that the new album Dark Light is out now and that there is a special 7" single of My Outrage available on Record Store Day.

A FAC ABC book

2013-03-04T19:11:00.000+00:00

Our friends over at FAC-ABC on Tumblr who have been curating the A-Z of Factory Records are turning it into a limited edition book. They promise it will be made available for a very reasonable price and if you're lucky enough to be featured in it then your copy is free!

All enquiries via the FAC-ABC posting which has specific details please.

A Factory Benelux Story

2012-12-04T20:02:00.000+00:00

Cerysmatic Factory caught up with James Nice to find out about newly-revived Factory Benelux imprint.

How did it come about?

When the Shadowplayers book was published in 2010, Peter Saville and I discussed some sort of umbrella organisation to protect and preserve the Factory legacy, rather than the logos, brand, heritage and so forth being used willy-nilly. Something like the Bauhaus Foundation.

That led to the formation of a new company, Factory Records Limited - which in turn led to a lengthy negotiation with WMG... After more than two years all we'd manage to achieve was a double vinyl reissue of Fact 90, and the Polite postcard and badge editions. From the outset we tried to involved Alan Erasmus and several other interested parties, but it just proved unworkable - rather like New Order and Hooky have proved unworkable in recent years.

So Peter and I gave up, really. It was like trying to raise the Titanic. And as the old joke goes, it might have been easier to lower the Atlantic.

What I would say is, the moment you wave the Factory flag and stick your head above the parapet, all sorts of nutters break cover and start firing potshots. Life's too short.

Anyway, I didn't want to cancel the Factory music reissue projects I had in mind, and earlier in 2012 I'd already issued the limited edition vinyl album of Short Stories for Pauline by The Durutti Column, with the blessing of Michel Duval. Since that edition was favourably received, I figured why not carry on with Factory Benelux.

Who is behind it?

Me, and the participating artists. I obtained the FBN name and logos from Michel in exchange for a donation to the Christie Hospital in Manchester, who looked after Tony Wilson at the end. It seemed like an appropriate gesture. Annik Honoré gave the idea her blessing too. Plus, on a personal level, I'm a lot more comfortable working with the Factory Benelux brand, because I worked with Michel in Brussels for several years between 1989 and 1991, whereas I was never directly involved with Factory Records in Manchester.

FBN is also a nice way of returning the Factory marque to come key recordings, without actually calling it Factory. Like the original FBN, it retains a sense of distance and otherness.

What other reissues do you have planned?

They're editions, dear boy. It's a mixture of CDs and vinyl, mostly remastered and with upgraded artwork. So Swimming by The Names gains their Peel session, the Crispy Ambulance album the original De Roeck artwork, and so on. The booklets are mainly visual, usually period photography and satellite artwork, without too much in the way of sleevenotes.

We've expanded LC by The Durutti Column into a double disc edition, because Vini was so prolific at the time, and very little that he recorded was filler.

All the CDs will come in a special FBN slipcase also - at least if you order direct from us. It proved a bit difficult trying to apply a generic slipcase to shop copies. All sorts of tedious issues with barcodes etc, plus it obscures some rather nice original artwork, which is somewhat counter-productive.

The Blurt vinyl is interesting. Live In Berlin should have come out as a 10" (FBN 5 or 6, depending on which archive source you consult) in 1981, but then Ted got a better offer from Armageddon, who released In Berlin as a standard 12" live album. To fit all 8 tracks on, we've had to include a bonus 7" as well. That costs way more to press than a 12", but a 12" would be a bit boring, and not true to the original FBN concept. Plus a 10" really suits Blurt's music well. There's a kind of faux jazz sleevenote from Chris Bohn also. It'll probably lose money!

Will you be releasing any wholly new material?

Yes, the new Section 25 album Dark Light will be on FBN, as will their limited 7" single for Record Store Day in April 2013. Peter Saville kindly provided the cover image and the title for the album. There will also be a vinyl edition of the recent Wake album A Light Far Out, again for RSD.

It's important to stress that all 'new' FBN releases are new editions through, not simply facsimiles of the original releases and formats. That would be misleading, and plain dull. Instead it's high-end antique futurism. From Belgium. Kinda sorta.

--

Many thanks to James Nice.

A trip to the Factory Benelux vaults

2012-11-19T10:05:00.000+00:00

The resurrected Factory Benelux imprint which has already released Short Stories for Pauline this year, presents five new releases which will be out in the New Year.

FBN 9 The Names - Swimming [double vinyl]
FBN 9 CD The Names - Swimming
FBN 10 CD Crispy Ambulance - The Plateau Phase
FBN 12 CD The Durutti Column - LC
FBN 29 CD The Wake - Harmony

Watch this space for more releases to come on FBN.

Nyam Nyam - Hope of Heaven + Singles

2012-10-18T22:52:00.000+01:00

LTM presents a digitally remastered 18-track album by Hull's Nyam Nyam this November. The extended CD features all tracks from the original Situation Two album Hope of Heaven and EP The Architect together with both sides of their first 7" single and the extended 12" version of the Peter Hook-produced Factory Benelux single Fate plus a brand new track Doubt. The package also features a 16-page booklet featuring archive images and detailed sleevenotes from Paul Trynka, Trevor Simpson, Peter Hook and designer Vaughan Oliver.

Artist: Nyam Nyam
Title: Hope of Heaven + Singles
Label: LTM
Catalogue number: LTMCD 2575
Release date: 12 November 2012

Tracklisting

The Illuminated Ones
Fate, The Meeting
This Is the Place
You Need More
The House
Hope of Heaven
And To Hold
The Resolution
The Architect
The Last Place (Hope of Heaven)
Mining Different Seams
And To Hold (Version 2)
Untitled
Fate (FBN 12")
When We Can't Make Laughter Stay
Knowledge (Chapter II)
Doubt

FBN 36 Short Stories for Pauline

2012-04-27T14:21:00.000+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

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

Intro to Mat Cook's limited edition prints

2010-03-20T22:29:00.000+00:00

Mat Cook is a graphic designer / director whose client list ranges from Robbie Williams and Archive to Moby to Depeche Mode and the Aphex Twin.

He is also the designer of the sleeve for FAC 2.02 A Factory Sample Too, the Factory Too double 7-inch and CD single.

Mat has now produced a series on limited edition screen prints which have been shaped and influenced by his times and 'experiences'. The prints are available to order now from matcook.info.

A Very Cerysmatic 2008

2008-12-31T08:00:00.000+00:00

In no particular order...

A Darker Sunset - John Metcalfe
A Thousand Words - Styrofoam
Auteur Labels - Factory Benelux
Another Way To Die - Jack White and Alicia Keys
Consolers of the Lonely - The Raconteurs
Death Magnetic - Metallica
Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
In Silico - Pendulum
Letter From God To Man - Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
Low - Flo Rida
Mountain Battles - The Breeders
Only By The Night - Kings of Leon
Retrospective - The Retro Spankees
Sunlight To Blue... Blue To Blackness - The Durutti Column
The Age of Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets
The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow
The Weekend Starts Round Here E.P. - The Parks Dept.
Third - Portishead
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
We Started Nothing - The Ting Tings
Wearing My Rolex - Wiley

The Master Tapes

2008-12-07T10:08:00.000+00:00

If you're an avid or casual follower of the Cerysmatic Factory Message Board, the discovery of a cache of original Factory Records master tapes by artists such as The Wendys, Northside, Section 25, X-O-Dus and Cath Carroll by Oli Wilson whilst clearing his dad's Loft won't have escaped your attention.

A number of the artists in question (the full list also includes Hopper, Fadela, The Railway Children and Thick Pigeon) have already posted on the thread or been in contact with Cerysmatic and/or Oli regarding the find.

In his message, Oli describes what's happened "When clearing my dads loft out I found lots of original master tapes from Factory Records releases over the years. I intend to return these to their rightful owners (the artist) or preferably I would like to put them into an archive in Manchester (whether this is Museum of Science and Industry or somewhere else I dont know yet)."

"I would rather store them as so far they have been kept in great condition by my old man and it would be great to keep them that way... have a feeling that if they aren't kept like that they would just gather dust and rot away in a studio!!!"

That the tapes have been lovingly looked after for all these years is not a surprise given their custodian. Of course, under Factory's infamous "no contract" policy, all the artists owned their own music and Factory "owned nothing".

It would be difficult to begrudge the reunion of the tapes with their rightful owners (particularly if rare and unreleased, or even un-re-released) material exists. However, the donation of such historically significant material to an institution such as MoSI has a nice ring to it. Perhaps there is scope for both to happen.

Now... where's Fadela!?

If it's Friday, it must be Belgium

2008-11-12T19:24:00.000+00:00

Cerysmatic caught up with Section 25 following the Peter Hook Section 25 Live European mini-tour with Peter Hook and Kevin Hewick:

Vin: "It was bloody great. The turnout varied, about 600 Os (NL), 800 Brussels (BE), about 400 in Paris (FR) and Krefeld was 350-400 (DE). Michel Duval (Factory Benelux / Crépuscule) and Mark Kamins turned out in Paris. Playing with Hooky is ace cos neither of us drink and it's good not to be the only non-drinker on the firm. Also he taught me some good stuff about tempo, pace and dynamics and I am grateful 'bout that.

"The highlight for me was Krefeld. It all came together and was powerful and at times quite menacing in its intensity. The MO for each show was Kevbo, then S25 for 9 songs then we were joined by Capt Hook. We then do 10 NO/JD then we fuck off. Encore next with just S25 doing 1 song and then the grand finale with Peter joining us for Doubts Even Here.

Quote of tour has to be Mark Kamins in Paris: "Glad to see you guys still got your motherfucking chops".

Ian: "Well for starters, I don't think that I have ever been as nervous as I was before the Paris gig! Had we rehearsed enough..? Will my amp blow up? I shouldn't have worried as by the time we had done our SSXV set we were ready... for anything!

"Hooky and his 'guitar-man', Phil Murphy were great, as their 'attitude' spread like wildfire, and we just 'went for it' on the subsequent nights. Just think 'Punk Rock' and you shall be alright! (as my Granny used to say).

"By the German gig we were chuffin' rocking, so it's a shame it was the last. We had definitely 'nailed it' by that time.

"I joined Tunnelvision in 1981, so I suppose the Joy Division / New Order songs are in my DNA, but it was still bizarre to be on stage playing those songs with Hooky! We also didn't want to do 'straight' versions of the JD/NO songs, so hopefully we put a little 'twist' on them, making them rawer and bringing the SXXV 'edge' to them. Everyone on 'the team', the people working at the venues, were fantastic and also the audiences too. Lets do it again!"

Setlist

Section 25

New Horizon
Wretch
Up To You
Friendly Fires
Charnel Ground
After Image
Can't Let Go
Looking From A Hilltop
Dirty Disco

Peter Hook + Section 25

No Love Lost
She's Lost Control
Temptation
Ceremony
Ultraviolence
Dreams Never End
Love Will Tear Us Apart
Shadowplay
Interzone
Warsaw
--
Poppy Fields (SXXV)
Doubts Even Here (PH + SXXV)

Thanks to Vin and Ian. Stand by for more including Kevin Hewick and photo gallery. Meanwhile, check out Fred's (Fantastique Nights) Flickr photostream and another gallery on soundofviolence.net.