Cerysmatic.Factory

A flavour of the label

2017-05-26T12:11:00.000+01:00

Factory was highly noted for the quality of its graphic design which featured on everything from badges to posters to the records themselves. Once you got past the outer sleeve of a record it didn't stop there though as these 12" and LP labels prove. Central Station's loud and brash design for Happy Mondays is in complete contrast with the Factory Classical branding developed by Peter Saville, Brett Wickens and others.

Central Station showed another side to their talents with the bright and bold FAC 228 for Karl Denver.

Meanwhile, the FAC 257 Getting Away With It label by Peter Saville Associates for Electronic retains only the typography from the sleeve artwork in a minimalist approach.

The Record Peddler's Factory Video Guide Pt 3

2013-09-02T06:00:00.000+01:00

The final part of our guide to Factory Records promo videos with Mark @ The Record Peddler concludes with Fac numbers from 300 to the end plus a few bonus items.

Fac 302: Happy Mondays – Kinky Afro

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Happy Mondays, Title: Kinky Afro, Release:8/10/90, Fac No: Fac 302 partly printed and partly handwritten A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape. The full video starts from a black screen and features the band miming to the track in a TV studio setting with a group of female models dancing top of the pops style. The picture fades to black before the outro ends and the legend 'C Factory Communications Ltd 1990 appears at the bottom of the screen and fades to black. The full video lasts for 4mins 10secs.

Fac 306: Steve Martland - The World Is In Heaven

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Steve Martland, Title: The world is in heaven, Planned Release: Is left blank, Fac No: Fac 306 partly printed and partly handwritten. A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape.

The full video starts from a black screen and features a montage of scenes of the artist singing and posing, a ranting and raving man, street scenes, a scrap yard and an area of demolition etc. etc.

The video fades to black at the end and the legend 'C Factory Communications Ltd 1990' appears across the centre of the screen and fades to black. The full video lasts 4 mins 19 secs.

Fac 307: Cath Carroll – Moves Like You

This tape comes in a black plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Cath Carroll, Title: Moves Like You, Planned Release: 5/8/91, Fac No: Fac 307 partly printed and partly handwritten A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape.

The full video starts from a black screen and features a montage of scenes with Cath lip synching on a bed, in a canteen, on the streets. This is interspersed with flashing images of Cath dancing, fingers with flames coming from the fingertips etc.

The video fades to black at the end and the legend 'c Factory Records 1991' appears across the bottom of the screen accompanied by a flashing animated image. The full video lasts 4mins 20 secs.

Fac 308: Northside – Take Five

This tape comes in a black plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Northside, Title: Take 5, Planned Release: 25th May1991, Fac No: Fac 308 partly printed and partly handwritten A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape, which states that this is a 'C Format' version. The full video starts from a black screen and features the band miming to the track on a stage like setting, with newsreel footage projected onto the wall behind the band as a backdrop. The video fades to black before the legend 'C Factory Communications Ltd 1991', the full video lasts 3mins 17secs.

Fac 312: Happy Mondays – Loose Fit

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Happy Mondays, Title: Loose Fit, Planned Release: 25 Feb '91, Fac No: Fac 312 partly printed and partly handwritten A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape.

The video starts from a black screen and is an amalgamation of three different versions of the band miming to the backing track. The first is the band in a studio under electric white light, the second with more subdued red lighting and a naked flame backdrop. The flame occasionally flares up. The third scenario of the band miming sees the band members wearing long haired wigs ranging from Shaun as a Blonde (possibly with pink lipstick) and others in pony tails!!

The video footage continues for a few seconds after the music track finishes. This fades to black and is replaced by the legend 'C Factory Records 1991' across the bottom of the screen. The whole video lasts 4mins 8 secs.

Fac 313/400: Joy Division – Transmission Film

This tape comes in a black plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Joy Division, Title: Transmission, Planned Release: Nov 91, Fac No: Fac 400 partly printed and partly handwritten. There is no label on the tape itself. NOTE that Fac313 was the number allocated to the clip, but 400 was used when released as a promo only tape to the TV stations. The footage starts, from a black screen, with a brief glimpse of people on an escalator whilst the soundtrack to the footage begins. This is due to the production of the original TV show footage. The track fades to black at the end before the music finishes, again, this is due to the following footage on the original show. This is the iconic footage of the band at Granada TV Studio's which was shown on the Television programme 'Something Else', a weekly programme giving viewers an insight into forthcoming events in the Manchester Area. It was fronted by Anthony Wilson. The full length of this video is 3mins 24secs.

Fac 327: Revenge – Deadbeat (From Gun World Porn EP)

This tape comes in a black plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Revenge, Title: Deadbeat, Planned Release: 20-1-92, Fac No: Fac 327 partly printed and partly handwritten. A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape.

The full video starts from a black screen and features footage of the band in black and white and in colour miming to the backing track. There is footage which looks to have been shot in a derelict, crumbling building. This has a female and a female child who play with numerous objects such as a grasshopper on a string, flowers, cakes, dolls etc. There are falling leaves also.

At the end, the video fades to a white screen and then black with the legend 'C Revenge Ltd. The full video lasts 5mins 8secs.

Fac 328: Electronic – Feel Every Beat

This tape comes in a black plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Electronic, Title: Feel Every Beat, Planned Release: Sept 9.91, Fac No: Fac 328 partly printed and partly handwritten. A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape.

The full video starts from a black screen and features a mixture of images in black and white, colour and negative. Bernard and Johnny Marr miming to the soundtrack, running along a corridor, on a rooftop etc. There is footage of people dancing on a dance floor, a person having water poured over their head (made red to look like blood?) images of Rooftops and Buildings, and many flashing images. The video ends and fades to a black screen before the legend 'Copyright 1991 Factory Communications Ltd.' Appears across the bottom. The whole video lasts 4mins 7secs.

Fac 332: Happy Mondays – Judge Fudge

This tape comes in a black plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Happy Mondays, Title: Judge Fudge, Planned Release: 18.11.91, Fac No: Fac 332 partly printed and partly handwritten A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape.

The video starts from a black screen and tells the story of a diamond heist. A truck on a highway has the legend 'Enter Access code... Judge Fudge' in computerised imagery imposed scrolling across the screen. The truck, in the rain, enters a secured area by Shaun cutting the padlock on a gate. The band are shown using torches to enter the building and with acetylene cutting gear to cut into something. Some of the band are wearing masks. This is interspersed with the band on a rooftop miming to the backing track in driving rain. There is a rare sight of Bez miming with a guitar! At times, the Co-operative Bank headquarters 'Pyramid' building can be seen in the background behind the band, suggesting that the outdoor footage was on the roof of a building adjacent to both this building in Stockport and the M60 Motorway. The footage then shows the band in more relaxed surroundings laughing and joking, popping the champagne corks and shows a tray of diamonds. The video is a mixture of black and white and colour.

At the end, the video fades to black and the legend 'C Factory Records 1991' appears across the bottom of the screen. The whole video lasts 4mins 7 secs.

Fac 362: Happy Mondays – Stinkin' Thinkin'

This tape comes in a black plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Happy Mondays, Title: Stinkin Thinkin, Planned Release: 7.9.92, Fac No: Fac 362 partly printed and partly handwritten. There is a Signal Vision label on the videotape.

The full video starts from a black screen with a small leaflet floating along a rain filled gutter with the words 'Stinkin Thinkin' in black on green paper. A title 'Your Town' appears across the bottom of the screen. The subject of the video is the band miming to the track in a hotel room with some females dancing. Interspersed are several different scenes, from Bez and Shaun having breakfast in a café, In front of a refuse wagon, with Bez handling a white rat; In phone booths and even Bez dressed in a clowns mask dancing in front of school children and in front of a crowd of people whilst the full band steal a gentleman's document pouch! Bez and Shaun, and Rowetta, in the back of police cars handcuffed, etc. Throughout the video, there are cuts to black and white flashed messages with the words: Your town, Father, Home, God, Me, Mother, Happiness, Love, and Enemy. There are also shots of Photo fit pictures of the band members. The video ends with the rat in the gutter with a green leaflet by a grid; this one says 'Kinky Afro.

This fades to black and the words 'Stinkin' and then 'Thinkin' appear across the screen separately. This then becomes an animated credit s screen with the legends 'A wiz music film, C1992 Factory Communications Limited & Electra Entertainment, A division of Warner Communications Inc, which fades to black. The whole video lasts 4mins 50secs.

Fac 372: Happy Mondays – Sunshine & Love

This tape comes in a black plastic box with no details on the cover. A handwritten label has the legend 'Happy Mondays, Sunshine & Love, Fac 372, 9/11/92 written in black felt-tip pen on a white label. Note that this is as it was delivered to me when first released. This is 100% guaranteed genuine.

The full video starts from a black screen and features live footage of the band on stage with the studio soundtrack overdubbed. The footage is subjected to a number of different treatments, including a graining effect, black and white and colour. There is also footage of the crowd singing along. The video fades to a black screen at the end and the legend 'C Factory Records 1992' appears in pink lettering across the bottom of the screen. The full video lasts 3mins 32secs. However, if the tape is forwarded to around 11 minutes, there is a very brief section of footage from the video followed by a countdown clock with the legend 'happy mondays, "sunshine & love", duration 3min 20sec, date 31.10.92, 3DTV 101, Portland Mews London W1V 3FH Tel 071 439 1119. The whole thing looks like someone in an editing suite has recorded the above running backwards at a high speed as the countdown clock is running in reverse. At around 11mins 23secs, this goes to a black screen and then some standard colour bars appear and are present until about 19.30 seconds of this 20 minute tape. I had several copies of this tape at the time and all had this anomaly.

The Adventure Babies: Winter Plume / Adventure Baby

This is a promo video issued by the band. The tape comes in a black plastic box with a 'Tape to Tape' promotions company black and white cover which has ** The Adventure Babies** "Winter Plume", "Adventure Baby", Management Danny Macintosh 061-953-4088, Video Production Sparky and Chums 081-348-9003, VHS PAL 625 LINE, 139.91. The video tape has a typed label with the legend: The Adventure Babies, "Winter Plume", "Adventure Baby", VHS PAL 625 LINE. The label also has Tape to Tape, 0713710978/9 Fax 071371 9360 printed down the left and right hand sides.

The full video starts from a black screen with Winter Plume first. This is black and white footage of the band, mainly Maxine, miming to the soundtrack. Dry Ice is used and shots of the rest of the band are spliced into the footage, although they are out of synch and probably not playing the same track! There are also occasional shots of the sea on rocks. This track lasts 3mins 7 secs and fades to a black screen. Adventure baby is next. This again is footage of the band, in colour this time. The band are miming to the soundtrack in what could be a studio location. The track is interspersed with historical footage of what I assume is members of the band from 16mm home movies. This shows a baby in a pram, at the seaside on the sand and paddling in the sea, with what could be ice-cream all over its face, and toddling around a garden. This video lasts approximately 2mins 46 secs. The full video runs for from 6mins 33secs from start to end.

New Order: True Faith – Live in Paris 1987

This is from an unknown source and I don't know anything about its legitimacy. The footage seems to be professionally produced, with multi-camera angles, and comes from a gig in Paris on 8th December 1987. The typed insert in the black plastic box lists production as 'Structure Moderne' (which was a video production collective which also produced videos of The Durutti Column live in rehearsal at the Hacienda and Section 25 live in Minneapolis). This is also shown at the end of the track before it fades to black. The tape has a hand-written label on a Fuji tape sticker. At the start, there is a split screen and titles. The full video runs for 5mins 3secs.

New Order: Regret (London Promotions Label, NOT Factory)

This tape comes in a black plastic box with no cover details. The label on the spine of the tape is branded 'Tele Cine' with a company logo and the phone number 071 916 3711. The title details are New Order, "Regret", 17.04.93, VPL no: GB-F09-93-0010-0 VHS PAL STEREO, London Promotions. At the start of the tape, there is a countdown clock with the legend: New Order, Regret, GB F09 93 0010 0, R/T 4.06, Tele Cine (and logo), Telecine Mcr: 071-916-3720. The clock fades to a black screen.

The full video starts from a black screen. It is a montage of many images. The band members in separate rooms with their instruments and Steve putting together his drum kit and then the band miming to the soundtrack in isolation. This is interspersed with views of the city (Rome?)and statues, Steve as a tourist with a video camera and a multitude of split screen shots of Bernard, Peter, Steve and Gillian, a bride in a wedding dress, motor vehicles, Motel signage, movie theatres, the coliseum?, telephone booths etc. Throughout the video, there are some scripts in Italian and the video ends with a fire with smoke rising into the atmosphere.

The video fades to a black screen and the legend 'C 1993 Qwest Records' appears across the bottom of the screen. The whole video runs for 4mins 31secs from start to end.

New Order: Ruined in a Day (London Promotions Label, NOT Factory)

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with no cover details. The label on the spine of the tape is branded 'Tele Cine' with a company logo and the phone number 071 916 3711. The title details are New Order, "Ruined in a Day", 15.06.93, VHS PAL STEREO, London Promotions, GB-F09-0019-0. At the start of the tape, there is a countdown clock with the legend: 'Wiseman Digital Editing, New Order, Ruined in a Day, English Version, Dur: 3mins 53secs, GB F09 930 0190, London Records, Prod: Nira, Dir: Keith Allen, 9 June 1993, Stereo, Tel 071 439 8901, Fax 071 437 2481, MCR. 071 734 3200. The clock goes to a black screen.

The full video starts from a black screen and is set in a temple in the Far East. The band are in various guises with Bernard sat negotiating with a Monk, whilst Steven looks like a film producer with a video camera, Gillian is dressed in a white and black dress suit and Peter dressed as an explorer with a still camera. A group of Monks are playing 'Charades'. Bernard mimes to the music and Steven, Peter and Gillian join in the game with the monks, miming playing bass drums and violins. Bernard joins them to mime the last chorus. Throughout, the monks are guessing the title and their words are conveyed via sub-titles at the bottom of the screen. Eventually, the monks are called away by their leader and leave the scene, in conger like fashion, dancing to the music.

At the end, the video fades to black and the legend 'C 1993 London Records 90 Limited, The copyright on this film is owned by London Records Limited appears across the bottom of the screen and fades to black. The full video lasts 4 mins 25secs

New Order: World (London Promotions Label, NOT Factory)

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with no cover details. The label on the spine of the tape is branded 'Tele Cine' with a company logo and the phone number 071 916 3711.

The title details are New Order, "World", 15.06.93, VHS PAL STEREO, London Promotions, GB-F09-0019-0.

At the start of the tape, there is a countdown clock with the legend: Edit Suite One, 23/07/93, New Order, World, Dir: Baillie Walsh, Prod: Howie Nichol Anita Staines, Limelight Productions, ISRC: GBF099300240, Intro Dur 20 secs, Track Dur: 4mins 3 secs, Soho601, Digital Productions, Tel: 071-439 2730, Dol: 071-287 0813. Stereo. The clock goes to a black screen.

The full video starts from a black screen with black and white footage of the sea front at Cannes in the South of France. The camera follows an elderly female as she strolls along a pier to a seat at a restaurant table. She passes Peter sat at a table on the way. The camera pans to a gentleman getting up from a table and Bernard can be seen miming to the track as he approaches steps and ascends to the promenade and crosses the road passing a fire brigade putting hoses away. The next subject is a female entering a hotel lobby and the camera goes down a corridor filled with people including a couple who climb stairs and go into a room. Along another corridor, a male walks out of a room and passes the camera. The camera goes into the same room and shows a female wringing her hands and looking worried. She looks out to a view of the bay and the camera follows.

The video ends by fading to black and the legend 'C 1993 London Records 90 Ltd' appears across the bottom of the screen and fades to black. The full video lasts 4mins 48secs.

The Record Peddler's Factory Video Guide Pt 2

2013-08-31T17:29:00.000+01:00

We continue our guide to Factory Records promotional videos with Mark from the Record Peddler.

This time we look at Fac numbers between 250 and 300.

Fac 255: Cath Carroll – Beast on the Streets

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a Factory TM black and white insert cover Detailing Artist, Title, Planned release date 17th September 1990 and Fac 255. The tape has Signal Vision typed labels. The full video, lasting approximately 7 minutes, fades in before the soundtrack begins and shows Cath wandering around the streets of New York after dark, interspersed with footage of a religious nature. The footage is a mixture of both colour and black and white.

Fac 257: Electronic – Getting Away With It

This tape comes in a blue plastic box. Both the front of the box and tape have Signal Vision typed labels. The full length video of the band in a studio is in full colour and lasts 4mins 24secs and fades to black.

Fact 262: Happy Mondays 'Madchester' compilation video

This promotional copy of the video comes in a blue plastic box with Signal Vision typed labels on the front of the box and tape. Although eventually released as a Factory/Virgin issue, these labels state Factory Only. This is the full video, with the credits at the end, lasting approximately, 49mins 40 secs.

Fac 263: New Order – Round & Round

This tape comes in a blue plastic box. The tape itself has a Signal Vision typed label on the front. The full video starts with a title screen 'New Order, Round and Round, Factory Records, Paula Grief Inc, 3:59, UK Edit'.

The full video follows. A selection of female models interspersed with sporadic objects and images.

This fades out to black at the end of the track and the legend 'C1989 Factory Communications Ltd; appears and fades to black. The full; video lasts approximately 4mins 15 secs.

Fac 267: Revenge – Pineapple Face (MTV Version)

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a cover featuring a cut-down 12" sleeve. The tape has a Signal Vision typed title sticker on the front of the box and also on the tape. The video begins from black to a slide with the legend 'Revenge, "Pineapple Face", 4:11, NTSC Stereo, 4/24/90, 525 Post over a still of Peter Hook taken from the video. A second slide appears of similar design with the legend 'produced and directed by Suze Randall, Creative Director Peter Saville, director of photography and Editor Aaron Landy.

The full length video follows and fades to black before the legend 'C1990 Capitol Records. Inc.' appears across the bottom of the screen and fades to black. The full video lasts 4mins 30secs including titles.

Fac 267: Revenge – Pineapple Face (Club Version)

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a cover featuring a cut-down 12" sleeve. The tape has a Signal Vision typed title sticker on the front of the box. The video begins from black to a slide with the legend 'Revenge, "Pineapple Face", Club Mix, 6:45, NTSC Stereo, 4/24/90, 525 Post over a still of Peter Hook taken from the video. A second slide appears of similar design with the legend 'produced and directed by Suze Randall, Creative Director Peter Saville, director of photography and Editor Aaron Landy.

Apart from the obvious difference in running time, this is a much more explicit video lasting 7mins 14 seconds including the titles.

Fac 271: New Order – The Advertising Technique (Mix One, Two, Three)

This tape comes in a black plastic box with a label insert from Vector Television. There is a hand-written label adhered to the tape itself which also has the Vector Television logo. The tape contains three different promotional videos for the New Order 'Technique' album. The first mix starts from a countdown clock with the legend 'Factory Records, New Order, Advertising Technique Mix One, 30 second, Date 10/03/89, Prod No: MC/8598, Vector Television 0161-442-7887, CAR 061 443 1360.' The second advertisement has the same countdown clock and details apart from the legend 'Mix Two'. The third advertisement, likewise apart from 'Mix 3'. The footage of the same models used in the 'Round and Round' video is the subject matter, but different questions have been asked of the models and they actually speak as opposed to being silent in the music video.

Also, the legend 'New Order, Technique' appears the end of each advert. Mix One is towards the top of the screen, Mix Two is in the middle and Mix Three is at the bottom of the screen. This tape has been in my possession since 1989 and I have never seen another copy available for sale.

Fac 272: Happy Mondays – Step On

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a typed title on the front of the box and also on the front of the tape. The track starts from a black screen and the full video fades to black at the end and the legend 'C1990 Factory Communications' appears at the bottom of the screen and fades to a black screen. The full video lasts approximately 5mins in total.

Fac 273: New Order – Run 2

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a Signal Vision typed label on both the front of the box and the front of the tape. The full video has a strange storyline interspersed with footage of the band on stage and some photographic stills. The full video lasts 3mins 35secs. This is a very limited promo as was the single itself.

Fac 279: Revenge – Slave

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: Revenge, Title: Slave, Planned Release: 17th September 1990, Fac No: Fac 279partly printed and partly handwritten A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape.

The full video starts from a black screen and features a montage of scenes of a female being stripped and tied to a chair in a warehouse setting, footage of the band members in the backstreets of Manchester and in Fac 251 Dry Bar. There is a business man in a taxi, the band members in what look like gas masks and with guns in a basement to the end, the female is released and is seen dancing!

The soundtrack ends and the video carries on with flashed images before ending with a black screen. The full video lasts approximately 5mins 55secs.

Fac 287: Electronic – Get The Message

This tape comes in a black plastic box with no labelling. The tape has a Signal Vision typed label. The full video fades in at the start from a black screen. Footage of the band members wandering around a foreign town and desert. Other assorted images and Bernard lip-synching to the track, in full colour and with aerial views of lakes and mountains are the highlights.

At the end, the picture fades to black and the legend 'C1991 Factory Communications Ltd' appears at the bottom of the screen before fading to black. The full video lasts approximately 4minutes.

Fac 293: New Order – World in Motion

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with no labelling. The tape has a Signal Vision typed label.

The full video starts from a black screen and features the classic video of the band, Keith Allen and various members of the England squad singing along interspersed with footage of England in matches.

The video fades to a black screen at the end and the legend 'C Factory/MCA Records 1990' appears at the bottom of the screen. The full video lasts 4mins 13secs

Fac 297: The Wendys – Pulling My Fingers Off

This tape comes in a blue plastic box with a Factory TM black and white promotional cover which has Artist: The Wendys, Title: pulling my fingers off, Planned Release: 22nd April 1991, Fac No: Fac 297 partly printed and partly handwritten. A Signal Vision Typed label is on the tape.

The full video starts from a black screen and features a montage of scenes of the band lip synching to the soundtrack. These are live and studio shots and are interspersed with the band in a city setting. Some obscure, random views are thrown in for good measure. A mixture of colour and black and white are used.

The full video lasts 4mins 4secs and fades to a black screen at the end. There are colour bars sometime after the footage ends.

Electronic T-Shirts for Record Store Day

2013-04-17T05:00:00.000+01:00

Vinyl Revival in Manchester has an exclusive on some brand new limited edition t-shirt based on the original artwork by Trevor Johnson for the Electronic single release Get The Message (FAC 287).

There are 25 in blue and 25 in grey and will be on sale in Vinyl Revival this Record Store Day, Saturday 20 April 2013.

Electronic (Special Edition)

2013-02-14T15:15:00.000+00:00

8 April sees re-release of a "2013 Remaster" Special Edition of the debut album by Electronic originally released on Factory Records. This features the original album plus a selection of bonus tracks.

Disc 1

1. Idiot Country
2. Reality
3. Tighten Up
4. The Patience of a Saint
5. Getting Away With It
6. Gangster
7. Soviet
8. Get the Message
9. Try All You Want
10. Some Distant Memory
11. Feel Every Beat

Disc 2

1. Disappointed (Stephen Hague 7" Version)
2. Second to None (2013 Edit)
3. Lean to the Inside (2013 Edit)
4. Twisted Tenderness (Guitar / Vocal Mix)
5. Idiot Country Two (12" Version - Edit)
6. Free Will (Edit)
7. Until the End of Time (Edit)
8. Feel Every Beat (2013 Edit)
9. Getting Away With It (Instrumental)
10. Turning Point (Edit)
11. Visit Me (Edit)
12. Twisted Tenderness (Instrumental)

Those who can't wait may wish to check out the still-available "Electronic (Special Edition)" branded "1994 Digital Remaster" currently available on iTunes UK. This version features a slightly different line-up of extras including Lucky Bag, Free Will and other delights.

1994 Digital Remaster extras

Lucky Bag
Free Will (7" Edit)
Feel Every Beat (7" Remix)
Lean To The Inside
Second To None
Disappointed (Original Mix)
Disappointed (7" Mix)
Feel Every Beat (DNA Remix)
Disappointed (12" Remix)
Lucky Bag (Miami Edit)
Idiot Country Two (Ultimatum Mix)
Gangster (FBI Mix)

GQ Icon - Bernard Sumner

2012-09-01T19:55:00.000+01:00

Lee Gale has written a 5-page article on Bernard Sumner which in the September 2012 issue of GQ (British Edition).

With an in-depth interview with the man himself plus contributions from Karl Bartos, Dave Haslam, Johnny Marr, David Nolan and Peter Saville it's a great tribute to "the straight man of Madchester".

Synth Britannia

2009-10-12T00:27:00.000+01:00

New BBC4 documentary about British synthpop features New Order, OMD and Cabaret Voltaire

"In the late 1970s, small pockets of electronic artists including the Human League, Daniel Miller and Cabaret Voltaire were inspired by Kraftwerk and JG Ballard and dreamt of the sound of the future against the backdrop of bleak, high-rise Britain. The crossover moment came in 1979 when Gary Numan's appearance on Top of the Pops with Tubeway Army's Are "Friends" Electric? heralded the arrival of synthpop. Four lads from Basildon known as Depeche Mode would come to own the new sound whilst post-punk bands like Ultravox, Soft Cell, OMD and Yazoo took the synth out of the pages of the NME and onto the front page of Smash Hits. By 1983, acts like Pet Shop Boys and New Order were showing that the future of electronic music would lie in dance music."

Synth Britannia screens on Friday 16 October 2009 on BBC4 and includes contributions from Philip Oakey, Vince Clarke, Martin Gore, Bernard Sumner, Gary Numan and Neil Tennant.

The other B word

2009-05-31T11:53:00.000+01:00

Bernard Sumner, late of Joy Division/New Order/Electronic, announces that his new band Bad Lieutenant have finished recording their debut album.

Slated for release in Autumn 2009 - details of singles, songs and gigs to follow.

A search on a well-known video website will eventually return a sample tune from the album, some golden oldies, and the rest of the Bernard Sumner Songbook programme, originally broadcast in March 2009.

Thanks Tim.

Sumner's Songbook

2009-03-14T10:00:00.000+00:00

UK Sky TV viewers will have recently been able to enjoy Songbook, a recent Sky Arts (and indeed, Sky Arts HD) documentary about Bernard Sumner in which he talks to Will Hodgkinson about his life and times in Joy Division, New Order, Electronic and his work on his new project.

Bernard talked about the writing of several songs including Love Will Tear Us Apart, Bizarre Love Triangle, Getting Away With It and new song Sink or Swim. In each instance he then played them live and acoustic with Phil Cunningham (New Order from 2001) and Jake Evans (Rambo and Leroy).

Bernard confirmed that there will be an album and live dates. He said that he was still deciding on the new band's name but at least for the moment it's Bad Lieutenant (pronounced the American way, and after the book and the film with Harvey Keitel).

This programme has already been screened but there's a good probability it will be repeated. With thanks to Lee on the Cerysmatic Factory Message Board who spotted it when we didn't.

Scream City 3

2008-05-16T19:43:00.000+01:00

A fortuitous warehouse find means that 5 copies of last year's third edition of Scream City are now on sale on eBay priced 2.00 GBP + p&p (PayPal only).

Scream City 3 contents:

* Bernard Sumner by David Nolan
* A Field Trip to the Factory Archives by Andrew James
* Electronic: Message Received by Matthew Robertson
* Ghosts of the Haçienda by Michael Eastwood
* Unknown Pleasures: What's in the Factory Collection at MoSI by Jan Hargreaves
* A Kick Up The Nipsie (Alan Hempsall of Crispy Ambulance interview) by David Nolan
* A Cock and Balls Story by John Cooper

Plus the cover is an original illustration by Matt Carroll of Central Station Design.

More copies of Scream City 4 (the latest issue) will go on sale on Monday.

1000 albums to hear before you die - Part 4

2007-11-21T20:56:00.000+00:00

The Guardian's 1000 albums to hear before you die continues its inescapable path to a date with 'Z' with the reaches the letters 'M' to 'S' today. Factory entries are slightly thin on the ground (and the first entry seems to be a bit of a cop-out too). The FACts are:

New Order 'Substance' (1987)

"A superb sashay through one of British pop's most sublime catalogues, this collection outlines New Order's progression from scratchy post-punk uncertainty (Ceremony) through glacial electro classicism ('Blue Monday', 'Thieves Like Us') and on to euphoric, disco-fied pop ('True Faith'). A copy of 1989's 'Technique', though, is its essential companion."

Section 25 'From the Hip' (1984)

"Although the former Blackpool guitar band's pulsating 'Looking From a Hilltop' became an unlikely hit in New York clubs, their Bernard Sumner-produced electronica experiment was initially ignored. However, sampled by Orbital and the Shamen, From the Hip's trance states and 303 drum machines now sound like an accidental prototype for techno."

1000 albums to hear before you die - parts 2 & 3

2007-11-20T08:43:00.000+00:00

The Guardian's 1000 albums to hear before you die continues with parts 2 and 3 covering the letters 'D' to 'M'.

The FACts are:

The Durutti Column 'The Return of the Durutti Column' (1978)

"Former punk turned avant-garde jazz-classical guitarist Vini Reilly and veteran jazz drummer Bruce Mitchell were one of music's oddest but most inspired couplings. Their Factory debut combines fragility, melancholy, birdsong and electronic effects to produce soundscapes of breathtaking, fragile beauty."

ESG 'A South Bronx Story' (2000)

"A compilation that shows how three sisters from the Bronx in the early 80s tried to play slick funk but ended up sounding like a wonky African-American version of Joy Division. With congas. It nevertheless sounded hypnotically brilliant, and set the template for every subsequent strand of mutant disco and punk funk."

Happy Mondays 'Bummed' (1988)

"The work of two drug-addled geniuses - frontman Shaun Ryder and Factory Records' resident producer, Martin Hannett - this second Mondays album bettered most of the Madchester explosion it preceded. Bummed is a record of thrillingly raw white-man funk, built on menacing grooves, surefire pop hooks and Ryder's surreal drawls."

James 'Stutter(1986)

"Before Madchester, and before the Horlicks rock of Sit Down became ubiquitous, James were an invigorating prospect: a folk-pop band apparently engaged in a bout of pro-wrestling with their instruments. Their debut album clangs like a grand piano tumbling downstairs - leaving singalong melodies in its wake."

Joy Division 'Closer' (1980)

"The arrival of Joy Division's second album in the aftermath of Ian Curtis's suicide brought with it a shadow of death that disguised Closer's expressions of life: the clattering energy of Atrocity Exhibition, the metallic pop of Isolation and the virtuosity of Curtis's baritone. Still, its final songs, The Eternal and Decades, are untouchable in their manifestations of abject despair."

Magnetic Fields '69 Love Songs' (1999)

"Stephin Merritt's meticulous modernisation of the Great American Songbook is an absurd folly - a giddy explosion of wit, whimsy, inspiration and ambition that is matchless in its achievement. Every imaginable romantic experience is refracted through every imaginable genre of music, with moods and sounds glittering like mirror-ball lights across a disco floor."

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Special mentions for 808 State's excellent Ex:El (on which Bernard Sumner guests on vocals) and the ground-breaking 'My Life in the Bush of Ghosts' by Brian Eno and David Byrne. Peter Saville designed the cover and he talked about working with Eno on that project in the recent Creative Review blog interview.

Confused identities

2007-09-13T13:34:00.000+01:00

David Nolan talks to the MEN today about his new book 'Confusion - Joy Division, Electronic and New Order Versus the World' and in particular about Bernard Sumner apparent lifelong identity crisis.

Confusion at Broughton Library

2007-08-22T22:34:00.000+01:00

Visitors to Broughton Library can look forward to a rare insight into the life of one of the music industry's greatest icons. On Tuesday 28 August at 11am writer, David Nolan, will read extracts from his new book, Confusion, about the life of New Order frontman, Bernard Sumner.

Confusion is the story of Bernard Sumner's life, from the back streets of Salford to international acclaim during his time in globally successful bands, Joy Division, Electronic and New Order.

Nolan, a multi-award winning journalist, documentary maker and TV producer was also the man behind 'I Swear I Was There', the book documenting the Sex Pistol's famous first gig in Manchester, 1976.

The reading will offer music fans a unique opportunity to dip into the powerful story of Sumner's life and his role in revolutionising the music industry.

Visitors to the library can also get their hands on a range of new music literature, as David will be bringing a selection of works to donate to the library based on other great artists from the music industry.

Commenting on his appearance at Broughton Library, David said: "The first chapters of Confusion revolve around Sumner's life in Broughton so I thought it would be fitting to bring the story back to the local community.

"The city's music history is a great way of not only connecting with people who were part of that scene, but with young people growing up in Salford who should feel really proud of the legacy and how it can inspire them to carry on making great music."

Confusion - the book launch

2007-07-18T10:47:00.000+01:00

To launch the new book BERNARD SUMNER – CONFUSION: Joy Division, Electronic and New Order Versus the World by David Nolan a book launch is being held on 1 September 2007 at the Bull's Head, Market Square, Stockport.

4.00 GBP entry on the door. Numbers strictly limited. Pre-booking advised.

Live music from TRANSMISSION (Warsaw set/Joy Division set) punk, post punk and dance DJ sets. Book readings by author David Nolan plus books for sale at cheaper than the shops prices! Get your copy signed.

If you send an email to davidnolanwriter@hotmail.com with your name and how many peoplke you want in – and you arrive before 20:30 – you'll get an confirmatory email and be guaranteed entry.

After 20:30 it's first come first served.

Running order

20:00 - Doors
20:30 - DJ (Curfew for 'guest list'. If you've registered your name you will get in if you are there before 8.30pm.)
21:30 - 1st reading plus short 'Warsaw' set
22:00 - DJ
23:00 - 2nd short reading plus 'Joy Division' set
Followed by DJ
Close – LATE

CONFUSION: JOY DIVISION, ELECTRONIC AND NEW ORDER VERSUS THE WORLD

2007-07-13T17:37:00.000+01:00

BERNARD SUMNER

CONFUSION: JOY DIVISION, ELECTRONIC AND NEW ORDER VERSUS THE WORLD

By David Nolan

Bernard Sumner has read the manuscript of David Nolan's new book 'Confusion' and decided to contribute to the biography.

He's added his thoughts and observations to David's text, put many previously private matters into context and had a right to reply on some of the more controversial aspects of the book.

David Nolan says: "Bernard Sumner has read this book; it was vital that he be allowed to respond to some of the issues raised, particularly the very personal ones.

"To his credit, Bernard took a great deal of time and care offering his thoughts on the manuscript. As a result, where I had initially made a mistake, I have corrected it. Where his version differed to someone else's, I've included both. Where Bernard offers insight into something I could only have guessed at, I have added it verbatim.

"Unofficial biographies often have the sense that the author has the freedom to write whatever he or she wants, but is hampered by a lack of insider knowledge. Official ones have the story straight from the horse's mouth, but sometimes with the suspicion that deals have been struck and harsher words censored. This is an odd mix of both and is all the better for it.

Good luck for the future Bernard. Your past has been a fascinating puzzle to piece together."

David Nolan

Manchester

Summer 2007

PUBLISHED BY INDEPENDENT MUSIC PRESS ON 30 AUGUST 2007

ISBN:0-9552822-6-8 and 978-0-9552822-6-3 234mm x 156mm Paperback 240 pages

50 rare and unpublished photographs including 1 x 8 pp glossy b/w plates + 32 integrated pics 12.99 GBP

Bernard Sumner biography plugged in Mojo

2007-04-04T00:10:00.000+01:00

Author and investigative journalist David Nolan's forthcoming biography of New Order's Bernard Sumner received a healthy plug in the new edition of Mojo. The news appeared beneath a baffling photo of young Bernard sporting a false moustache.

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Bernard Sumner - Confusion: Joy Division, Electronic and New Order Versus The World
Due for publication in July 2007