Cerysmatic.Factory

Of Factory New York Michael Shamberg

2014-03-13T17:39:00.000+00:00

Factory Benelux and New Order present Of Factory New York, a unique benefit album released to assist Michael Shamberg, who ran the NYC office of Factory Records during the celebrated label's Eighties heyday.

Available on CD and double gatefold vinyl formats, Of Factory New York gathers a selection of classic tracks by artists associated with OFNY including the John Robie remix of Yashar by Cabaret Voltaire, Do the Du by A Certain Ratio, Cool As Ice by 52nd Street, Love Tempo by Quando Quango, the Megamix version of Looking From A Hilltop by Section 25 and an exclusive version of Your Silent Face by New Order, recorded live on tour in America in June 1989.

Homegrown American talent featured on the album includes Ike Yard, Thick Pigeon, Konk, Anna Domino and deejay/producer Arthur Baker. The cover art is based on an original 1983 design by Lawrence Weiner, the conceptual artist closely associated with Shamberg and Factory's Big Apple operation.

Unfortunately in 2006 Michael was struck down with highly debilitating mitochondrial disease. All artists featured on Of Factory New York have donated their work free of charge, Factory Benelux will take no profit, and 100% of net revenues will be paid over to the medical trust which takes care of Michael.

"Michael has been with us from the very start," explain New Order. "Initially he was in charge of Factory New York, then became creative producer for all our early videos. He brought our attention to the early works of directors such as Kathryn Bigelow, Gina Birch, Robert Breer, Peter Care, Phillipe Decouffle, Jonathan Demme, Robert Frank, Paula Greiff, Robert Longo, Bailie Walsh and William Wegman. Michael is very ill and needs constant medical attention. We want to help him, and played two fundraising shows in 2011. This new Factory New York compilation album will contribute further financial support towards Michael’s ongoing care."

More info via factorybenelux.com.

Vinyl tracklist

A1. A Certain Ratio - Do the Du
A2. Quando Quango - Love Tempo
A3. 52nd Street - Cool As Ice

B1. Cabaret Voltaire - Yashar (John Robie Remix)
B2. New Order - Your Silent Face (live 1989)
B3. Konk - Baby Dee

C1. Section 25 - Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)
C2. Streetlife - Act On Instinct
C3. Marcel King - Reach For Love (New York Remix)

D1. Thick Pigeon - Subway
D2. Ike Yard - Kino
D3. Arthur Baker - Come On
D4. Anna Domino - Summer (Arthur Baker Remix)

CD tracklisting

1. A Certain Ratio - Do the Du
2. Quando Quango - Love Tempo
3. Konk - Baby Dee
4. 52nd Street - Cool As Ice
5. Cabaret Voltaire - Yashar (John Robie Remix)
6. New Order - Your Silent Face (live 1989)
7. Section 25 - Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)
8. Streetlife - Act On Instinct
9. Marcel King - Reach For Love (New York Remix)
10. Thick Pigeon - Subway
11. Ike Yard - Kino
12. Arthur Baker - Come On
13. Anna Domino - Summer (Arthur Baker Remix)

Crépuscule Polite postcards set

2014-03-05T22:15:00.000+00:00

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.

There are 25 colour / black & white postcards featuring Crépuscule acts including The Durutti Column, Section 25, A Certain Ratio, Anna Domino, Cabaret Voltaire, posters, badges and more from across the years.

The set is 25.00 GBP and is available direct from Polite.

Facs In The Attic Part 3

2013-10-03T18:00:00.000+01:00

After exploring the vaults of Factory Records in both Part 1 and Part 2, 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.

Factory Benelux

Recently revived as part of the LTM empire (though run as a separate entity), Factory Benelux 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.

The earliest singles by A Certain Ratio (Shack Up 7" - FBN 1-004), The Durutti Column (Lips The Would Kiss/Madeleine 7"/12" - FBN 2-005) and Section 25 (Charnel Ground / Haunted 7") all fetch around £15-£20 depending on seller, while further later exclusives by Crispy Ambulance (Live On a Hot August Night 12" - FACBN 4), Section 25 (Je Veux Ton Amour 7" - FACBN 5) and Crawling Chaos (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.

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 Minny Pops records, Time 7" (FBN 11 - £30) and Sparks In a Dark Room (FBN 15 - up to £50!), two Stockholm Monsters 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.

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 Swamp Children's So Hot LP (FBN 21 - £20) and Quando Quango's Love Tempo (FBN 23 - £20-£30), a different sleeve can increase collectibility somewhat.

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.

Les Disques du Crepuscule

Cousin Les Disques du Crepuscule (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.

Wim Mertens

You may remember one Wim Mertens from Part 2 of our Facs In The Attic series - £200 for a cassette version of Educes Me should jog your memory. His Belgium catalogue 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).

Anna Domino

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.

Cabaret Voltaire

Providers of FAC 82 (Yashar), Cabaret Voltaire 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).

Devine & Statton

OK, not strictly a Factory artist but the Ludus/Young Marble Giants-related pair have a connection - their acoustic cover of New Order's Bizarre Love Triangle, 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.

The Durutti Column

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 and Factory FACD 154, now called Bread and Circuses) (TWI 988-2) can raise you about £10-£15.

The Names

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. The Names' 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.

Thick Pigeon

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.

Various Artists

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 Kevin Hewick and New Order. 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.

Prices quoted are from Discogs, eBay, sightings in shops and other online sources.

You can find new releases and further information on forthcoming projects on Factory Benelux here and Les Disques du Crepuscule here

The final part of Facs In The Attic will deal with other international releases and non-audio Facollectables!

Snakefarm featuring Anna Domino live

2013-02-14T15:38:00.000+00:00

The Snakefarm / Anna Domino live tour, like the Universe, is expanding. There is a full complement of dates in the USA, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic. In the UK they play the Green Note in Camden on 6 March, the Farmer's Arms in Penzance, Cornwall on 8 March and Gold Mark, Uppingham on 19 March.

There will be sets of both Anna Domino and Snakefarm material at all the dates.

March

1 - Galeria Lunar, Hannover, Germany
2 - Syker Vorwerk, Syke, Germany, 8pm
6 - Green Note, London [WeGotTickets]
8 - Farmers Arms, 38 Causeway Head, Penzance TR18 2ST
14 - Archiduc, Brussels, Belgium, 6pm
19 - Gold Mark, Uppingham, Rutland, 8pm [£25.00 60 seats only!]
21 - Archiduc, Brussels, Belgium, 9pm
27 v Lese, Prague, Czech Republic

More info at annadomino.com

Snakefarm feat. Anna Domino live in London

2013-01-12T22:22:00.000+00:00

Anna Domino and Snakefarm make a rare live appearance in London at the Green Note in Camden on Wednesday 6 March. There will be a set of Anna Domino solo material and a Snakefarm set with her partner Michel Delory.

Advance tickets are available priced 10.00 GBP advance from We Got Tickets.

--

Green Note
116 Parkway
London NW1 7AN

The Return of Anna Domino

2010-11-03T06:00:00.000+00:00

Cult Crépuscule/Factory Records artist Anna Domino returns with not one but two CD and download releases via LTM Recordings.

First up, the compilation After Twilight (LTMCD 2562) features brand new tracks and reworks by Crépuscule artists, including Anna Domino, Paul Haig, Antena, The Names, Blaine L. Reininger and Cathy Claret. Anna contributes two new tracks, Wonderkey and The Light Downtown, as well as a remake of her slinky 1984 classic Rythm. All that plus extensive sleevenotes by Paul Pledger.

And then there's a reissue of the acclaimed 1999 album Songs From My Funeral (LTMCD 2539), recorded by Anna with partner Michel Delory and released as Snakefarm. The album covers the musical bases from downtempo to trip-hop via folky electronica.

Both albums are out now and LTM has a special offer at the moment - purchase both the above albums and receive a third CD free of charge, chosen from any of the single-disc various artists compilations released on LTM. More details at ltmrecordings.com.

2410-2418 AD

2004-08-12T07:36:00.000+01:00

LTM now has the following new release titles by Anna Domino in stock:

LTMCD 2410 'Mysteries of America / Colouring In The Edge and the Outline' [Tracklisting: Home, Pandora, Paris, Bonds of Love, Isn't That So, Tamper With Time, Bead/9.15, "Oh Beautiful…", Dust, Luck, Clouds of Joy, Tyranny (Of Your Company), 88, Perfect Day (No, He Says), Always Always, Stand Apart.]

LTMCD 2418 'Dreamback (Best Of)' [Tracklisting: Rhythm, Summer (7"), Take That, Caught, Zanna, Time For Us, She Walked, Tempting, Lake, Hammer, Luck, 88, Bonds of Love, Tamper With Time, Dreamback, Land of my Dreams.]

Also available: Winston Tong LTMCD 2382 'Theoretically Chinese'

As ever, all new CDs may be ordered ahead of the store release date by direct mail order from LTM. Just email them to place your order.

LTM

Fast product

2004-07-25T23:55:00.000+01:00

LTM has 4 new CDs in stock (with promise of Berntholer and more Anna Domino to follow soon):

Various Artists - LTMCD 2398 'Twice As Nice - BE MUSIC / DOJO / MARK KAMINS / ARTHUR BAKER PRODUCTIONS' (this is the long-awaited sequel to LTMCD 2377 Cool As Ice: The Be Music Productions 1983-85)
Minny Pops - LTMCD 2384 'Drastic Measures, Drastic Movement' (with video clips)
Anna Domino - LTMCD 2383 'East & West' (with extra live tracks recorded in Japan)
Marine 'Life in Reverse' (with video clips)

Full details can be seen at the official LTM website

As usual, you can order these ahead of the store release date direct from LTM by mail order.

Thanks to James at LTM.

Les Temps Moderne en direct

2004-02-10T14:40:00.000+00:00

New release CDs by Anna Domino (LTMCD 2397 Anna Domino - a re-release of Fact 165) and the brand new Blue Orchids set (LTMCD 2374 Mystic Bud) are available from LTM direct ahead of the store release dates.