New Order - Music Complete [12", 2LP]

Since i decided that this album would be #1 in The Finest Vinyl of 2015, it was obvious that NEW ORDER's MUSIC COMPLETE needed to be written about on this blog. Until now, i haven't been really inspired however to do so.You can find many reviews online and in printed media, and the bottom line is that they all say that it's a great album, even though their signature bass player Peter Hook is not part of the band anymore. I can only agree. I actually think it's the best release they did since their Technique album. Personal favourites are dancefloor filler Plastic and their go at italo disco Tutti Frutti. The artwork is great as well, and looks like it's inspired by Dutch painter Mondriaan and the art movement De Stijl that he belonged to.

As you can see on the picture i have the limited edition clear vinyl. Looks great and sounds even better.

Label: Mute

Cat.nr.: STUMM390

Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:

01. Restless

02. Singularity

03. Plastic

SIDE B:

01. Tutti Frutti

02. People On The High Line

03. Stray Dog

SIDE C:

01. Academic

02. Nothing But A Fool

03. Unlearn This Hatred

SIDE D:

01. The Game

02. Superheated

Inspiral Carpets - She Comes In The Fall [12"]

Not really a band i've ever been particularly into, the INSPIRAL CARPETS, but they made a few nice singles. Dragging Me Down is still my favourite while Caravan and Bitches Brew come second and third, but SHE COMES IN THE FALL is not bad either. Ran into this 12" at the Utrecht recordfair last spring and it was pretty cheap so i couldn't refuse buying it. If only i'd known in advance that i would discover the album where the song comes from (Life) a few hours later at the same fair for just a few bucks more. Ah well, it's got a nice cow-cover.

Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: DUNG 10T
Year of release: 1990

SIDE A:
01. She Comes In The Fall
02. Commercial Reign

SIDE B:
01. Sackville

M83 - Reunion Remixes [12"]

Didn't buy many Black Friday releases this year but this was one of them: a remix EP for the REUNION track by M83. It contains four remixes; not all of them equally good, i'd have to say. Don't like the Mylo remix very much for example. Too uptempo and stressed for me. The Sei A remix is a decent tech house tune that will do great in clubs, but my favourite by far is the Naked And Famous remix. It slowly builds up to a climax with some distorted synths that make you wonder if your speakers are still OK. The Polly Scattergood remix starts off properly, before some oldschool hiphop bassline takes over and spoils the rest of the tune. As far as i'm concerned the weakest link here. But overall, a nice EP.


Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: 9548-0
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. Reunion (Mylo Remix)
02. Reunion (Sei A Remix)

SIDE B:
01. Reunion (The Naked And Famous Remix)
02. Reunion (Polly Scatterhood Remix)

M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts [12", 2LP]

A classic M83 album, this DEAD CITIES, RED SEAS & LOST GHOSTS. Their second album, from the time when Nicolas Fromageau was still in the band (and Morgan Kibby wasn't yet). It features the singles Run Into Flowers, 0078h and America, plus the 17 minute long title track that is not on the CD version (elsewehere to be found only on the America 12" maxi).
There definitely are some really great tracks on this album (Gone being my favourite) but i prefer the warmer and richer sound his later albums have, and in general: songs with vocals. This is mainly instrumental stuff. But a must have for any M83 fan or actually anyone who wants to check out how this band developed over the years.

Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: 9251-1
Year of release: 2003

SIDE A:
01. Birds
02. Unrecorded
03. Run Into Flowers
04. In Church

SIDE B:
01. Be Wild
02. America
03. On A White Lake, Near A Green Mountain
04. Noise

SIDE C:
01. Cyborg
02. 0078h
03. Gone
04. Beauties Can Die

SIDE D:
01. Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts

A Place To Bury Strangers - Ego Death 2010 Tour EP [12"]

This EGO DEATH 2010 TOUR EP by A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS is a pretty much sought after release. I was fortunate enough to buy one recently (2012) at an APTBS show, so i don't know if there has been a re-press or if this is a copy they still had lying around. Anyway, a nice EP with besides Ego Death in 3 versions (one of them by Baroness' Allan Blickle), some non-album tracks and a remix of the title track of the album where the single's taken from: Exploding Head.

It does not really show on the picture above, but the vinyl colour is olive green. Pretty dark, but if you hold it against the light it looks like this:

Label: Mute

Cat.nr.: -

Year of release: 2010

SIDE A:

01. Ego Death (Radio Edit)

02. It's A Fast Drivin' Rave-Up With A Place To Bury Strangers

03. Alive

04. You Still Love Me

SIDE B:

01. Ego Death (Allen Blickle Remix)

02. Exploding Head (RX Remix)

03. Ego Death (Figo Remix)

M83 - Saturdays=Youth [12", 2LP]

With SATURDAYS=YOUTH, M83 got a poppier sound that made Anthony Gonzalez & co break brough to a wider audience. Morgan Kibby's vocals can be heard for the first time on this album and she'd become a steady band member for the live shows ever since. Her vocals in Skin Of The Night (and throughout the whole album actually) are stunning. I can actually listen to this album over and over without getting bored.

Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: 9384-1
Year of release: 2008

SIDE A:
01. You, Appearing
02. Kim & Jessie
03. Skin Of The Night

SIDE B:
01. Graveyard Girl
02. Couleurs
03. Up!

SIDE C:
01. We Own The Sky
02. Highway Of Endless Dreams
03. Too Late

SIDE D:
01. Dark Moves Of Love
02. Midnight Souls Still Remain

Inspiral Carpets - Dragging Me Down [7"]

Bought this INSPIRAL CARPETS single recently at the same time at the same place when i bought the Charlatans' Weirdo single, and just for the very same reason: nostalgia. Played this song a lot back in 1992. Nice to have it on vinyl now!

Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: DUNG 16
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. Dragging Me Down

SIDE B:
01. I Know I'm Losing You

M83 - Mirror [7"]

The song MIRROR by M83 is an outtake from their Hurry Up, We're Dreaming album, and previously only available as a download. It's been put to vinyl, as a one-sided etched 7", released on Record Store Day 2012. Naïve did the UK pressing of 500 copies; this is a copy of the USA version on Mute. No idea how many were made, but it was a limited quantity anyway.

The etching has the code to download the digital track from www.m83mirror.com

Label: Mute

Cat.nr.: 9531-1

Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:

01. Mirror

SIDE B:

etching

M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us [12", 2LP]

M83 has released 5 albums by now (or 6 if you count Digital Shades Vol.1), but i still like BEFORE THE DAWN HEALS US the best. Not only does it contain the awesome singles Teenage Angst and Don't Save Us From The Flames, but tracks like Moon Child and Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sun still give me goosebumps whenever i play them. In a postive way, of course ;)
All in all, this album is the reason why some people label this electronic band as shoegaze. Listen to it and you'll know why.

Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: 9281-2
Year of release: 2004

SIDE A:
01. Moon Child
02. Don't Save Us From The Flames
03. In The Cold I'm Standing
04. Farewell/Goodbye

SIDE B:
01. Fields, Shorelines And Hunters
02. *
03. I Guess I'm Floating
04. Teen Angst
05. Can't Stop

SIDE C:
01. Safe
02. Let Men Burn Stars
03. Car Chase Terror
04. Slight Night Shiver

SIDE D:
01. A Guitar And A Heart
02. Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sun