Rare stuff from the Cure

The Cure have launched a special standalone website dedicated to the upcoming “Disintegration: Deluxe Edition” that features videos, liner notes and photos plus streaming audio of 20 additional demos and live tracks that won’t be featured on the 3CD set which is to be released on June 8. The additional set got the name “Alternative Rarities 1988-1989, the collection of unreleased tracks” and is an extra to the 20 outtakes which will be appearing on the upcoming reissue (to be released as a 3 CD deluxe edition, digital download, and a double gatefold vinyl). Head for www.TheCureDisintegration.com or download right here.
The complete set features 13 of Robert Smith’s home and full band demos, three studio mixes and four live cuts, including a recording of “Faith” from a 1989 concert in Rome. The rest of the tracks are songs that ended up on “Disintegration”, that became B-sides or that are leftover session material, including a different version of “Delirious Night” which appears on the deluxe edition. Also added are 2 previously unheard full-band jams: “Tuned Out” on RTV5″ and “Fuknnotfunk”, an odd foray into funk.
Synthpop nostalgica
A friend at work tipped me of this synthpop nostalgica BBC feature
It’s called Synth Britannia and covers like 9 youtube episodes and is a good history lesson on the golden synth years – 80′s
First episode here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeVRYPjcVXg
This is a must see for all synth fans
Cheers
John Foxx Underpass – Mark Reeder’s Dark Long & Sinister Remix
John Foxx Underpass – Mark Reeder’s Dark Long & Sinister Remix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3-oPzE0jic&feature=player_embedded
John Foxx is playing a one-off analogue synthesizer show at the Roundhouse London on 5 June. Guests include Dubterror and Gary Numan/Ade Fenton DJ set.
via SHOCKELECTRIK
Buy Tickets http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/john-foxx-4616.
To order Album go http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/product.php?pType=1&pId=6768416
Listen samples go http://www.myspace.com/foxxmetamatic
Mark Reeder site http://www.myspace.com/markreedermfsflesh
From the album Metatronic, a 30 year celebration of John Foxx’s Metamatic. John Foxx’s Classic Underpass gets a bit of a sinister beef up by fellow pedestrian Mark Reeder.
New synth from XILS-Lab

XILS-Lab has told me that the polyKB is a recreation of a very rare, very powerful polyphonic synthesizer released in the 80′s by a french company. And in there own words:
The polyKB is a polyphonic substractive synthesizer based on two waveform morphing, aliasing free oscillators and a self oscilating 4 poles low pass filter.
The oscillators take a large part of the sound of this synthesizer but the filter recreating a standard analog chip of the 80′s with the help of of very complete modulation section allow the polyKB to create incredible and warm sounds, from georgous bass to slow evoluting pad, through agressive lead and thin cristal keyboards, without fogoten a wide range of special effects.
The modulation section of the polyKB acts like a matrix with five dedicated sources (LFO, ADSR,VCO,NOISE,VELOCITY) and five dedicated destinations (VCO 1 and 2 pitch, VCO 1 and 2 waveform,VCF frequency).
To increase the sound design possibilities, six menus have being added, two for the sources, four for the destination, with which a wide range of modules can be choosen
(Velocity, sequencer ouputs, LFO freq, Filter res, VCO levels, to name but a few)
The polyKB brings also a very powerful polyphonic sequencer.
The sequencer can record and play 8 voices independently as well as the pitch than the velocity. To control the sequence, a 2 to 128 steps clock system allows a wide range of rythms and patterns.
Of course the sequencer outputs can be assigned as a source of modulation, opening the sound posibilities endless.
The polyKB offers:
- two aliasing-free morphing oscillators: from triangle to pulse, through saw.
- One 4 poles low pass self oscillating filter
- two envelope generators (ADSR)
- two MIDI synced LFO
- One MIDI synced Sample and Hold
- One 128 steps polyphonic sequencer
- One arpeggiator
- Chorus and delay effects
- Mono/Unison/Poly playing mode with up to 16 voices of polyphony
- All parameters are MIDI controllable
80s drum beats

Motion Samples presents an 80s lover rhythm compilation featuring 244 drum loops composed into 38 beats of various styles from popular 80s music.
The sounds were recorded/mixed in analog throughout the project and programmed live to achieve that famous phat drum swing found in many 80s dancefloor hits. It’s all about the clap and snare!
This collection is the perfect ready-to-go drum beds for producers creating old school 80s Funk, Pop, Electro, Hip Hop and Disco.
Devo to perform at the winter Olympic games
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36 years after their birth, Devo will be perform after a victory ceremony at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver on February 22, for a potential TV audience of three billion. They say they will play old favourites and new songs from the upcoming Warner album.
- We are really excited to have the opportunity to let everyone know that De-evolution is real!, Devo founder Jerry Cascale says.
Devo are planning festival gigs and a proper tour in North and South America, Europe, Japan, Australia.
The Swedish synthpop act PAGE reunited
30 years ago Page was launched as probably the first real synthpop act in Sweden and was very successful during a couple of years in the early 80′s, I remeber myself seeing them live in Malmö
, sneaking in as being under age at that time
Well now they are back and plans for a new album is all set and I expect to see them live during festivals next year. To read more go here (sorry it is in Swedish) >>
This is a clip from back in 1995:
and another one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDFKi00eUnE
Pure analog
Here’s an analog synth jam inspired by late 70’s & early 80’s electro dance music.
via synthjunk:
Midi clock & sequencing from MPC. Doepfer providing cv/gate step sequencing.
TR707 trigger out controlling Mono/Poly arpeggiator.
All synth sounds are 100% analog. Recorded with Ableton Live.
Gary Numan and Heaven 17 team up with Little Boots and La Roux
Electronic pioneer Gary Numan is joining forces with the BBC’s Sound of 2009 winner Little Boots, while new wavers Heaven 17 and electro-popsters La Roux will unite for two special 6 Music Live Combos.
The unique collaborations will be recorded at the iconic studios of Maida Vale on 7 December and 26 January and broadcast on the station on Friday 11 December and Friday 29 January.
The format sees both artists perform three songs of their own, provide guest vocals on one of each other’s tracks and then do a cover of someone else’s song together.
Frankie Goes (to Hollywood) to the Year 2009 – revamped
Yet another 80′s classic being pimped to fit the new millenium, but apart from adding more bass beats it seems not much has happened in the dance scene in the past 20 years
I would have expected more, especially since the original song still stands strong

























